Published date: 13 December 2024

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Closing: 13 January 2025, 12pm

Contract summary

Industry

  • Research and development services and related consultancy services - 73000000

Location of contract

SW1P 4DF

Value of contract

£1

Procurement reference

CF-0424400D8d000003VQwdEAG

Published date

13 December 2024

Closing date

13 January 2025

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

8 February 2025

Contract end date

31 August 2028

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (above threshold)

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

This procedure can be used for procurements above the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome Any questions, requests to participate or tender submissions must be submitted electronically via this portal. Underwater noise is increasing in the marine environment. A key area of concern is impulsive noise which can be generated from a range of activities including piling during the installation of offshore wind turbine foundations. Without mitigation, mid-frequency sound, such as from impact piling, has been shown to cause permanent hearing loss, tissue damage and lethal injury to marine mammals. The sound can also result in disturbance effects, such as disruption of foraging and potential impacts to breeding, communication and navigation. This can be potentially more harmful at the population level as it can impact a larger number of marine mammals. Fish have also been shown to have lethal and sub-lethal effects from impulsive sounds. It is thought that piling can also cause physiological impacts to eggs and larvae as these life stages contain air sacs. Other impacts such as poor body condition post hatching could occur, in addition to behavioural impacts that can affect the population level. For example, if piling activity is to take place close to a known spawning bed or ground for herring during the key spawning period, the behaviour of the spawning herring could potentially be disturbed, leading to spawning taking place in less suitable locations, or not at all. Mackerel have demonstrated changes in their shoaling behaviour when exposed to piling noise and Atlantic cod have been shown to have delayed migrations to spawning grounds when exposed to pile driving noise.

More information

Attachments

About the buyer

Contact name

DGC

Address

Seacole Building, 2 Marsham
London
SW1P 4DF
UK

Telephone

+03450335577

Email

dgcenquiries@defra.gov.uk