Published date: 16 September 2024

Awarded contract - This means that the contract has been awarded to a supplier.


Closing: 3 October 2024, 12pm

Contract summary

Industry

  • Research and development consultancy services - 73200000

Location of contract

Any region

Value of contract

£26,543.59

Procurement reference

CF-0367100D8d000003VQwdEAG

Published date

16 September 2024

Closing date

3 October 2024

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

7 October 2024

Contract end date

7 February 2025

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Call-off from a framework agreement

A mini-competition or direct purchase from a pre-established framework agreement.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

Natural England's AES Evidence Programme has commissioned a survey of over 100 ponds, including 40 buffered and 40 unbuffered ponds covering both arable and improved grassland systems. All ponds are not actively managed to assess whether management of the surrounding land parcel is sufficient to ensure good quality ponds. The ponds will be surveyed using the modified PondNet environmental survey and wetland plant survey, and water quality analysis will also be undertaken. This will enable PSYM analysis to determine if the pond is in good condition based on its ecology, whilst the water quality analysis will illustrate the efficacy of buffers. Water samples will also be taken from each pond for DNA analysis. In collaboration with partners at the Environment Agency, Cefas, Freshwater Habitats Trust, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, and Bowburn Consultancy, Natural England will combine DNA data from the AES ponds with DNA data from our national, long-term programmes which survey ponds every year (e.g. District Level Licensing, England Ecosystem Survey, GenePools, etc.) to develop novel metrics for assessing the ecological condition of ponds to enable landscape-scale decision-making. These data will contribute to natural capital accounting and 25 Year Environment Plan indicators, monitoring and evaluation of policy interventions including Environmental Land Management scheme, Nature Recovery and Net Gain, ground data for Living England, and remote sensing applications for condition assessment.

Award information

Awarded date

9 September 2024

Contract start date

7 October 2024

Contract end date

7 February 2025

Total value of contract

£26,543.59

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

University of Exeter

Address

Northcote House,
The Queen's Drive
Exeter EX4 4QJ

Reference

None

About the buyer

Contact name

Adrian Ajibade

Address

17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
UK

Email

adrian.ajibade@defra.gov.uk