Published date: 11 November 2022

This notice was replaced on 16 February 2023

This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:

Awarded contract (published 16 February 2023)

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.


Contract summary

Industry

  • Marine research services - 73112000

Location of contract

England

Value of contract

£12,000 to £20,000

Procurement reference

221111SC

Published date

11 November 2022

Closing date

25 November 2022

Closing time

5pm

Contract start date

1 December 2022

Contract end date

31 March 2023

Contract type

Works

Procedure type

Open procedure (below threshold)

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

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

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

The Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds Marine Conservation Zone (CSCB MCZ) along the north Norfolk coast is one of the most ecologically significant Marine Protected Areas for chalk habitats in the UK and Europe. It was designated in 2016 as part of Tranche 2 of the MCZ designation process under the Marine and Coastal Access Act (MCAA) 2009.

The MCZ was designated for nine chalk, rock, and sedimentary habitats, and one geological feature. The conservation objectives for those features were set as 'maintain in favourable condition' based on best available evidence at the time.

Subtidal chalk is a geomorphological feature comprising exposed chalk beds and outcrops. This feature is of significance because of the reef habitat the outcrops provide, and the associated communities that are attracted by the rocky substrate.

As part of NEs ongoing work at the site we are looking to obtain further understanding of the ecological reliance on the subtidal chalk feature. Attributes of the subtidal chalk feature at CSCB MCZ relevant to this work are listed below:
• Physical structure of rocky substrate
• presence and spatial distribution of biological communities,
• species composition of component communities, and
• non-native species and pathogens.

This RFQ is for the analysis of seabed imagery from a nearshore survey undertaken by Eastern IFCA during the summer of 2022 within the CSCB MCZ. Through this contract Natural England aim to obtain an assessment of benthic habitats, to include descriptions of the epifaunal communities observed and their association with subtidal chalk habitat categories of varying complexity.

More information

Attachments

Additional text

To apply please respond to the attached Invitation to Quote. Email your response to shannon.cameron@naturalengland.org.uk. Tenders to be received no later than 17:00 on November 25th 2022. For any questions, please email or phone Shannon Cameron; email: shannnon.cameron@naturalengland.org.uk; tel: 07721591945.

About the buyer

Contact name

Shannon Cameron

Address

Natural England
Ceres House, 2 Searby Road
Lincoln
LN2 4DT
England

Telephone

07721591945

Email

shannon.cameron@naturalengland.org.uk