Published date: 9 March 2017

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


Closing: 1 February 2017

Contract summary

Industry

  • Information technology services - 72222300

  • Research services - 73110000

  • Test and evaluation - 73430000

    • Market-testing services - 79312000

Location of contract

Any region

Value of contract

£65,808

Procurement reference

tender_138565/571769

Published date

9 March 2017

Closing date

1 February 2017

Contract start date

1 March 2017

Contract end date

30 November 2017

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Award of contract without prior publication of a contract notice

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

The overall aim is to test whether off-the-shelf insect tracking technology can be used to track Asian hornets in the wild, flying from forage sites to their nests, and thus aid nest detection. We have the following objectives:

1) Interview key Asian hornet scientists in Europe to review latest methods that have been evaluated for finding nests
2) Test effectiveness of Biotrack & RECCO tracking technologies in a range of habitats and environments likely to be suitable for Asian hornet nesting.
3) Optimise Biotrack PicoPip tag (antennal length, orientation, attachment method) for use on ~200mg flying insect
4) Optimise RECCO radar tag (antennal length, orientation, attachment method) for use on ~200mg flying insect
5) Test optimised tags on hornets (or surrogate insects) in confined conditions to confirm that insects behave and fly as expected.
6) Field test the most promising technology (Biotrack or RECCO or both) on free-flying Asian hornets in France. Test whether they can detect return flights to nests.
7) Design protocol for using technology to find nests in future, documenting constraints (e.g. environment, range, battery life), and write an instruction manual.
8) Write final report and talks for Defra, NBU and beekeepers.

More information

Additional text

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Award information

Awarded date

21 February 2017

Contract start date

1 March 2017

Contract end date

30 November 2017

Total value of contract

£65,808

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

UNiversity of Exeter

Address

Northcote House, the Queen's Drive, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4QJ, UNITED KINGDOM

Reference

None

Supplier is SME?

No

Supplier is VCSE?

No

About the buyer

Address

DEFRA
London
SW1P 3JR
England

Email

Network.Procurement@defra.gsi.gov.uk