UK Public Sector Contracts & Tenders

To support the implementation of Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs), Cefas is commissioning a number of R&D projects to address evidence gaps. This project will characterize differences in physical features of whelks from fishing grounds in English waters. This information is intended to help set stock boundaries for purposes of assessing whelk stock and exploitation status in English waters and inform local management.

Provision of licenses for Remote electronic monitoring (REM) equipment onboard various vessels, to allow collection and analysis of data.

Cefas require a cutting machine to compliment a suite of cutting machines that contribute to the processing of over 60k otoliths annually. This machine will be mainly used for the sectioning of gadoid species sagittal otoliths embedded in epoxy resin. Due to the mean size of these otoliths Cefas uses a specialised mould different from other species, requiring a machine with increased table movement to capture all of the mould rows in use. Cefas requires any new machine to be versatile in the workpiece clamping/holding setup as occasionally other biological material will be sectioned dependant on active projects at the time. Scope of Requirements: Cefas require a cutting machine that will produce top quality samples with precision accuracy. In order to reproduce the surface quality of otolith sections Cefas need to be able to replicate the cutting movement of the previous machine, therefore X, Y & Z-axis movement is necessary. Cefas are required to prepare samples from an expanding range of species from around the world. It is a requirement to develop new and innovative cutting methods in addition, to replicate protocols that are already in use by other institutes. These methods will enable Cefas to meet age determination validation requirements by producing clean, well defined annuli on sections which increases accuracy of reading for in-house readers and external QC partners. It is essential that the machine accommodates compatible discs that offer a high quality cut and that these discs are readily available. 1. Technical Requirement 1.1 Micrometer precision accuracy 1.2 Laser light technology for lining up samples 1.3 Servo-controlled X,Y & Z axis movement 1.4 Table with T-slot attachment capability 1.5 Single phase 240V 50Hz power supply 1.6 Variable speed motor, at least 300-3000rpm 1.7 Benchtop machine, no proprietary stands/supports 1.8 Fully enclosed cutting chamber 1.9 Fully adjustable coolant direction 1.10 Illuminated cutting chamber 1.11 External coolant fluid sump 1.12 Mist exhaust port present. Existing coolant mist removal system will attach 1.13 Large cutting chamber and table to hold Cefas standard sample blocks (115 x 76mm) 1.14 Programmable sectioning modes 1.15 Wide range of clamping tools 1.16 Accommodates good quality cutting discs for improved sample finish, that are readily available 1.17 2. Environmental Considerations • Unit should have a low power consumption. • Unit should be designed for reuse/remanufacture and of regenerative nature to eliminate waste where possible. • Consideration of how packaging will be managed. Ideally at the time of installation the supplier will remove packaging and dispose of by ethical and environmentally friendly methods. Where possible packaging is to be re-used or recycled. • Consideration of life cycle assessment for the equipment. 3. Hardware, Software, PC, Licenses, operating systems 3.1 The machine must be able to hold Cefas standard sample blocks (115 x 76mm) 3.2 The machine must have a Mist exhaust port present as Cefas existing coolant mist removal system may be required to be attached. 4. Compatibility with existing hardware/software/equipment 4.1 The machine must be able to hold Cefas standard sample blocks (115 x 76mm) 3.2 The machine must have a Mist exhaust port present as Cefas existing coolant mist removal system may be required to be attached. 5. Installation 5.1 Any user maintainable aspects of the system should be described in the bid submission. This is to include any limitations where there are no user serviceable aspects. 6. Ease of maintenance 6.1 Able to accommodate good quality cutting discs providing consistent high standard samples that are readily available. 6.2 Short lead time for deliveries. 6.3 Cefas require any potentially required parts and consumables to be available for at least the next 5 years. 7. Parts, Consumables and Updates 7.1 Warranties will start from the point of acceptance of delivery. Cefas expect minimum warranty period of 12 months to be included in the purchase. 7.2 Due to the waste resin buildup created in the cutting process Cefas require the machine to be serviced every 2 years as a minimum. 8. Warranties, Guarantees, Servicing 8.1 Warranties will start from the point of acceptance of delivery. Cefas expect minimum warranty period of at least 12 months to be included in the purchase.

Provision of services to conduct intertidal Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) flights to monitor potential coastal change and intertidal algal coverage for Hinkley Point C Nuclear New Build project to meet regulatory environmental monitoring requirements.

The BEEMS (British Energy Estuarine and Marine Studies) programme is funded by NNB Generating Company HPC (NNB GenCo). Through this programme, Cefas provide authoritative scientific information on the marine and transitional waters in the vicinity of potential new build nuclear power stations and requires a suitable Supplier to undertake monthly monitoring of Gravel Particle Transport at the Hinkley Point C frontage.

The BEEMS (British EDF Estuarine and Marine Studies) programme is funded by NNB GenCo (EDF Energy). Through this programme, Cefas provide authoritative scientific information on the marine and transitional waters in the vicinity of potential new build nuclear power stations and require a competent Contractor to deliver the element described below.<br/><br/>Cefas require services to conduct intertidal Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) flights to monitor potential coastal change and intertidal algal coverage for the Hinkley Point C (HPC) Nuclear New Build project to meet regulatory environmental monitoring requirements.

POSEIDON (Planning Offshore Wind Strategic Environmental Impact DecisiONs) is a Crown Estate-funded project (Offshore Wind Evidence & Change program (OWEC)) led by Natural England. The aim of the project is to provide tools to inform offshore wind planning, to minimise impacts on the natural environment through avoidance and early awareness of likely mitigation / compensation needs, allowing sustainable expansion of offshore wind. This will be achieved through the collection of strategic environmental baseline data and updated spatial models for key species (receptors), assemblages, and a suite of ecological metrics (diversity, functional traits). These will be used to identify regions that are most vulnerable to offshore wind impact and mapping of the environmental risk to help guide future offshore wind development rounds and to feed into wider marine planning.

Scientific advice on stock sustainability and catch limits is provided by the international Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) on a stock-by-stock basis, without considering interactions between stocks. These interactions, such as predator-prey dynamics, resource competition (biological interactions), and mixed fisheries interactions where multiple stocks are caught together and by different fisheries (technical interactions), affect the achievement of policy goals under the UK Fisheries Act 2020. Gathering the necessary evidence to integrate these processes into management advice will support the UK’s transition towards an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management (EAFM) and achievement of the objectives set out in the Fisheries Act 2020. Defra have commissioned Cefas to deliver a project that will support four objectives under the Fisheries Act 2020: 1. the sustainability objective - fish and aquaculture activities are environmentally sustainable in the long term; 2. the precautionary objective - the precautionary approach to fisheries management is applied, and exploitation of marine stocks restores and maintains populations of harvested species above biomass levels capable of producing maximum sustainable yield; 3. the ecosystem objective - fish and aquaculture activities are managed using an ecosystem-based approach to ensure that their negative impacts on marine ecosystems are minimised and, where possible, reversed; 4. the scientific evidence objective - the management of fish and aquaculture activities is based on the best available scientific advice; and Requirement: The Supplier will provide statistical modelling services to contribute to the development of methods for improving ways that take account of mixed fisheries interactions in management advice; specifically on incorporating interactions of fisheries with data-limited stocks in mixed fisheries models. The Supplier will work with the Cefas C8504 project team to advise on statistical and methodological aspects of tools to incorporate data-limited stocks in mixed fisheries models, contribute to the development of code and publication of the work in a peer reviewed journal. The development of tools and models will enable management advice to be broadened to take account a greater range of stocks, contributing to an improved evidence base on which to make decisions about the management of mixed fisheries.

Contract for the provision of enhanced support for Cefas emergency lone worker telephone system (Ascom hardware) including preventative maintenance and pro-active monitoring.

Spatial Transcriptomics consumables for the EU Horizons PARC programme.

Procurement of specialised fish measurement boxes allowing survey team to read tags, record location, and measure the length of the fish.

Purchase of five new noise recorders. It is a stand-alone unit with recorder, batteries, memory cards. It can be deployed to 1000m water depths and record for up to 5 months.

Provision of facilitation and associated services for workshops and events, both in the UK and overseas.

Contract for the requirement to charter a vessel for the deployment of a guard buoy and wave rider buoy at our Torness site, 55°58.786N, 2°24.564W and Firth of Forth site, 56°11.268N, 2°30.235W

Hire of Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) guardbuoys for 4 Scottish Locations. The guardbuoys are essential as they provide additional protection from vessel impact to the waverider buoys.

Delivery of travel-based safety, health and security training suitable for the risks identified for countries that Cefas travels to. The aim of the training is to offer greater skills and knowledge to anyone that travels overseas so that they are better able to work safely, securely and take care of their personal health and wellbeing and consider that of others that may travel with them. The courses may not be a prerequisite certification for staff to travel overseas or to be considered a gateway to enter or work in fragile environments. FCDO or other project funding routes may set the requirement for prerequisite SAFE training for certain projects and locations. Provision of the training in line with that mandated by FCDO provides assurance of appropriate content and that the training will meet the FCDO requirements. OTSSA (Overseas Travel Safety and Security Awareness) training content must be consistent with the requirements of the FCDO preferred SAFE training content.

The Radioanalytical team at Cefas Lowestoft has a requirement to replace some existing end-of-life equipment with a more efficient and reliable model. The Liquid Scintillation counter will have an exceptionally low background count rate to enable necessary improvements to our already low Limits of Detection to support a range of programmes, including Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE), and to help Cefas develop systems approaches and tackle complex environmental challenges. The Supplier will provide an ultra-Low level Liquid Scintillation counter as follows: 3.1. with substantial passive shielding in addition to active methods of background count reduction (integral guard counter, electronic BGD reduction systems etc) 3.2. provide the lowest achievable background count rates for both alpha and beta determinations 3.3. be capable of alpha/beta discrimination and simultaneous detection and quantification of multiple radionuclides/ROI’s (e.g. Plutonium alphas and Pu-241 beta emissions) at low environmental levels as well as the typical H-3, C-14, U-234/238, Ra-226, Rn-222, Y-90, Sr-89 etc 3.4. be capable of detecting beta’s up to 2MeV and alpha’s up to 10MeV 3.5. have beta efficiencies of at least 35% for samples with significant quench although much higher efficiencies would be anticipated for unquenched samples 3.6. have alpha efficiencies of at least 95% and Cerenkov efficiency of at least 60% 3.7. have in-built cooling to maintain appropriate, stable temperature 3.8. have internal, radioactive standard for quench correction curves 3.9. Power supply to be UK socket compatible.

Provision of licenses for Remote electronic monitoring (REM) equipment onboard various vessels, to allow collection and analysis of data.