UK Public Sector Contracts & Tenders

This project aims to create Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus and European storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) flight height distributions from flight height data collected from boats with laser rangefinders (LRFs), which can then be used to inform collision risk models (CRMs). The aim of this contract is to assess and provide plausible analytical options to address various sources of measurement error in LRF Manx Shearwater and storm petrel flight height data, based on the (already collected) available data, and to then implement the recommended option(s) to produce a robust general flight height distribution. Ideally the project would also separately produce flight height distributions across different environmental conditions to demonstrate the potential impacts of key variables, such as wind, on flight behaviour. To meet the overall aims of this project (Section 2), the objectives are: 1. Explore existing Manx Shearwater and storm petrel data and recommend appropriate analytical options that can account for the potential sources of measurement error (as described in Section3) in LRF flight height data and production of flight height distributions. 2. Implement the recommended analytical option(s) to incorporate measurement error into flight height estimates of Manx Shearwater (and storm petrels, if possible) and generate initial flight height distributions from currently available data which were collected in 2025. 3. Provide guidance on data quality issues from the 2025 field season that could be improved upon for the 2026 field season. 4. Provide guidance on interpretation and robustness of resulting flight height distributions, and considerations for implementation within standard UK stochastic CRM (sCRM) frameworks and tools. 5. Post-2026 field season, incorporate new data into the existing dataset and integrate into analyses developed as per Objective 2, and update analytical workflows as necessary.

Seabird Monitoring Team, based in Aberdeen, co-ordinates and participates in surveys that will contribute to our understanding of changes in distribution patterns of seabirds and identify key gaps in the evidence base for understanding natural capital assets and benefits. To this end, the Team entered into a partnership agreement with CEFAS and MARINElife to commence the Balearic Shearwater Monitoring Project. The project aims to deliver data on the UK's at-sea non-breeding Balearic Shearwater population, an IUCN red-listed species that is critically endangered and is not routinely monitored in UK waters. This work will build on and continue recent work developed by Natural England, in partnership with Cefas and MARINElife, to deliver data on the UK's at-sea non-breeding Balearic shearwater population. From 2015 to 2017, Natural England funded Balearic shearwater surveys, conducted by MARINElife, on Cefas PELTIC research cruises. Funding allowed the collection of robust European Seabirds at Sea (ESAS) standard data from those cruises, ultimately providing information on Balearic shearwater distribution and relative abundance within the survey area. Data have continued to be collected on a voluntary basis by MARINElife since then but using less robust methods and covering a smaller area. The JNCC will contribute to the partnership by providing expertise in conducting seabird surveys and contracting two ESAS-trained seabird surveyors for a period of approximately five weeks, during which time they will be onboard the RV CEFAS Endeavour as it completes its Autumn 2022 PELTIC survey within the Celtic Sea and English Channel. The professional surveyors will collect Balearic shearwater data which will increase the evidence base and time series data for this species. Additional information: You are invited by JNCC Support Co (JNCC) to submit a tender for the supply of works or services required under the above project. If interested, you should download and carefully read the documents contained within the zip file

Impartial third party support for the design and completion of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) process as outlined by RESEMBID Covid-19 Facility guidelines for JNCC's Covid-19 response project supporting the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) social and economic recovery and resiliency, entitled "Defining A Post-Covid-19 Resilient Recovery in the Turks And Caicos Islands: Sustainable Investment in the Future of the Island's People and Environment."

The goal of this project is to build on previous projects and experience gained elsewhere in the Caribbean and South Atlantic Territories, to provide BVI with a self-sufficient, secure data management system and geospatial data hub for environmental spatial data. The work will be delivered in phases and the focus of this first phase contract is on data management fundamentals, standards and data flows and to provide an expanded datasets inventory and metadata catalogue that will support the creation of a centralised data hub and the general vision outlined in previous work.

Impartial third party support for the design and completion of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) process as outlined by RESEMBID Covid-19 Facility guidelines for JNCC's Covid-19 response project supporting the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) social and economic recovery and resiliency, entitled "Defining A Post-Covid-19 Resilient Recovery in the Turks And Caicos Islands: Sustainable Investment in the Future of the Island's People and Environment."

JNCC wishes to commission a contract to undertake the Particle Size and infaunal taxonomic analysis of samples collected on the 0922S cruise. There were 128 samples collected on the survey to the West Shetland Shelf MPA. Bidders are invited to provide a description of how the requirements set out below will be met and a per sample quote. A taxonomic sample reference collection is required, which the successful contractor will provide to the National Museum of Scotland (see Appendix B). The sample residues will be stored by the contractor until completion of the contract (i.e. after any remedial action identified through quality checks has been actioned). Additional information: You are invited by JNCC Support Co (JNCC) to submit a tender for the supply of works or services required under the above project. If interested, you should download and carefully read the documents contained within the zip file.

JNCC wishes to commission a contract to undertake the analysis of seabed imagery (still images and video) collected on the 0922S survey from drop frame camera (DC). Video and still images from 86 stations will be analysed; tenderers should provide quotes outlined in Table 1: More detailed metadata will be provided and information from logs and the survey report. There are also representative images from each station from the 0922S WSS survey shown in Annex C. Additional information: You are invited by JNCC Support Co (JNCC) to submit a tender for the supply of works or services required under the above project. If interested, you should download and carefully read the documents contained within the zip file or by following the link.

The Feature Activity Sensitivity Tool (FeAST) Working Group made up of JNCC, Marine Scotland, Marine Scotland Science, NatureScot and SEPA are looking to redevelop the existing FeAST application. This is to address user feedback on areas where the current tool could be improved, allow the addition of different marine features and additional functionality. Additionally, the redevelopment is to provide a secure cloud-based hosting and support solution. This project is the second stage in the redevelopment process and aims to take the functional requirements captured in the first stage and use these to realise a new solution. The successful bidder is expected to work with the FeAST Working Group and other application users, in developing, testing, implementing, then hosting and supporting a redeveloped FeAST application. Additional information: You are invited by JNCC Support Co (JNCC) to submit a tender for the supply of works or services required under the above project. If interested, you should download and carefully read the documents contained within the zip file

Building upon work to date, carried out under JNCC's Natural Capital in the Overseas Territories programme this Defra funded project aims to develop a method to assess the status and trends in Terrestrial Protected Area (PA) condition, using case studies from the UKOTs and coordinated with the K4 Marine PA condition work, which is an ongoing project in JNCC, funded by FCDO. These case studies should exemplify different kinds of PA designations and types of ecosystems to provide a wide perspective of options, challenges, and synergies to addressing PA condition across all UKOTs. 1 electronic copy to be sent to: TenderResponse@jncc.gov.uk

Tender to be submitted to TenderResponse@jncc.gov.uk

The Simple ARD Project Management Group (PMG) made up of JNCC, The Scottish Government, NatureScot, and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland (DAERA-NI) are looking to outsource the production of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 Analysis Ready Data (ARD) for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Additional information: You are invited by JNCC Support Co (JNCC) to submit a tender for the supply of works or services required under the above project. If interested, you should download and carefully read the documents contained within the zip file

A review of opportunities and alternatives for the sustainable finance of the natural environment leading to the development of a Natural Capital Investment Plan for the Turks and Caicos Islands. This work forms part of JNCC's RESEMBID Covid-19 response project to support the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) social and economic recovery and resiliency, entitled: "Defining A Post-Covid-19 Resilient Recovery in the Turks And Caicos Islands: Sustainable Investment in the Future of the Island's People and Environment." The project is intended as a foresighting exercise to identify potential opportunities and alternatives for place-based investment and support for the natural environment in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The project should also consider and identify factors and barriers which may impact upon successful implementation - such as blue and green finance alternatives, issues of appropriate scale and investment timelines. Caribbean islands have strong economic dependence on their ecosystems, making the implementation of sustainable ecosystem management a complex challenge in balancing use and preservation, but nonetheless a critical necessity. There is a well-documented appetite for sustainable livelihood creation and economic diversification in TCI. The 2015 'Greening the Economy of TCI' project, requires a refresh in light of new global conditions. It identified specific areas where further skills development is needed in TCI. The 2015 consultations JNCC conducted on behalf of TCI Government to inform the TCI Environment Strategy indicates strong advocacy for inclusion of communities in the implementation of strategies that impact on their environment and economic opportunities. The final investment plan is expected to use the extensive evidence base that exists on TCI's natural capital. This should be incorporated with existing best practice examples of natural capital investment and sustainable finance mechanisms. Recent JNCC work on TCI's natural capital, and its links to this project, is detailed in Appendix 1. In addition, JNCC are conducting both a Socioeconomic Survey and a Business Attitudes Survey across TCI which will yield results that may be relevant to the development of an appropriate place-based NCIP. Additional information: You are invited by JNCC Support Co (JNCC) to submit a tender proposal for the supply of works or services required under the above project. If interested, you should download and carefully read the documents contained within the zip file.

The aim of the contract is to facilitate the collection of sidescan sonar data on a JNCC/Marine Scotland Science MPA monitoring survey through the provision of appropriate equipment and an experienced engineer to operate the equipment. JNCC and Marine Scotland Science will be undertaking a Marine Protected Area monitoring survey on Marine Scotland Science Research Vessel SCOTIA to Pobie Bank Reef Special Area of Conservation. The survey will mobilise in Aberdeen Harbour on Sunday 23rd July 2023, depart on Monday 24th July from Aberdeen and demobilise on Friday 4th August 2023 back in Aberdeen.

Fuvahmulah atoll in the Maldives was declared an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2020 due to its varied biodiversity including diverse coral reef ecosystems and significant populations of sharks. Several protected areas sit within the Biosphere Reserve including Farikede MPA, designated to protect oceanic species that utilise the area including two species of thresher shark; bigeye thresher shark (Alopias superciliosus) and common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus). In recent years a valuable shark diving industry has emerged across Fuvahmulah as it has become globally recognised for its dive encounters with an abundance of oceanic megafauna including tiger sharks, whale sharks, oceanic manta rays and schooling hammerhead sharks. Of particular interest is the famous 'Tiger Shark Zoo' or 'Tiger Harbour' dive site where divers can experience close encounters with multiple tiger sharks, attracted to the site via provisioning. For the context of this work, the term 'provisioning' refers to the use of food, in the form of fish waste from the fishing industry (e.g. tuna heads), to attract sharks to the site. The Maldives Ministry of Environment, Technology and Climate Change and Fuvahmulah City Council are currently reviewing the management of MPAs and marine industries on Fuvahmulah. To support the evaluation of current management, this contract seeks to commission a review of shark diving activities that take place at Fuvahmulah. The review will focus on two areas;1) the supplementary feeding of tiger sharks. Summarising current provisioning activities and management in place and providing advice, based on globally recognised best practice, around how current practices and management could be improved. 2) wider shark diving activities that take place in and around Farikede MPA to support the development of a Fuvahmulah tailored shark diving code of conduct that will feed into the management of the Fuvahmulah Biosphere Reserve and MPAs.

Invitation to Tender: Reference C23-0445-1788 Contract Title: Severe Weather Monitoring Contract Background to Project The Severe Weather scheme is designed to help with conservation of waterbirds (ducks, geese, waders). During prolonged periods of severe weather waterbirds struggle to feed as the ground becomes hard, or snow covered, and they have less energy to deal with any disturbance. The scheme was designed to manage the disturbance caused by waterfowl shooting during prolonged periods of severe weather, but, increasingly, also has a role in minimising disturbance from other recreational activities such as bird ringing, walking, water-based recreation etc. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act Section 2 (6) the relevant Secretary of State(s) has power to impose a temporary close season of waterbird shooting during 'prolonged severe weather'. The Severe Weather scheme provides an agreed process as to what qualifies as 'prolonged severe weather'. This scheme covers GB, with England and Wales being dealt with together as a single management unit, separately from Scotland. For more background information please see http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-2894. This ITT is for the gathering and provision of severe weather data to partners to inform decisions on voluntary restraint of shooting and other disturbances and statutory suspensions of shooting between 7th November 2023 and 20th February 2024. Next Steps If interested in this project potential bidders are invited to download the following documents and complete the acceptance form of our terms and conditions attached to the invitation to tender letter (ITT). • Invitation to Tender letter (ITT) - Proforma Form to be completed • Annex A • Instructions for Tenderers (submission of bids) PS4a • JNCC General terms and conditions • JNCC Quality Assurance Policy • PS12 rates for contractors • Conflict of Interest Timetable • Date for return of tender: 30 August 2023 @ 16:00 hours • Proposed start date: 25 September 2023 • Proposed end date: 1 March 2024

JNCC and the Scottish Marine Directorate (formally Marine Scotland Science (MSS)) carried out an offshore seabed survey to the Central Fladen MPA (CFL hereafter) onboard the Marine Research Vessel (MRV) Scotia (survey code 0723S). Sampling at CFL was focussed on the designated Burrowed Mud feature. Benthic Samples were collected from stations within the MPA from water depths of 100-280m JNCC wishes to commission a contract to undertake the Particle Size analysis of samples collected on the 0723S cruise. 139 samples were collected on this survey.Up to a further 80 stations to be collected from the same area on a survey currently in progress which will also be included in this analysis forming a combined 219 samples maximum. Address for tender submission: 1 electronic copy to be sent to TenderResponse@jncc.gov.uk

Project Aims JNCC wishes to commission a contract to undertake the analysis of water samples to be collected on the TC23031 offshore survey. There are up to 50 water sampling locations to be sampled on this survey, each consisting of suit of samples acquired at up to three depths, totalling a maximum of 150 sampling events. Option 1 Please provide quote for complete analysis of up to 150 nutrient samples and 150 THC samples and draft deliverables by March 8th 2024, any remedial action to be completed by 22nd March 2024. Option 2 Please provide a quote for the cost and breakdown of the number of samples that can be completed by March 8th, 2024, with expectation of completing remaining samples in following financial year by end of Q1 of financial year 24/25 (remedial action complete by 30th June 2024). In your quote, please detail the cost per sample completed in financial year 23/24 and the cost per sample completed in financial year 24/25 including an estimate of the completion timeframe. Option 3 Please provide a quote for the cost and breakdown of timings for completion of up to 150 nutrient samples and 150 THC samples by end of financial year 2024/2025. Project Background JNCC will be undertaking an offshore seabed survey to the Dolphin Head (DH hereafter) and North East of Farnes Deep (NEFD hereafter) HPMA's onboard the Marine Research Vessel (MRV) Tom Crean (survey code TC23031). The TC23031 survey will depart from Portland on 13th September 2023 and return to Aberdeen on approx. 10th October 2023. JNCC wishes to commission a contract to undertake nutrient and total hydrocarbon content (THC) analysis of 150 water samples collected on this survey. NEFD and DH lie in offshore waters to the east of Northumberland and south of Sussex respectively. For more information regarding NEFD and DH please see https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/north-east-of-farnes-deep-mpa-and-hpma/ and https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/dolphin-head-hpma/. Sampling will be conducted using a Niskin bottle rosette sampler onboard the R/V Tom Crean. Seawater will be collected from each depth/station and frozen in a 1L plastic bottle with approximately 5cm of headspace air for analysis of; ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate. An additional 1L glass bottle of water will be collected and frozen for analysis of total hydrocarbon content (THC).This will result in final sample numbers of up to 150 samples stored in plastic bottles for nutrient analysis, and 150 samples stored in glass bottles for THC Additional information: You are invited by JNCC Support Co (JNCC) to submit a tender for the supply of works or services required under the above project. If interested, you should download and carefully read the documents contained within the zip file.

An increased demand for marine space requires adequate management by marine planners to ensure that biodiversity targets are not compromised and to reduce conflict between sectors and marine users. Implementing cumulative effects assessment (CEA) at a strategic level gives marine planners a clearer picture of the compounded impacts of multiple sectors and recreational uses to help (a) adopt policies that keep marine development and use within environmental limits, and (b) guide project-level decisions accordingly. However, our current capacity to understand, evaluate and make decisions based on CEA is inadequate and it remains a persistent and fundamental challenge to more progressive marine plans and policies. Currently, there is no consistent approach adopted by marine planners but there have been numerous attempts at plan-level CEA. To determine the appropriate approach, it is proposed that it is time to take stock of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of the different CEA approaches for use in marine plan development at different scales. The project is being run by a steering group made up of members including marine planning leads from multiple organisations and agencies across all/most administrations in the UK. This includes JNCC (project managers), NatureScot, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, The Marine Management Organisation, Marine Directorate of Scottish Government and Cefas. Project Aims: 1. To assess the relative merits of known cumulative assessment approaches, and their suitability for use at a strategic level during the preparation of marine plans. 2. To recommend a preferred approach to strategic level CEA for marine planners, including any method development that would further improve the approach. 3. To define data, evidence and research priorities to further refine CEA approach(es) for marine planning. Additional information: You are invited by JNCC Support Co (JNCC) to submit a tender for the supply of works or services required under the above project. If interested, you should download and carefully read the documents contained within the zip file

Undertake a detailed assessment of species/country combinations currently subject to a trade suspension under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1587 (retained EU law) and previously identified as a priority for further review in a report commissioned by JNCC, to establish whether the suspensions are still warranted.

The Environmental Pollution Programme is a UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme funded by the UK's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and delivered by JNCC. The programme is currently undertaking a series of multi-year projects in South Africa researching a range of issues and how they impact on local communities. The aim of this element of the work is to supply a mobile laboratory that can support the projects by providing a resource for accessing sites, sample processing, outreach activities and the safe returning of biological samples to host institutions.