Award

Testing eDNA metabarcoding as a technique for tracking sedimentary condition - marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme

NATURAL ENGLAND

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

09 Sep 2024 at 08:23

Award Notice
Tender

22 May 2024 at 11:04

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Natural England has awarded a contract to James Hutton Limited for testing eDNA metabarcoding as a technique for tracking sedimentary condition as part of the Marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (mNCEA) Programme. This initiative focuses on assessing marine natural capital assets and studying how environmental pressures affect benthic fauna using DNA metabarcoding alongside traditional methods. The contract, valued at £20,600.4, covers services in the environmental sector within the United Kingdom from August 2024 to February 2025. Survey activities are planned for July and August 2024 in locations including the Humber and Tees Estuary. The submission deadline for quotes was 11th June 2024, and the tendering period began on 22nd May 2024.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in environmental services, particularly those with capabilities in DNA analysis and ecological monitoring. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in environmental consulting, biodiversity assessment, and monitoring service provision would be particularly well-suited to compete for such contracts. By participating in government-led environmental initiatives, businesses can enhance their market credibility, expand their expertise in innovative scientific techniques, and foster growth in the burgeoning field of environmental conservation and ecosystem management.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Testing eDNA metabarcoding as a technique for tracking sedimentary condition - marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme

Notice Description

This project is part of the Marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (mNCEA) Programme which is a three-year Defra-funded programme that looks to deliver evidence on the extent and condition of marine natural capital assets, along with tools and guidance to support decision-making using the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) approach. This particular project is testing DNA metabarcoding as a technique for tracking sedimentary ecosystem asset condition. DNA metabarcoding will be used alongside traditional morphological infauna ID to understand how eDNA of benthic fauna responds to anthropogenic pressure (such as pollution, contaminants, disturbance, etc.). The outputs will be used to assess if these metabarcoding techniques can be used in future monitoring scenarios that will enable more effective and efficient monitoring of impacts on the seabed at greater spatial scales, and with greater ease, than is currently possible. Natural England is collecting traditional benthic infauna grab samples and eDNA sediment samples along pressure gradients in up to two sites, including the Humber and the Tees Estuary. The surveys will be conducted in July- August 2024. The aim of this contract is to produce DNA metabarcoding data for benthic eDNA sediment samples, and examine this data in the context of pressure gradients and associated infauna data. Metabarcoding and traditional taxonomic output will be evaluated for their respective potential to be used as a method for determining the condition of marine sediments and therefore as a driver of their ecosystem service delivery potential. The primary interest is to see if there is a change in community composition in response to known pressure gradients. This will be based on understanding of the meiofaunal and microbial diversity, macrobenthic diversity, and wider community diversity (eg. fish). The timeline for this work will be from June 2024 - February 2025. Additional information: To apply for this opportunity you must submit your quotation meeting the requirements detailed in the Request for Quotation (RFQ) attached. Your response must be sent to Sajan.Sebastian@naturalengland.org.uk by 17:00 on Tuesday 11 th June 2024. If you have any clarification questions linked to this opportunity or the procurement process please submit these via email to Sajan.Sebastian@naturalengland.org.uk. The deadline for clarifications is Tuesday 04 June 2024. Please note that, unless commercially sensitive, both the question and the response will be circulated to all tenderers.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-859e14e3-9651-4fc0-9d83-f0a1292c9c2f
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/253a666f-3c65-41f8-925f-09ba89bced37
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure (below threshold)
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

90700000 - Environmental services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£22,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£20,600 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Sep 20241 years ago
Submission Deadline
11 Jun 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
7 Aug 20241 years ago
Contract Period
31 Jul 2024 - 27 Feb 2025 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NATURAL ENGLAND
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CAMBRIDGE
Postcode
CB2 8DR
Post Town
Cambridge
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH42 Cambridgeshire CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Cambridge
Electoral Ward
Petersfield
Westminster Constituency
Cambridge

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

JAMES HUTTON

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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