Award

Offshore Wind Turbine Blade Painting Pilot

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

01 Oct 2025 at 09:24

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has awarded a contract for a project titled "Offshore Wind Turbine Blade Painting Pilot," under the industry category of research and development consultancy services. The project is part of efforts to enhance the UK's offshore wind capacity while protecting the marine environment. Managed through an open procedure, this procurement process is currently in the award stage, with the official award dated 11 February 2025. The contract, awarded to ERM, will span from 7 March 2025 to 31 December 2028, focusing on innovative methods for reducing avian collisions with turbine blades. The project's location is mainly within the UK, with potential implications across British Overseas Territories and Europe. The procurement method was open, suitable for SMEs and VCSEs, with a contract value of £1,367,877.04.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in environmental consultancy, sustainable energy, and ecological protection. Companies with expertise in innovative marine technologies, particularly those aimed at reducing environmental impacts of offshore developments, will find this project a fitting venture. The pilot's success could pave the way for future projects, thus offering long-term engagement opportunities. SMEs and VCSEs are well-positioned to compete given the project's focus on research and specialised consultancy services, fostering business growth and contributing to the sustainable energy sector's expansion.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Offshore Wind Turbine Blade Painting Pilot

Notice Description

The Government has a Clean Power by 2030 Mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower with aims to cut bills, create jobs and deliver security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity by 2030, accelerating to net zero. This will be delivered, in part, by radically increasing the UK's offshore wind capacity. The Government is also clear that nature recovery should go hand in hand with delivering on the Clean Power Mission. Defra is implementing an Offshore Wind Environmental Improvement Package (OWEIP) which aims to accelerate offshore wind deployment whilst protecting the marine environment. Designing and implementing Offshore Wind Environmental Standards (OWES) is a key part of the OWEIP and will support offshore wind developers to take a more consistent approach to avoiding, reducing, and mitigating for the impact of their offshore wind farms on the marine environment. Part of Defra's aim through the development of the OWES is to explore innovative approaches to provide protection to the marine environment, whilst ensuring compatibility with other marine activities. Offshore Wind Evidence and Change (OWEC) Programme The Offshore Wind Evidence and Change (OWEC) programme, run by The Crown Estate, in partnership with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). brings together a coalition of 26 government organisations, industry bodies, and environmental NGOs to collaborate and act as agents for change in the face of climate and biodiversity crises. The programme funds a range of projects to de-risk and accelerate the delivery of clean offshore technologies and supports the UK's position as one of the most attractive places to invest in offshore renewables, whilst enabling our marine and coastal ecosystems to thrive. To date, The Crown Estate has funded 35 projects to fill critical knowledge gaps and support the offshore wind consenting process. Defra's OWEC Funded Pilot Programme The latest OWEC project call opened in September 2023, and Defra submitted a successful funding bid, split equally, to pilot two innovative approaches to manage the environmental impacts of offshore wind turbine blade painting to reduce bird collisions, and a noise limit to reduce the impact of construction noise on marine species. The project in this Invitation to Tender (ITT) will focus on turbine blade painting only and will consist of a multi-year programme of work to gather evidence to test whether turbine blade painting on offshore wind projects is achievable in protecting vulnerable seabirds. If successful, turbine blade painting could be part of future OWES. Project aim This pilot project will trial turbine blade painting to assess whether turbine blade painting is successful in reducing avian collision risk in an offshore wind context.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-8a3d9976-0c01-4913-ba15-d6b1ec3300eb
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/49e31fa8-a187-4783-86bd-250b91a7df58
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure (above threshold)
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,367,877 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,367,877 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
27 Jan 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
11 Feb 20251 years ago
Contract Period
7 Mar 2025 - 31 Dec 2028 3-4 years
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
DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS
Contact Name
Defra
Contact Email
procurement@defra.gov.uk
Contact Phone
0345 9335577

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Post Town
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLI London
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ERM

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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