Tender

CEFAS26-14 Marine benthic macroinvertebrate analysis of samples MCZ

CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

27 Feb 2026 at 12:08

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) is seeking a supplier for the analysis of marine benthic macroinvertebrates as part of a collaboration with Natural England within Marine Protected Areas, which include the Kentish Knock East Marine Conservation Zone, located 35km off the east coast of England in the Thames Estuary. This procurement falls under the services category, with a gross value of £100,000. The process is at the 'Tender' stage, and interested parties must submit their bids by 24th March 2026. The contract is poised to commence on 20th April 2026, concluding on 16th October 2026, with a possibility of extension. The tender is open, allowing for electronic submissions and is designated for sub-central public authority projects.

This tender presents significant business opportunities, particularly for enterprises experienced in marine biology analysis and environmental monitoring services. As the procurement method is "Below threshold - open competition," small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to participate. The successful bidder will play a critical role in processing and identifying macrofaunal samples to support conservation measures, potentially enhancing their credential in high-quality data analysis and auditing fields. Responding businesses should demonstrate strong capabilities in taxonomy, quality assurance protocols, and have the resources to handle sample processing effectively. The work involves both primary analysis and quality control audits, which must adhere to rigorous standards set by NMBAQC, offering the supplier a chance to showcase expertise in marine conservation and analysis services.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

CEFAS26-14 Marine benthic macroinvertebrate analysis of samples MCZ

Notice Description

Cefas and Natural England (NE) have been working collaboratively to deliver monitoring surveys within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as part of the ongoing MPA programme. These surveys aim to support Natural England's monitoring objectives and provide robust evidence to inform conservation measures. Located 35 km off the east coast of England, Kentish Knock East Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) is in the outer Thames Estuary. As part of the Marine Protected Area Program, Cefas and Natural England collected sediment samples within and surrounding the site using a 0.1m2 mini Hamon grab during a survey aboard the RV Cefas Endeavour during November 2025. A total of 120 samples were successfully collected from four Case Study Areas (30 grabs per CSA) in November and December surveys (see Annex 1). The samples were preserved in formaldehyde shortly after sampling, and all containers have both an internal and external label, clearly indicating the survey and station information. Requirement: The Supplier is required to process 120 macrofaunal samples: to extract and identify all biota retained following sieving on a 1.0 mm capture mesh, as per the NE Atlantic Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control (NMBAQC) guidelines detailing extraction and identification protocols (NMBAQC scheme - APEM). In addition to this there is a requirement to ensure these data are audited as per the NMBAQC Own Samples protocol prior to submission to Cefas (NMBAQC scheme - APEM). Enumeration, identification and biomassing to the lowest possible taxonomic level must be carried out following the NMBAQC Processing Requirement Protocol and Taxonomic Discrimination Protocol (NMBAQC scheme - APEM). Biomass (wet weight in grams to at least 4 d.p.) is required for all enumerable taxa. Balances must be serviced annually and a valid service certificate must be supplied with this tender. Taxa list from previous surveys can be given on request or can be accessed via the One Benthic portal . No formal reference collection is needed for this project, but selected reference specimens will be requested by Cefas to be returned to the laboratories in Lowestoft in an appropriate preservation liquid (i.e. 100% IDA or 70% IMS, 20% water and 10% glycerol). Notable taxa must be highlighted here such as non-native species and new or unusual records. Non-native species must be added to the Non-native Species Information Portal (NNSIP) (hosted on the Non-native Species Secretariat website, GB Non Native Species Information Portal (GBNNSIP) - providing records and alerts for non-native species in Great Britain | InfraPortal). The abundance and biomass data matrices must be sent via email (email address to be confirmed by Cefas on contract implementation) following completion. All species names must be run through the WoRMS 'Match Taxa' tool so that all naming is current (http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=match). Quality assurance (QA): 10% of samples from this contract are to be subject to an independent QA process following the requirements of the NMBAQC 'own sample' scheme assessment criteria with the scheme coordinator (or their assigned Audit Quality Control laboratory (AQC)) (see above). As this is also a project level audit the full data set will be quality assured; in addition to the samples selected to assess processing, additional taxa will be identified for review from the full data matrix. Any remedial action required following the AQC process must be completed within an agreed timeframe at no extra cost to the project, including any subsequent AQC needed. The AQC contract will be arranged and paid for by Cefas. The processing and audit laboratories will include Cefas in all communications relating to this contract and will work to ensure timely delivery. Reporting All grab sample analyses need to be entered into Marine Recorder Online and any import spreadsheets to be delivered with the final reports. Natural England will arrange system logins to Marine Recorder Online for the awarded Supplier to use. Guidance 'Marine Recorder Guidance for Contractors' will also be provided. The Intellectual Property Rights and Copyright of all data and outputs (including photographs) will be owned jointly by Cefas and Natural England. All data will be made available by Cefas and Natural England under the Open Government Licence at the end of the project. Deliverables: * Externally audited, quality-controlled abundance and biomass matrices with current nomenclature (Primary processing and Audit lab) - spreadsheet and evidence that it has been upload on Marine Recorder Online according to the guidelines. * Selected Reference specimens (Primary processing lab) * Internal Quality Control logs (Primary processing lab) * Audited Quality Control report (Audit lab) * Weekly project summary updates and correspondence between primary processing and audit lab (Primary processing and Audit lab)F Delivery Dates: 1. Primary analysis to be completed by end 4th September 2026 2. Fully AQC'd data to be completed by end 2nd October 2026 and upload on Marine Recorder by end 16th October 2026 3. Agreed list of reference specimens to be returned to Cefas by 16th October 2026 Quantity: 120 mini Hamon grab samples (details of the samples can be found in Annex 1 below). Location: Samples are available for collection by the successful Supplier as soon as possible following Contract signature, from the storage facility in Lowestoft - Cefas, Pakefield Road, NR33 0HT (costs to be included in tender as per RFQ Part 2 - Pricing). Details of the sample collection are to be confirmed following contract allocation and samples must be transported safely and securely.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The Buyer may extend the Contract for a period of up to 6 Months by giving not less than 10 Working Days' notice in writing to the Supplier prior to the Expiry Date. The Conditions of the Contract shall apply throughout any such extended period.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-065e2e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017853-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71620000 - Analysis services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£83,333 Under £100K
Lots Value
£83,333 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Feb 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
24 Mar 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
19 Apr 2026 - 16 Oct 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LOWESTOFT
Postcode
NR33 0HT
Post Town
Norwich
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH6 Suffolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH63 East Suffolk
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
East Suffolk
Electoral Ward
Kirkley & Pakefield
Westminster Constituency
Lowestoft

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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