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CEFAS26-85 Contract for provision of Water and Sediment Sampling Analysis for HPC

CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

16 Sep 2026 at 13:23

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

22 Jul 2026 at 13:30

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

01 Jul 2026 at 12:28

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) procured marine survey and laboratory analysis services for the BEEMS programme, which supports scientific monitoring around potential new nuclear power stations. The work concerns the marine environment next to Hinkley Point C and involves collecting water and sediment samples, profiling the water column for conductivity, temperature, depth and other variables, carrying out field measurements, and analysing samples in a laboratory. Sampling is expected to use a suitable vessel and includes approximately three days of vessel operations: two days for water sampling and one for sediment sampling. Hydrazine analysis is excluded because it is carried out by Cefas. The named buyer is Cefas, based in Lowestoft, and delivery is in the UK.

The procurement is complete following an open procedure for one lot, with five bids received, including one from an SME. Briggs Marine Contractors Ltd was awarded the contract on 11 September 2026 for £340,000 excluding VAT (£408,000 including VAT). The awarded contract runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027, with four further 12-month renewal periods permitted, giving a maximum end date of 30 September 2031. The original estimated value was £125,000 excluding VAT (£150,000 including VAT). Bids closed on 4 August 2026, following an amended deadline, and the award decision period ended on 21 August 2026. Evaluation weighted technical quality at 70%, social value at 10% and price at 20%. Economic and technical selection criteria applied.

This award shows established demand from Cefas for vessel-based offshore sampling combined with marine science and laboratory capability around a nuclear power station site. Competitors seeking similar work would need to demonstrate access to a suitable survey vessel, competent crews for water and sediment operations, and the ability to collect reliable field measurements and water-column profiles. They would also need robust physical and chemical sample-handling and laboratory-analysis arrangements, while recognising that hydrazine analysis is retained by Cefas. Credibility would depend on strong technical evidence, appropriate economic capacity, and the ability to manage tidal restrictions, adverse weather and changing survey frequencies. The opportunity was suitable for SMEs and VCSEs, although the successful supplier was a large marine contractor.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

CEFAS26-85 Contract for provision of Water and Sediment Sampling Analysis for HPC

Notice Description

The BEEMS (British EDF Energy Estuarine and Marine Studies) programme is funded by NNB Generation Company (HPC) Limited. 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 the Supplier to deliver the marine sampling, profiling, and laboratory analysis services described in Section 3 below. Scope of Requirements Cefas require the supplier to acquire sediment and water samples along with water column profiles of conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) and other variables from a suitable vessel for the purpose of physical and chemical monitoring of the marine offshore environment adjacent to the Hinkley Point C new nuclear build power station. It is anticipated that the required sampling will involve circa 3 days of vessel operations - two days for water sampling and one day for sediment sampling. The requirement includes collection of all samples and field measurements and all laboratory sample analysis, excluding hydrazine analysis which is to be conducted by Cefas laboratory.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The Buyer may extend the Contract for a period of up to 4 further periods of 12 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-06c123
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087757-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71354500 - Marine survey services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£125,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£125,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£340,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
4 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
11 Sep 20261 months ago
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 30 Sep 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
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
Postcode Area
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Briggs Marine Contractors Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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