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CEFAS26-78 Contract for the provision of a marine environmental survey vessel.

CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

21 Sep 2026 at 11:38

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Tender

02 Jul 2026 at 13:32

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), working with Natural England and the University of Southampton, procured a marine environmental survey vessel for monitoring the Kentish Knock East Marine Protected Areas in English waters. The work supports conservation evidence and assessment of benthic habitat recovery after proposed management measures. The vessel is a deployment and recovery platform for a mini autonomous underwater vehicle, sediment profile imaging camera and, if required, drop-down video equipment. Cefas, Natural England and the University of Southampton provide the survey planning, equipment, operation and data collection. The supplier provides the vessel, crew, deck operations, lifting equipment and onboard welfare facilities for the survey team.

This below-threshold open competition is complete and has been awarded to Briggs Marine Contractors Ltd. One lot was evaluated on technical quality at 70%, social value at 10% and pricing at 20%. The estimated value was £45,833.33 excluding VAT, or £55,000 including VAT; the awarded contract value is £41,425.30 excluding VAT, or £42,275.81 including VAT. The award was made on 21 September 2026, the contract was signed that day, and the contract runs from 21 September to 31 October 2026. The requirement covers a single mobilisation of up to six survey days, with the survey planned for September or October 2026. Bids and enquiries had deadlines of 24 July and 20 July 2026 respectively.

This procurement demonstrates demand for specialist marine survey vessel charter and safe offshore deployment support from a UK public-sector marine science buyer. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need an MCA Maritime and Coastguard Agency small-workboat Category 2 coded vessel, suitable for environmental survey operations, with an A-frame or crane rated to lift up to 400 kg and enough deck space for repeated equipment handling. The operating team would need a suitably qualified Master, trained and experienced Mate, and competent deck crew or able seafarers. Relevant experience deploying and recovering autonomous underwater vehicles, sediment profile imaging and drop-down video equipment is important, alongside safe vessel positioning, lifting compliance, insurance covering additional personnel and onboard welfare provision.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

CEFAS26-78 Contract for the provision of a marine environmental survey vessel.

Notice Description

Cefas and Natural England (NE) have been working collaboratively to deliver a monitoring survey within the Kentish Knock East (KKNE) Marine Protected Areas (MPA) as part of the ongoing MPA monitoring programme funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Through this programme, Cefas co-ordinates some of the evidence collection for the monitoring of MPAs in English waters. The survey aims to support NE's monitoring objectives and provide robust evidence to inform conservation measures (Type 1 monitoring) as well as at assessing the recovery of benthic habitats after the implementation of proposed management measures within the MPA (Type 3 monitoring). The first part of the survey at KKNE was undertaken in November 2025 and focuses on grab sampling. However, the data collection could not be completed due to equipment failure. Cefas and NE are therefore seeking to deliver the remaining objectives of the survey: 1. Monitor the extent and distribution of sediment Broadscale Habitats (BSH) through the acquisition of imagery data, using an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) as the primary system, with a Drop-Down Video (DDV) camera as a back-up. 2. Monitor the carbon content of sediment BSH features through the collection of sediment imagery, using a Sediment Profile Imaging (SPI) camera. Objective 1 above will be conducted in collaboration with a team from the University of Southampton (UoS). Survey design: The KKNE survey design adopts a Before-After Control-Impact approach and a box design, to collect data from within the MPA and in control areas outside the site boundary. The boxes are labelled Case Study Areas (CSAs): two located within the MCZ ('impact') and two corresponding CSAs outside the MCZ ('control'). Each CSA has an approximate area of 8-9 km2 and were positioned to avoid existing infrastructure in the MPA such as a power cable running through the south of the site (Figure 1). A 1nm buffer was applied to all infrastructure to delineate the survey boxes following the recommendation of the Crown Estate Seabed survey licence (arranged by Natural England). Each control CSA has been selected for comparable fishing pressure, and environmental conditions (e.g. depth and sediment type). Vessel Specification Requirement: Cefas requires provision of a marine environmental survey vessel for a single mobilisation of up to 6 survey days, planned at neap tide in September or October 2026 (exact dates will be agreed post-award). Cefas requires the use of an MCA (MISW) "small workboat" class Category 2 coded survey vessel to support deployment and recovery of environmental survey equipment with a maximum single lift of up to 400 kg. The vessel will act as a deployment and recovery platform for equipment operated by: * University of Southampton (UoS) - mini Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). * Cefas - Sediment Profile Imaging (SPI) and Drop-Down Video (DDV) camera; and Cefas/UoS/NE will be responsible for survey planning, deployed equipment, equipment operation and data acquisition. The Supplier will allow for and assist in the vessel being mobilised by a team of up to 5 Cefas personnel to undertake: * Mini AUV (~100 kg) deployment and recovery operations The Supplier will provide safe vessel positioning and competent deck operations to support repeated AUV launch and recovery cycles throughout the survey period. * SPI camera (up to 400kg) deployment and recovery At each station selected by Cefas/UoS/NE (to be confirmed at start-up meeting), the SPI will be deployed (maximum of 10 stations per CSA). At each station the camera will be deployed, and five replicates ("hops") will be collected, between each hop the camera will be raised and the vessel moved 5 m. Two images are collected at each replicate, giving a total of 10 images per station. The location of the sampling station will be provided at the start up meeting. Cefas will provide an engineer that can support/advise on deployment and recovery. * Contingency: DDV camera deployment and recovery In case the AUV proves unsuitable for the environmental conditions at the site, a DDV camera frame will be used to collect video and still images at all proposed stations (location to be confirmed at the start up meeting). DDV camera sampling will comprise of an extended video transect of 100-150 m, providing sufficient data coverage to detect change in BSHs across each CSA. Cefas will provide an engineer that can support/advise on deployment and recovery. Survey planning: Cefas/UoS/NE will undertake the planning (including access), notifications (including Notice to Mariners) - with the Supplier being expected to ensure safe execution of the vessel operations. Should licences or consents be required (e.g. a Marine Licence) these will be obtained by Cefas and provided to the Supplier prior to the survey. Cefas/UoS/NE will be providing survey staff (up to 5 persons) for operation of the above-described environmental survey equipment. Personnel will comprise up to 2 survey staff from Cefas, up to 2 survey staff from UoS and up to one survey staff from NE. Summary of provision: The Supplier will provide: * An MCA MISW "small workboat" class Category 2 coded workboat, meeting the Vessel Specifications set out in this document. * A-frame or crane with a minimum Safe Working Load (SWL) of 400 kg, compliant with LOLER and PUWER. * Adequate deck space for safe AUV/cameras handling operations * Crew support for launch and recovery operations, including, at minimum, a suitably qualified vessel Master, a suitably trained and experienced Mate, and competent deck crew / ABs sufficient to ensure safe lifting operations. * Welfare facilities for up to 5 embarked Cefas/UoS/NE personnel for the duration of the charter. * Valid insurance, including evidence that the vessel's Protection & Indemnity (P&I) insurance covers the additional Cefas/UoS/NE personnel on board for the duration of the charter. A copy of the insurance certificate is to be provided with the bid. * A demonstrable track record of marine environmental survey equipment deployment and data acquisition (to be summarised in the bid). The requirements of the Vessel include: * Use of the vessel for up to 6 days during the contract period including mobilisation and demobilisation. Final survey dates will be confirmed with the Supplier as early as possible following contract award and no later than two weeks before mobilisation to allow for adequate planning and scheduling. * Full compliance with the Vessel Specifications listed in subsequent sections of this document. Cefas will: * Supply up to 5 survey personnel * Be responsible for all environmental survey equipment provision, operation, acquisition and data quality.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c25e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089051-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

CPV Codes

63726800 - Research vessel services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£45,833 Under £100K
Lots Value
£45,833 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£41,425 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
24 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
21 Sep 2026 - 31 Oct 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

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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