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Bycatch Monitoring Programme (BMP) - 26-27

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

02 Sep 2026 at 16:35

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

21 Aug 2026 at 11:51

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

21 Aug 2026 at 11:20

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is procuring environmental monitoring services for the UK Bycatch Monitoring Programme. The work provides evidence for statutory and international obligations to monitor and report the incidental capture of protected and sensitive marine species. It covers monitoring and reporting activity in English and Scottish waters, supporting continuity while longer-term arrangements are pursued. The procurement is classified as environmental monitoring other than for construction (CPV 90711500). The requirement is a service rather than a supply or construction project, and is managed by Defra as a central government authority. The selected provider is the University of St Andrews.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a direct award under Schedule 5, paragraph 6 of the Procurement Act 2023. Defra stated that technical reasons mean only one particular supplier can provide the services and that there are no reasonable alternatives. There was one lot. The award was made on 20 August 2026 to the University of St Andrews for £492,686 excluding VAT, or £591,223.20 including VAT. The contract was signed on 2 September 2026 and runs from 3 September 2026 to 30 June 2027. The award value is above the relevant threshold. The contract is active and the award used a single-supplier technical-reasons justification.

This requirement demonstrates established public-sector demand for specialist marine environmental monitoring and reporting, particularly evidence on incidental bycatch of protected and sensitive species. A credible competitor would need the technical capability to design or operate monitoring activity in English and Scottish waters, produce robust evidence on marine species interactions, and report results in a form that supports statutory and international obligations. The buyer’s stated technical-reasons justification indicates that continuity, specialist expertise and the absence of reasonable alternatives were central to supplier selection. Suppliers considering comparable work for Defra should therefore be able to demonstrate relevant marine monitoring experience, reliable reporting systems and the organisational capacity to maintain uninterrupted programme delivery.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Bycatch Monitoring Programme (BMP) - 26-27

Notice Description

The UK Bycatch Monitoring Programme (BMP) delivers the evidence required to meet the UK's statutory and international obligations for monitoring and reporting the incidental capture of protected and sensitive marine species. An 11-month STA Direct Award is required to maintain continuity of monitoring and reporting activity in England and Scottish waters while a long-term contract is competitively procured.

Procurement Information

Defra's justification for a direct award is based on Schedule 5, Paragraph 6 of the Procurement Act 2023, which permits a direct award where, due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can provide the required services and there are no reasonable alternatives.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e964
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083207-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

90711500 - Environmental monitoring other than for construction

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£492,686 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£492,686 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
20 Aug 20262 months ago
Contract Period
3 Sep 2026 - 30 Jun 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active, Pending
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Postcode Area
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
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

University of St Andrews

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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