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Bycatch Monitoring Programme (BMP) - 26-27

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

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 the UK’s 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, requiring a service capable of supporting marine conservation evidence and regulatory reporting. The procurement is classified as environmental monitoring other than for construction (CPV 90711500). The programme is intended to maintain continuity while Defra procures a longer-term arrangement competitively. It is therefore relevant to organisations with specialist marine monitoring, bycatch assessment, ecological evidence, data management and environmental reporting capabilities.

This completed procurement was awarded on 20 August 2026 through a direct award under Schedule 5, paragraph 6 of the Procurement Act 2023. One requirement was awarded to the University of St Andrews for £492,686 excluding VAT, or £591,223.20 including VAT. The contract period runs from 3 September 2026 to 30 June 2027, with signature scheduled for 3 September 2026 and the standstill period ending on 2 September 2026. Defra justified the direct award on the supplier’s unique expertise, established delivery model and specialist consortium partners, stating that no reasonable alternative could maintain continuity while a full competitive procurement was undertaken. The award is above the relevant threshold and was evaluated on technical reasons supporting a single supplier.

For suppliers that did not secure this award, the procurement demonstrates a defined requirement for specialist bycatch monitoring and marine species evidence in English and Scottish waters. A credible future competitor would need demonstrated expertise in monitoring the incidental capture of protected and sensitive marine species, together with reliable methods for producing evidence that meets statutory and international monitoring and reporting obligations. The selected supplier’s established delivery model and specialist consortium partners indicate that technical capability must be supported by dependable operational capacity and access to complementary expertise. Organisations should also be able to maintain continuity of monitoring activity, manage relevant environmental data, and turn field evidence into clear, defensible reports for a central government buyer.

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 considers a direct award to the University of St Andrews justified under Schedule 5, Paragraph 6 of the Procurement Act 2023, as its unique expertise, established delivery model, and specialist consortium partners mean there is no reasonable alternative capable of maintaining continuity of the UK Bycatch Monitoring Programme while a full competitive procurement is undertaken.

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/079841-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award 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
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Aug 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
20 Aug 20261 weeks 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
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND 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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