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CEFAS26-109 RFQ for Sediment Coring Survey Services aboard RV Cefas Endeavour

CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

07 Sep 2026 at 11:57

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) is procuring specialist marine geotechnical survey services aboard the research vessel RV Cefas Endeavour. The work supports two environmental sampling surveys in the Irish Sea, Firth of Clyde or North Sea, obtaining sediment cores from planned sampling stations at penetrations of up to 3 metres. The requirement includes supplying and operating a 3-metre vibrocorer, control system, constant-tension winch, core barrels, workshop container, spares and ancillary equipment. Services cover installation, offshore coring, core removal, visual inspection, splitting and handover to Cefas personnel, followed by equipment maintenance and demobilisation. Equipment and personnel must mobilise and demobilise through either Lowestoft or a port on the south-west coast, as confirmed by Cefas.

The procurement has reached tender: Cefas invited offers through a below-threshold open competition. It is a single-lot services contract. Enquiries closed at 12:00 on 16 September 2026 and tender submissions were due by 12:00 on 25 September 2026; electronic submission was allowed. The contract period is from 12 October 2026 to 31 December 2026. Its estimated value is £33,333.33 excluding VAT, or £40,000 including VAT. The survey itself is planned for approximately ten to twelve days between 1 and 16 November 2026, with flexibility of five days either side. Offers are evaluated on quality at 70%, cost at 20% and social value at 10%.

This opportunity suits marine geotechnical, offshore survey and specialist vibrocoring contractors with their own maintained, function-tested 3-metre high-powered vibrocorer suitable for water depths of about 150 metres. Suppliers need the equipment, lifting and control systems, consumables, key spares and technical capability to install, test, operate, maintain, dismantle and remove the spread aboard a research vessel. The base team is four experienced technicians, providing two technicians per 12-hour shift for operations up to 24 hours a day, alongside the vessel crew. Personnel require valid offshore survival training and medical certification, such as BOSIET or STCW95 and a UK Offshore Operators Association-approved medical, or suitable equivalents. Competence in risk assessments, method statements, lifting plans, quality management, health and safety and LOLER compliance is also required.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

CEFAS26-109 RFQ for Sediment Coring Survey Services aboard RV Cefas Endeavour

Notice Description

Cefas requires the provision of specialist marine geotechnical services to support two vibracoring surveys within the Irish Sea Firth of Clyde or North Sea. The Supplier is required to achieve sediment cores each with a target penetration of up to 3 m from pre-planned stations for the delivery of our environmental sampling programme. The Supplier is required to provide a 3 metre vibrocorer, complete with spares, coring consumables (coring liners etc) core splitting and core cutting equipment, and suitable individuals to undertake operations of the vibrocorer on a 24 hrs period (2 x 12 hrs shifts back-to-back) alongside deck crew. The Supplier's personnel will be accommodated onboard the RV Cefas Endeavour for the duration of the survey. Cefas will provide suitable onboard cabin accommodation, bedding and welfare facilities, together with meals and refreshments as part of the vessel's normal catering provision. The RV Cefas Endeavour has en-suite accommodation for scientific and technical personnel. The Supplier should therefore not include separate accommodation or subsistence costs for periods spent onboard the vessel. Any specific dietary requirements should be notified to Cefas in advance of mobilisation. The Supplier will remain responsible for all travel and associated costs required to mobilise and demobilise its personnel and equipment to/from the agreed port, unless otherwise stated. This should be reflected in the quote provided. The survey is scheduled for approximately ten to twelve days between the 1st to the 16th of November with the flexibility of +/- 5 days each side, with the availability to mobilise and demobilise equipment either in Lowestoft or a Port on the Southwest coast. The port will be confirmed by Cefas as soon as possible. Suppliers must be prepared to mobilise and demobilise from either location. Suppliers must provide evidence of valid and appropriate offshore survival training and medical certification, including BOSIET or STCW95 and a UK Offshore Operators Association-approved medical, or suitable equivalents. Original hard copies of all required certification and documentation will be required for inspection upon request at the time of vessel mobilisation. Please note general arrangement drawings of the RV Cefas Endeavour can be supplied upon Contract award for operational logistics if required. Requirement: The Supplier will liaise with Cefas before mobilisation to confirm the operational requirements, vessel interfaces, equipment layout, power supply, lifting arrangements, programme and health and safety requirements. A mobilisation plan shall be prepared and agreed by both parties in advance of installation. The Supplier will provide a fully maintained and function-tested 3 m high-powered vibrocorer spread, including its control system, constant-tension winch, core barrels, workshop container, essential spares and associated ancillary equipment. The proposed system shall be suitable for operations in water depths of approximately 150 m. The vibrocorer spread shall be delivered to the nominated mobilisation port and installed aboard the RV Cefas Endeavour. Following installation, the Supplier will complete appropriate equipment inspections, function tests and deployment checks, including a wet test where practicable. The Supplier will provide suitably trained and experienced equipment technicians to install, operate, maintain and demobilise the vibrocoring equipment. The base provision shall comprise of four technicians for operations of up to 24 hours per day (two technicians per 12-hour shift). The two technicians will be supported by RV Cefas Endeavour crew for the safe deployment and recovery of equipment. At each survey location, the vessel shall establish a safe and stable working position before the vibrocorer is deployed to the seabed using the vessel's suitable crane or A-frame and lifting winch. Cefas shall provide the station position and water-depth information for each deployment. Once seabed conditions and the survey position have been confirmed, the vibrocorer shall be operated until either: * the full available barrel penetration is achieved; * refusal is encountered due to the ground conditions; or * the deployment is stopped for operational or safety reasons. Following each attempt, the vibrocorer shall be recovered to deck and the retained sediment core removed from the barrel, visually inspected, split and transferred to Cefas personnel. The Supplier will undertake the acquisition of the sediment cores and check the samples and associated acquisition information before handing them to Cefas. Unless otherwise agreed, laboratory testing, detailed data processing, interpretation, and reporting are outside the Suppliers scope. The Supplier will maintain the vibrocorer spread throughout the offshore programme and provide suitable spare parts for key components to minimise operational downtime. Any equipment defects shall be reported promptly to the Cefas Survey Lead, together with proposed corrective action and any expected effect on the programme. The proposed provision includes full spares coverage for key components. On completion of the offshore work, the Supplier will safely isolate, dismantle and remove its equipment from the vessel at the nominated demobilisation port. The work area shall be left in a safe and satisfactory condition. The Supplier will carry out the Services in accordance with its approved health and safety and quality-management procedures, Cefas vessel requirements and all applicable legislation, including the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), where applicable. All offshore activities shall be appropriately risk assessed, and suitable method statements, lifting plans and operational procedures shall be agreed before mobilisation. All lifting equipment and accessories shall be suitable for the intended operation, appropriately certified and subject to the required examination and inspection regime. Download the Bidder Pack at https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome and search for CEFAS26-109 under opportunities.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f34f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084323-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79311000 - Survey services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£33,333 Under £100K
Lots Value
£33,333 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
25 Sep 20262 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
12 Oct 2026 - 31 Dec 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
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

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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