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Appointment of Archaeological Geophysical Surveyor

Tavistock Town Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

08 Sep 2026 at 15:20

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

07 Sep 2026 at 16:25

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Tavistock Town Council, acting as client and accountable body, is procuring an archaeological geophysical survey of an area identified on drawing J26.014 as part of the Rediscovering Tavistock Abbey project. The work is a specialist archaeological surveying service, with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) proposed because of the site conditions and project aims; justified alternative methods may also be offered. The survey covers a churchyard, highway and public footpaths, and Bedford Square, a busy public space used for regular markets. The appointed consultant will support future excavation decisions and a wider public interpretation programme. The work includes community engagement with small groups in the churchyard or Bedford Square, liaison with sector specialists and statutory bodies, a written report with plans and interpretation, and digital archive deposition.

The procurement has reached tender: Tavistock Town Council invited offers through a below-threshold open competition, with tenders to be submitted by post in a sealed envelope. Enquiries were due by 11:59pm on 24 September 2026 and tenders had to be received by midday on 29 September 2026. The contract period is 12 October to 31 December 2026. The estimated value is £20,000 excluding VAT, or £24,000 including VAT. Evaluation is weighted 60% price and 40% technical return. The technical submission must cover the methodology and programme, insurance including professional indemnity, anticipated stage payments, quality assurance arrangements, two references and experience of delivering or managing two projects of similar scope and size. A half-day rate and day rate are also required for potential additional works.

This opportunity suits archaeological geophysical survey specialists able to plan and deliver surveys in sensitive, publicly accessible and operational locations. Relevant capability includes Ground Penetrating Radar or another suitably justified survey method, archaeological interpretation, desk-based research and liaison with specialists and statutory bodies. The consultant must be able to obtain the necessary consents, including a Section 42 licence, and prepare the accompanying method statement. Experience of working around funerals and ceremonies, public footpaths, highways, traffic management and unsociable hours will be valuable, as will the ability to run two half-day community sessions for groups of up to five people. Suppliers should be able to produce a public-facing technical report with cross-referenced plots, plans and interpretative diagrams, complete an OASIS entry and deposit the digital archive with the Archaeological Data Service within six months of report completion. Contractual delivery also requires suitable insurance, quality assurance processes and two comparable references.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Appointment of Archaeological Geophysical Surveyor

Notice Description

Tavistock Town Council as Client and Accountable Body invites tenders from consultants with the relevant skills and capability to carry out an archaeological geophysical survey (CIfA standards) of the area shown on drawing J26.014. The method suggested and to be priced for, due to the site conditions and project aims, is Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). Alternative methods, with associated rationale as an addition to the price schedule will be accepted as part of the tender submission. Due to the time sensitivities relating to the overall wider project deliverables, on appointment, contractors are required to apply for the necessary consents to enable the survey work to take place, which includes the Section 42 licence and production of the accompanying method statement. When considering pricing the works and the drafting of the method statement, the locations and associated activities need to be considered. e.g. The site plan include a churchyard which has funerals and ceremonies, a highway/public footpaths and a busy public realm (Bedford Square which has regular markets). Allowance should be made when surveying the highway for unsociable hrs/traffic management arrangements. As part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund grant conditions, the project has complimentary initiatives relating to community engagement. The appointed consultant should allow when surveying the churchyard/or Bedford Square for two half days working with community groups. (Note: this will include small groups, no more than 5 in No., either from the Youth Cafe or Heritage community partners). The contractor should allow for contacting sector specialists and statutory bodies as part of a desk top exercise to ascertain what previous equivalent survey work exists which will inform the works programme. On completion of the survey work, the contractor will produce a written report which is suitable to inform next steps with work commissioned to an appointed archaeologist, regarding possible excavation works as well and being in a appropriate format for public perusal as the results will feed into a wider interpretation programme, both digital and physical. As a minimum the report should include: tile page, summary of results, introduction, methods (techniques and methodologies), results, conclusions, acknowledgements, statement of indemnity, references, appendices and associated plots and plans, including interpretative plans/diagrams. These plans should be cross referenced to Blaylock's plan of the Abbey. The contractor must allow for the costs of data archiving, within 6 months of completion of the report, including completing the online OASIS entry and depositing the digital archive with the Archaeological Data Service. The estimated budget allowance for this project for the Geophysical Surveyor's fees is between PS13,000 to PS20,000 plus VAT. The start date for contract and applying for consents is early October 2026 with survey work and completion of the report targeted for the end of December 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f3e2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085005-2026
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

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

98300000 - Miscellaneous services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£20,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£20,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
29 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
Tavistock Town Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
TAVISTOCK
Postcode
PL19 0AU
Postcode Area
Plymouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK43 Devon CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
West Devon
Electoral Ward
Tavistock North
Westminster Constituency
Torridge and Tavistock

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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