Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

CEFAS26-110 Research on European Seabass spawn time and connectivity

CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

30 Sep 2026 at 10:02

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) commissioned research into European seabass spawning times and the connection between nursery areas and adult fish stocks. The work is intended to provide evidence for fisheries management decisions, including whether to change the timing of the closed season and how much different estuaries contribute to the adult fishery. This is fisheries ecology research and research consultancy, rather than a supply of goods or construction work. Cefas is based in Lowestoft. The research concerns seabass fisheries and nursery areas, but the procurement information does not identify a specific delivery location.

The procurement is complete and a supplier has been selected: the University of Essex. Cefas awarded the work by direct award below the relevant threshold, without competition. The contract was signed on 24 September 2026 and runs from 25 September 2026 to 31 March 2027. Its value is £65,000 excluding VAT (£73,000 including VAT). The requirement was handled as a single lot. The stated purpose is to generate evidence on spawning timing and the contribution of nursery areas to adult seabass stocks, supporting fisheries policy objectives. No separate scored evaluation criteria are set out in the published procurement information.

For a future requirement of this kind, a credible supplier would need to combine research expertise in European seabass ecology with the ability to investigate spawning timing and connections between nursery areas and adult fish stocks. Relevant capability would include analysing how estuaries contribute to the fishery and producing evidence that can inform fisheries management decisions, particularly closed-season policy. The award demonstrates demand for focused, applied fisheries research commissioned by Cefas, on a relatively contained scale and through a direct, non-competitive route. The selected supplier was a university, indicating that academic research capability was suited to this work. Suppliers with relevant fisheries science experience and the capacity to deliver a defined research project would be best placed to compete if Cefas procures a similar requirement again.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

CEFAS26-110 Research on European Seabass spawn time and connectivity

Notice Description

The bass Fisheries Management Plan highlighted several key policy objectives that included policy actions around review of the timing of the closed season and understanding the contribution of nursery areas to the adult stock. These actions have been prioritised by the Bass Management Group (BMG) implementing the FMP, but more evidence is needed to underpin any policy decisions. The research focuses on two key areas of seabass ecology that relate to management: (1) timing of the closed season; and (2) connectivity between nursery areas and the adult stock (i.e. the contribution rates of different estuaries to the fishery).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077d21
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092178-2026
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
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£65,000 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Sep 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
25 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 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

University of Essex

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...