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Bycatch Monitoring Programme (BMP) - 26-35

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

30 Sep 2026 at 15:24

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) plans a long-term programme to monitor and assess bycatch of sensitive marine species in UK fisheries, including cetaceans, seabirds, seals and elasmobranchs. The work is expected to focus on England and Scotland, with possible involvement from other devolved administrations. It will build on existing monitoring, expanding coverage where needed, improving data collection and analysis, and combining approaches such as observer and electronic monitoring. Outputs are expected to include monitoring data, annual estimates and trends, technical reports, and evidence for national and international reporting. Suppliers will also provide geo-referenced and time-referenced records of monitoring effort and bycatch incidence.

This procurement is at the planning stage: Defra has announced its intention to run an open tender, but has not yet invited bids. The buyer plans virtual supplier engagement on 9 December 2026 at 2pm; expressions of interest in attending are due by 2pm on 7 December 2026. Defra expects to publish a subsequent procurement notice on 21 January 2027. The intended contract start is 1 June 2027, with a one-month handover and full transfer of responsibility on 1 July 2027. The initial term is two years, with options for two further periods of 3–12 months each and a maximum overall term of eight years. Estimated value is £380,000–£430,000, funded by Defra and the Scottish Government. One lot is planned; no evaluation basis is stated.

The work is suited to suppliers able to combine marine ecology and fisheries expertise with practical monitoring, data management, statistical analysis and technical reporting. Experience with observer programmes and electronic monitoring, and the ability to increase monitoring coverage across fisheries, gear types, locations and seasons, will be relevant. Delivery calls for producing annual bycatch-rate estimates and analysing trends using historical and newly collected data, while supporting reporting obligations including UK Marine Strategy assessments, OSPAR, ASCOBANS, ICES and US Marine Mammal Protection Act requirements. Suppliers will need to maintain accurate location- and time-referenced data, prepare annual reports for Defra, the Scottish Government and the project steering group, and respond to requests supporting parliamentary questions and ministerial correspondence. Defra encourages consortium bids, making this suitable for partnerships bringing together complementary expertise and delivery capacity, with dedicated programme management and coordination of subcontractors.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Bycatch Monitoring Programme (BMP) - 26-35

Notice Description

Defra intends to run an open tender to procure a new long-term UK Bycatch Monitoring Programme and is seeking Expressions of Interest from suppliers capable of delivering the requirements. The programme will monitor and assess the bycatch of sensitive marine species in UK fisheries, including (but not limited to) cetaceans, seabirds, seals, and elasmobranchs. The requirement will primarily cover England and Scotland, with potential involvement from other Devolved Administrations. The successful supplier will build on the existing programme by increasing monitoring coverage where required, enhancing data collection and analysis, integrating monitoring approaches such as observer monitoring and electronic monitoring, and improving understanding of bycatch patterns across fisheries, gear types, locations and seasons. Key outputs will include bycatch monitoring data, annual bycatch estimates and trends, technical reporting, and evidence to support national and international reporting obligations. We envisage that, if a new supplier is appointed, the new contract will start on the 01 June 27 with a one (1) month handover period, from 01 June to 30 June, with full responsibility being transferred to the successful contractor on 01 July 2027. Where applicable, these handover periods are to allow a new Contractor time to get ready to take over the full operation of the contract requirement. The contract will be let for an initial two-year term, with options to extend for two x 3 -12-month periods thereafter. (a total maximum of eight year's). We estimate the contract value to be between the range of PS380,000 - PS430,000 funded by Defra and the Scottish Government. The contractor will be required to provide bycatch records and annual estimates of bycatch rates for sensitive marine species, produce information on bycatch trends using historical and newly collected data, and support reporting requirements including UK Marine Strategy assessments, OSPAR, ASCOBANS, ICES and US Marine Mammal Protection Act requirements. The contractor will also be expected to maintain accurate geo-referenced and time-referenced data on monitoring effort and bycatch incidence, produce annual reports for Defra, the Scottish Government and the project steering group, and provide information to support Parliamentary Questions and Ministerial correspondence when required. The Authority strongly encourages a consortium approach, recognising the multi-disciplinary nature of the work and the benefits of bringing together relevant expertise and organisations. The successful contractor will be expected to provide dedicated programme management, maintain effective communication with Defra and the Scottish Government, manage any consortium members or subcontractors, and ensure delivery of the programme's aims, objectives and reporting requirements.

Planning Information

Supplier Engagement Event We will be holding a Supplier Engagement Event as we prepare to commence the procurement for this requirement. This session will provide interested suppliers with an opportunity to gain insight into the requirement, its objectives, and the proposed procurement approach. We are keen to engage with the market to better understand supplier capabilities, capacity, and innovative delivery approaches that could enhance the efficiency, resilience, and sustainability of the programme. The event will provide an opportunity to learn more about the requirement and explore how your organisation may be able to support its delivery. Please note that the purpose of the engagement is to inform delivery and procurement considerations rather than to redefine the programme's scope, objectives, or intended outcomes. We are keen to engage with the market to better understand supplier capabilities and delivery approaches that could support the successful implementation of the requirement. The engagement session will be held virtually via MS Teams on 9th December 2026 at 2:00pm. Please be aware that this session may be recorded and/or transcribed. Suppliers wishing to attend should email charlie.epps@defra.gov.uk no later than 2:00pm on 7th December 2026, providing the following details for attendees (maximum of two representatives per organisation): • Contact name • Job title • Organisation name • Email address Please use the subject line: Bycatch Supplier Engagement Event – 9 December 2026 – 2pm If you have any questions prior to the event, please email charlie.epps@defra.gov.uk using the subject line: Supplier Engagement Event – Question There will be an opportunity during the session for suppliers to ask questions. MS Teams invites will be sent out and should be received no later than 2pm on 8th December 2026. It should be noted that this notice invites individuals and organisations to express an interest in this exercise only and participation in this engagement exercise does not guarantee participation in any future procurement process and does not constitute a call for competition or a commitment by the Authority to proceed with a procurement. Any subsequent procurement opportunity will be advertised separately in accordance with the Authority's procurement obligations.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077dd8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092489-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Sep 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
21 Jan 20274 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jun 2027 - 30 Jun 2035 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

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

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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