---
title: "Tees SPA Intertidal Mudflats and Sandflats Biotope Mapping"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-34feacae-1f63-4c13-bd72-7b8f6dd4c984"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-34feacae-1f63-4c13-bd72-7b8f6dd4c984"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-34feacae-1f63-4c13-bd72-7b8f6dd4c984.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-34feacae-1f63-4c13-bd72-7b8f6dd4c984.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Natural England"
published: "2026-09-22"
---

# Tees SPA Intertidal Mudflats and Sandflats Biotope Mapping

Buyer: Natural England  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-34feacae-1f63-4c13-bd72-7b8f6dd4c984

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## Summary

Natural England commissioned environmental survey services to map intertidal mudflat and sandflat habitats in the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast Special Protection Area in north-east England. The work covers a Phase 1 and Phase 2 biotope survey, with sediment sampling that includes infauna and contaminants, followed by reporting. It is intended to improve understanding of the condition and ecological value of habitats including Seal Sands, Greatham Creek, North Tees Mudflat, North Gare Sands and Bran Sands. These coastal and estuarine areas support protected bird species and wider waterbird assemblages. The requirement is classified as environmental services and is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The procurement has been awarded following a selective call-off from a framework agreement. AECOM Ltd was awarded the contract on 17 July 2026 for £165,859.93 including the stated GBP currency. The contract period runs from 1 June 2026 to 21 December 2026. The award covers the full described requirement and was made by Natural England. The procurement record identifies the process as complete and the award as active. The tender submission deadline was 8 May 2026 at 12:00. The published outcome therefore records both the selected supplier and the agreed contract value and delivery period, rather than an opportunity for further submissions on this procurement.

This award demonstrates a defined requirement for specialist coastal and estuarine ecological survey capability from Natural England. A credible future competitor would need to plan and deliver intertidal biotope mapping across mudflat and sandy habitats, using both Phase 1 and Phase 2 survey methods. Relevant capability includes robust sediment sampling, assessment of infaunal communities, contaminant analysis and clear technical reporting. Suppliers should understand how habitat condition affects protected waders, terns and other waterbirds, and be able to work across a complex estuarine environment that includes tidal flats, beaches, channels and associated wetland habitats. The buyer has identified the requirement as suitable for SMEs, indicating that a suitably capable specialist consultancy could compete through the relevant framework route.

## Notice

The Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast Special Protection Area (SPA), located in north-east England, encompasses a diverse mosaic of coastal and estuarine habitats. Despite historic land loss due to industrial reclamation during the 19th and early 20th centuries, substantial areas of intertidal sand and mudflat, saltmarsh, freshwater grazing marsh, saline lagoon, sand dune, shingle, rocky shore, and shallow coastal waters remain. These habitats support a range of nationally and internationally important bird species. Originally classified in 1995 for its European importance in supporting breeding little tern, passage Sandwich tern, wintering red knot, and passage common redshank as well as an assemblage of over 20,000 waterbirds. The SPA was updated in 2000 and extended again in January 2020. The most recent extension added breeding avocet, breeding common tern, and non-breeding ruff as protected features, along with additional areas of coastal and wetland habitat, the River Tees channel, and the shallow waters of Tees Bay. The estuary's intertidal mudflats are critical feeding grounds for SPA bird species, particularly waders. Seal Sands is the largest area of intertidal mudflat on the east coast of England between Lindisfarne and the Humber Estuary to the south (Figure 1). It supports high densities of invertebrate prey, especially for overwintering redshank and shelduck. However, ecological condition has declined in recent years due to the growth of opportunistic macroalgae [Opp Mac], which may be reducing food availability for key wader species. Smaller areas of intertidal mudflat occur elsewhere within the estuary, notably at Greatham Creek and Seal Sands (Figure 2), North Tees Mudflat (Figure 3). Sandy beaches such as North Gare Sands (Figure 4) and Bran Sands (Figure 5). These areas provide valuable foraging and roosting grounds for species such as red knot and sanderling and are integral to the SPA's ecological function and bird assemblage. To better understand the condition and ecological value of these habitats, we are seeking a contractor to carry out the following: A Phase 1 and Phase 2 biotope survey, including sampling of sediment, including infauna and contaminants Reporting

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/08dcadce-567b-4783-8841-247ce44b6c3e |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a framework agreement |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 22 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 17 Jul 2026 |
| Contract period | 1 Jun 2026 - 21 Dec 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £165,859 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £165,859 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Natural England |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Postcode area | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 4DF |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | AECOM |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

### Codes

- 90700000 - Environmental services

## Release History

- 22 Sep 2026 at 13:20 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/08dcadce-567b-4783-8841-247ce44b6c3e

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/08dcadce-567b-4783-8841-247ce44b6c3e
  22nd September 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Provenance

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