--- title: "Identifying Downland" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-85379775-c618-4fd3-a75a-4ceefc7afa5a" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-85379775-c618-4fd3-a75a-4ceefc7afa5a" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-85379775-c618-4fd3-a75a-4ceefc7afa5a.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-85379775-c618-4fd3-a75a-4ceefc7afa5a.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "NATURAL ENGLAND" published: "2022-12-08" --- # Identifying Downland Buyer: NATURAL ENGLAND Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-85379775-c618-4fd3-a75a-4ceefc7afa5a [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-85379775-c618-4fd3-a75a-4ceefc7afa5a) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-85379775-c618-4fd3-a75a-4ceefc7afa5a.json) ## Summary Natural England has initiated the "Identifying Downland" tender, focused on research and development services in England. The engagement end date is set for January 13, 2023. This opportunity aims to define the downland landform, informing a Mapping Review Statutory Methodology. The project is open to SMEs and VCSEs, targeting businesses with expertise in research and development within the recreational, cultural, and sporting services industry. The tender, managed by Natural England, is in the planning stage with the title "Identifying Downland." It involves a comprehensive study to define and identify downland landforms. Suppliers interested in participating should contact ben.nichols@naturalengland.org.uk. The project is part of a market scoping exercise, not committing Natural England to a procurement process. It presents a growth opportunity for businesses specialized in research and development within the relevant industry category. ## Notice The Countryside Agency issued in 2004 and 2005 eight conclusive maps of open country (land consisting wholly or predominantly of mountain, moor, heath or down) and registered common land (RCL) in England, which became the basis of the open access rights that the public now enjoys over the mapped areas, subject to the limitations set out by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW). Natural England has a statutory duty to review these maps. During the original 2004/05 mapping exercise the ability of the Countryside Agency to map downland was substantially impeded because the legislation did not allow for it to be mapped as a topographical feature. There's a lack of any authoritative definitions of downland, and no existing datasets recording it. In order for the review to address this issue, we want to commission some research to define the downland landform. This definition will be used to inform the development of a Mapping Review Statutory Methodology. We want this study to look afresh at the whole downland issue by independently and objectively evaluating the relevant evidence both on the ground and in terms of historical or contemporary studies, publications, maps, datasets. We want the study to explore whether it is practicable and workable for the whole downland landform in each case to be defined and identified on maps, rather than any individual land parcels occurring within each identified down being considered individually and separately from each other, as happened under the original mapping process. Subject to government procurement process, we would like the work to start this financial year and completed in Q1/Q2 next FY. This work will likely involve some desk based historical mapping/dataset research plus site visits of pilot areas to identify downland. Additional information: We are inviting expressions of interest for the Identifying Downland Project. Any supplier who would like to register their interest please contact ben.nichols@naturalengland.org.uk quoting " EOI Identifying Downland by the closing date above with the following information: - supplier name - contact name and email - Availability to complete work -confirmation that supplier can attend site visits in any part of England. Please note this is a market scoping exercise and does not commit Natural England to carry out a procurement process. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/bafe1e4a-3ea0-4471-b519-09ef6a9f620c | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 8 Dec 2022 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 13 Jan 2023 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | NATURAL ENGLAND | | Locality | WORCESTER | | Post town | Worcester | | Postcode | WR5 2NP | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) | | ITL 2 | TLG1 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire | | ITL 3 | TLG12 Worcestershire CC | | Local authority | Worcester | | Electoral ward | Nunnery | | Westminster constituency | Worcester | | Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services - 92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services ### Codes - 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services - 92000000 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services ## Release History - 8 Dec 2022 at 14:13 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/bafe1e4a-3ea0-4471-b519-09ef6a9f620c ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/bafe1e4a-3ea0-4471-b519-09ef6a9f620c 8th December 2022 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-85379775-c618-4fd3-a75a-4ceefc7afa5a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-85379775-c618-4fd3-a75a-4ceefc7afa5a.json.