---
title: "Testing eDNA metabarcoding as a technique for tracking sedimentary condition - marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-859e14e3-9651-4fc0-9d83-f0a1292c9c2f"
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markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-859e14e3-9651-4fc0-9d83-f0a1292c9c2f.md"
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source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NATURAL ENGLAND"
published: "2024-09-09"
---

# Testing eDNA metabarcoding as a technique for tracking sedimentary condition - marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme

Buyer: NATURAL ENGLAND  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-859e14e3-9651-4fc0-9d83-f0a1292c9c2f

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## Summary

Natural England has awarded a contract to James Hutton Limited for testing eDNA metabarcoding as a technique for tracking sedimentary condition as part of the Marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (mNCEA) Programme. This initiative focuses on assessing marine natural capital assets and studying how environmental pressures affect benthic fauna using DNA metabarcoding alongside traditional methods. The contract, valued at £20,600.4, covers services in the environmental sector within the United Kingdom from August 2024 to February 2025. Survey activities are planned for July and August 2024 in locations including the Humber and Tees Estuary. The submission deadline for quotes was 11th June 2024, and the tendering period began on 22nd May 2024.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in environmental services, particularly those with capabilities in DNA analysis and ecological monitoring. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in environmental consulting, biodiversity assessment, and monitoring service provision would be particularly well-suited to compete for such contracts. By participating in government-led environmental initiatives, businesses can enhance their market credibility, expand their expertise in innovative scientific techniques, and foster growth in the burgeoning field of environmental conservation and ecosystem management.

## Notice

This project is part of the Marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (mNCEA) Programme which is a three-year Defra-funded programme that looks to deliver evidence on the extent and condition of marine natural capital assets, along with tools and guidance to support decision-making using the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) approach. This particular project is testing DNA metabarcoding as a technique for tracking sedimentary ecosystem asset condition. DNA metabarcoding will be used alongside traditional morphological infauna ID to understand how eDNA of benthic fauna responds to anthropogenic pressure (such as pollution, contaminants, disturbance, etc.). The outputs will be used to assess if these metabarcoding techniques can be used in future monitoring scenarios that will enable more effective and efficient monitoring of impacts on the seabed at greater spatial scales, and with greater ease, than is currently possible. Natural England is collecting traditional benthic infauna grab samples and eDNA sediment samples along pressure gradients in up to two sites, including the Humber and the Tees Estuary. The surveys will be conducted in July- August 2024. The aim of this contract is to produce DNA metabarcoding data for benthic eDNA sediment samples, and examine this data in the context of pressure gradients and associated infauna data. Metabarcoding and traditional taxonomic output will be evaluated for their respective potential to be used as a method for determining the condition of marine sediments and therefore as a driver of their ecosystem service delivery potential. The primary interest is to see if there is a change in community composition in response to known pressure gradients. This will be based on understanding of the meiofaunal and microbial diversity, macrobenthic diversity, and wider community diversity (eg. fish). The timeline for this work will be from June 2024 - February 2025. Additional information: To apply for this opportunity you must submit your quotation meeting the requirements detailed in the Request for Quotation (RFQ) attached. Your response must be sent to Sajan.Sebastian@naturalengland.org.uk by 17:00 on Tuesday 11 th June 2024. If you have any clarification questions linked to this opportunity or the procurement process please submit these via email to Sajan.Sebastian@naturalengland.org.uk. The deadline for clarifications is Tuesday 04 June 2024. Please note that, unless commercially sensitive, both the question and the response will be circulated to all tenderers.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/253a666f-3c65-41f8-925f-09ba89bced37 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure (below threshold) |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 9 Sep 2024 |
| Submission deadline | 11 Jun 2024 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 7 Aug 2024 |
| Contract period | 31 Jul 2024 - 27 Feb 2025 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £22,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £20,600 |
| 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 | CAMBRIDGE |
| Post town | Cambridge |
| Postcode | CB2 8DR |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough |
| ITL 3 | TLH42 Cambridgeshire CC |
| Local authority | Cambridge |
| Electoral ward | Petersfield |
| Westminster constituency | Cambridge |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | JAMES HUTTON |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

### Codes

- 90700000 - Environmental services

## Release History

- 9 Sep 2024 at 08:23 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/253a666f-3c65-41f8-925f-09ba89bced37
- 22 May 2024 at 11:04 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/10c1cace-6acc-4b79-b425-309addd306ac

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/253a666f-3c65-41f8-925f-09ba89bced37
  9th September 2024 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/10c1cace-6acc-4b79-b425-309addd306ac
  22nd May 2024 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/4beead4c-c2ae-4467-96d2-f1c12d57e72d
  RFQ document
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/728b7e6e-f79d-4c9d-9148-4675ad1db7e0
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/6d0ca60a-ebe6-4658-a816-5d838e41d18c

## Provenance

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