---
title: "ReSCUE - Procurement framework for the provision of Lidar-coupled digital aerial surveys to quantify flight heights of seabirds in UK waters"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-040fae"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-040fae"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-040fae.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-040fae.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL"
published: "2023-10-27"
---

# ReSCUE - Procurement framework for the provision of Lidar-coupled digital aerial surveys to quantify flight heights of seabirds in UK waters

Buyer: DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-040fae

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## Summary

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has initiated a tender process for the procurement framework titled "ReSCUE - Procurement framework for the provision of Lidar-coupled digital aerial surveys to quantify flight heights of seabirds in UK waters". This procurement falls under the services category and is at the tender stage. The contract period is set to commence on January 19, 2024, and end on January 19, 2027. The main objective is to collect data to validate Lidar-based methods for quantifying seabird flight heights in UK waters. The tender period ends on December 1, 2023, and the award period starts on December 14, 2023.

This tender presents an opportunity for businesses involved in research and development consultancy services to participate in a competitive procedure with negotiation under a selective procurement method. The procurement framework will involve mini-competitions, with a focus on collecting new data related to seabird flight heights in UK waters. Companies well-versed in Lidar (Light detection and ranging) technology and aerial surveys, especially those with experience in marine and terrestrial surveys, are well-suited to compete. The procurement process aims to address knowledge gaps in seabird flight heights and eventually inform guidance and recommendations for impact assessments and mitigation measures.

## Notice

The Authority is looking to appoint suppliers to provide Lidar (Light detection and ranging) - coupled Digital Aerial Surveys to deliver data relating to the altitude and identification of flying seabirds or proxy targets. The Authority requires the implementation of a framework contract to provide a series of mini-competitions, or lots, to plan and collect new data. Lot 1 will involve the collection of data to inform the validation of Lidar-based methods for quantifying seabird flight heights, standards and best practice. Lot 1 may include elements of terrestrial and marine surveys in UK waters. Lot 2 would involve a large-scale marine data collection campaign in UK waters to address seabird flight height knowledge gaps identified through separate work.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Natural England is the lead organisation for the ReSCUE project. ReSCUE (Reducing Seabird Collisions Using Evidence) is a multi-partner, multi-year initiative funded by the Crown Estate through the Offshore Wind Evidence & Change (OWEC) Programme.
The ultimate aims of ReSCUE are to develop our understanding of seabird flight heights, to improve collision risk assessments, and to inform effective mitigation measures that reduce seabird collisions with offshore wind turbines. We will achieve this by (a) providing confidence in methods of seabird flight height estimation, especially combined camera-Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) surveys; (b) assembling existing, and collecting new, fit-for-purpose evidence on seabird flight heights, and (c) creating publicly available datasets and tools, and carrying out analyses that will inform guidance and recommendations for impact assessments and mitigation. This framework contract relates to evidence collection informing the above aims (a) and (b).

The wider ReSCUE project is structured into SIX work packages (WPs) which are shown in Appendix G of this ITT document to provide context. However, this framework only relates to a requirement to develop and validate methods for seabird flight height estimation within WP1, and the collection of new data in WP2. For WP1, framework providers will be required to undertake combined camera-Lidar surveys to validate estimate of flight heights and to investigate potential sources of bias and/or methodological limitations. In WP2, the lessons learnt from WP1 will be employed to collect data to address knowledge gaps in relation to seabird flight heights. 
It is important to note that the objectives of work packages 1 and 2 relating to this framework will be dependent on the outcomes of initial work reviewing available data and information. Expert Panel workshops, involving representatives from other SNCBs, NGOs, developers, consultancies, academia and other stakeholders, will consider the information and determine more detailed specifications for individual Lots under this framework.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031799-2023 |
| Notice type | Planning Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Competitive procedure with negotiation |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning, Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 27 Oct 2023 |
| Submission deadline | 1 Dec 2023 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 19 Jan 2024 - 19 Jan 2027 |
| 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 | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 3JR |
| 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 |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

## Release History

- 27 Oct 2023 at 12:35 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031799-2023

## Notice URLs

- https://atamis-9529.lightning.force.com/lightning/r/ProSpend__OJEU_Notice__c/a0b8d00000DZYIEAA5/view
- https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs

## 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-h6vhtk-040fae. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-040fae.json.