---
title: "CEFAS24-117 Contract for the provision to provide RPA flights at Hinkley Point C"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04adbb"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04adbb"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04adbb.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04adbb.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE"
published: "2025-01-02"
---

# CEFAS24-117 Contract for the provision to provide RPA flights at Hinkley Point C

Buyer: CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04adbb

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## Summary

The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), headquartered in Lowestoft, UK, has initiated a tender process titled "CEFAS24-177 ITT for the provision to provide RPA flights at Hinkley Point C." This tender falls under the services category, specifically focusing on survey services (CPV code 79311000). The procurement method used is an open procedure. The tender process is currently active, with a key submission deadline on 18 November 2024. The project involves the use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) to conduct coastal surveys and intertidal algal coverage monitoring around the Hinkley Point C Nuclear New Build project and its surrounding areas, complying with Civil Aviation Authority guidelines. The contract period extends from 17 December 2024 to 31 December 2029, with an option for annual extensions up to four years, subject to funding.

This tender presents substantial business growth opportunities for companies specializing in aerial survey services, RPA technology, and environmental monitoring. Companies with expertise in creating orthophotos and Digital Surface Models with high-resolution specifications will find this contract particularly advantageous. The successful bidder will gain access to a significant and long-term contract, with an overall budget of £625,000, thereby positioning themselves as key partners in an important environmental regulatory compliance project. This opens doors for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that can meet the technical, social value, and cost criteria laid out by Cefas, fostering innovation and expertise in environmental surveying and monitoring sectors.

## Notice

The BEEMS (British EDF Estuarine and Marine Studies) programme is funded by NNB Generation Company (HPC) Limited. Through this programme, Cefas provide authoritative scientific information on the marine and transitional waters in the vicinity of potential new build nuclear power stations.

Cefas require a supplier to conduct intertidal Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) flights, in accordance with the civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guidelines, to monitor potential coastal change and intertidal algal coverage for the Hinkley Point C (HPC) Nuclear New Build project to meet regulatory environmental monitoring requirements.

RPA flights and photography are required: (1) along the Hinkley Point foreshore, and; (2) at Combwich Wharf and the surrounding banks of the River Parrett. Flight/survey design and equipment specification must be sufficient for Cefas to create orthophotos (OPs) and Digital Surface Models (DSMs) with a Ground Sampling Distance (GSD, i.e. resolution) of 3cm/pixel or better (exceptions noted in Appendix 4 - Specification of Requirements).

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The BEEMS (British EDF Estuarine and Marine Studies) programme is funded by NNB Generation Company (HPC) Limited. Through this programme, Cefas provide authoritative scientific information on the marine and transitional waters in the vicinity of potential new build nuclear power stations.

Cefas require a supplier to conduct intertidal Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) flights, in accordance with the civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guidelines, to monitor potential coastal change and intertidal algal coverage for the Hinkley Point C (HPC) Nuclear New Build project to meet regulatory environmental monitoring requirements.

RPA flights and photography are required: (1) along the Hinkley Point foreshore, and; (2) at Combwich Wharf and the surrounding banks of the River Parrett. Flight/survey design and equipment specification must be sufficient for Cefas to create orthophotos (OPs) and Digital Surface Models (DSMs) with a Ground Sampling Distance (GSD, i.e. resolution) of 3cm/pixel or better (exceptions noted in Appendix 4 - Specification of Requirements).

Renewal: Initial contract term estimated as 17.12.24 - 31.12.25 with the option of extending for 4 x 12 month periods, awarded on an annual basis subject to funding. The advertised budget is for the full possible 5 year contract term.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000033-2025 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 2 Jan 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 18 Nov 2024 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 23 Dec 2024 |
| Contract period | 17 Dec 2024 - 31 Dec 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £625,000 |
| Lots value | £625,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £334,750 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE |
| Locality | LOWESTOFT |
| Post town | Norwich |
| Postcode | NR33 0HT |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH6 Suffolk |
| ITL 3 | TLH63 East Suffolk |
| Local authority | East Suffolk |
| Electoral ward | Kirkley & Pakefield |
| Westminster constituency | Lowestoft |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

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

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 79311000 - Survey services

## Release History

- 2 Jan 2025 at 14:58 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000033-2025
- 18 Oct 2024 at 12:29 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033759-2024

## Notice URLs

- https://defra-family-force.com/s/Welcome
- https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
- https://www.apemltd.com/
- https://www.cefas.co.uk/
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit

## 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-04adbb. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04adbb.json.