--- title: "Reducing Noise from Offshore Wind Piling: A Pilot" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04c823" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04c823" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04c823.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04c823.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL)" published: "2024-12-13" --- # Reducing Noise from Offshore Wind Piling: A Pilot Buyer: DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL) Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04c823 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04c823) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04c823.json) ## Summary The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has initiated an open tender for the project titled "Reducing Noise from Offshore Wind Piling: A Pilot". Falling under the category of Research and Development Services and related consultancy services (CPV code 73000000), this procurement focuses on addressing underwater noise concerns in marine environments caused by offshore wind turbine installations. The tender process began on 13th December 2024, with a closing date for submissions on 13th January 2025. The project will start on 8th February 2025 and is scheduled to run until 31st December 2028. The procurement method is an open procedure with electronic submission of bids, and the contract value is listed as £1.00. This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for companies specialising in marine research, environmental protection, and acoustic consultancy. The focus on mitigating underwater noise from offshore wind projects opens up prospects for firms with expertise in innovative noise reduction technologies, marine biology, and ecological impact assessments. Businesses aiming to contribute to sustainability and environmental safeguards will find this project aligns well with their strategic goals. Given the quality and environmental sustainability considerations forming part of the award criteria, firms with a solid track record in delivering high-quality, sustainable solutions are especially well-suited for this opportunity. ## Notice Underwater noise is increasing in the marine environment. A key area of concern is impulsive noise which can be generated from a range of activities including piling during the installation of offshore wind turbine foundations. Without mitigation, mid-frequency sound, such as from impact piling, has been shown to cause permanent hearing loss, tissue damage and lethal injury to marine mammals. The sound can also result in disturbance effects, such as disruption of foraging and potential impacts to breeding, communication and navigation. This can be potentially more harmful at the population level as it can impact a larger number of marine mammals. Fish have also been shown to have lethal and sub-lethal effects from impulsive sounds. It is thought that piling can also cause physiological impacts to eggs and larvae as these life stages contain air sacs. Other impacts such as poor body condition post hatching could occur, in addition to behavioural impacts that can affect the population level. For example, if piling activity is to take place close to a known spawning bed or ground for herring during the key spawning period, the behaviour of the spawning herring could potentially be disturbed, leading to spawning taking place in less suitable locations, or not at all. Mackerel have demonstrated changes in their shoaling behaviour when exposed to piling noise and Atlantic cod have been shown to have delayed migrations to spawning grounds when exposed to pile driving noise. ### Lot Information Lot 1 Introduction Underwater noise is increasing in the marine environment. A key area of concern is impulsive noise which can be generated from a range of activities including piling during the installation of offshore wind turbine foundations. Without mitigation, mid-frequency sound, such as from impact piling, has been shown to cause permanent hearing loss, tissue damage and lethal injury to marine mammals. The sound can also result in disturbance effects, such as disruption of foraging and potential impacts to breeding, communication and navigation. This can be potentially more harmful at the population level as it can impact a larger number of marine mammals. Fish have also been shown to have lethal and sub-lethal effects from impulsive sounds. It is thought that piling can also cause physiological impacts to eggs and larvae as these life stages contain air sacs. Other impacts such as poor body condition post hatching could occur, in addition to behavioural impacts that can affect the population level. For example, if piling activity is to take place close to a known spawning bed or ground for herring during the key spawning period, the behaviour of the spawning herring could potentially be disturbed, leading to spawning taking place in less suitable locations, or not at all. Mackerel have demonstrated changes in their shoaling behaviour when exposed to piling noise and Atlantic cod have been shown to have delayed migrations to spawning grounds when exposed to pile driving noise ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040342-2024 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 13 Dec 2024 | | Submission deadline | 13 Jan 2025 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 8 Feb 2025 - 31 Dec 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £1 | | Lots value | £1 | | 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 | DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL) | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | 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 | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ## Release History - 13 Dec 2024 at 16:55 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040342-2024 ## Notice URLs - https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs - 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-04c823. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04c823.json.