--- title: "ID 5489705 - DAERA Marine and Fisheries - Letting of Benthic Infaunal Analysis contract" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04d3fa" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04d3fa" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04d3fa.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04d3fa.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "DAERA:MARINE AND FISHERIES DIVISION" published: "2025-03-12" --- # ID 5489705 - DAERA Marine and Fisheries - Letting of Benthic Infaunal Analysis contract Buyer: DAERA:MARINE AND FISHERIES DIVISION Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04d3fa [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04d3fa) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04d3fa.json) ## Summary The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Marine and Fisheries Division is overseeing the procurement for the "ID 5489705 - DAERA Marine and Fisheries - Letting of Benthic Infaunal Analysis contract". This project falls under the agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services category and aims to protect the marine environment. The contract involves analysing benthic infaunal samples to classify ecological quality status for statutory monitoring. The initial contract period runs from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2028, with two selectable extensions of up to twelve months each. This procurement is at the award stage, and APEM LTD has been awarded the contract, valued at £194,098, with the agreement signed on 7 March 2025. This tender offers significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in environmental protection, marine analysis, and ecological services. Firms with expertise in benthic infaunal sample analysis, a robust team experience, solid service delivery methodology, and adherence to standard operating procedures are well-positioned to compete. Providing social value will also be an important criterion. The open procedure ensures broad accessibility to eligible bidders, creating a competitive environment conducive to enhancing business portfolios with government contracts. ## Notice The Marine Monitoring and Assessment team (MMAT) within the Marine and Fisheries Division of DAERA has responsibility for protection of the marine environment. The analysis of benthic infaunal samples is a statutory requirement under The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 as one of the primary biological quality elements used to classify the ecological quality status of a given waterbody. Additionally benthic infaunal analysis may be required under related statutory instruments and agreements including, amongst others, the Marine Strategy Framework, The Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 and Licensing deposits in the sea under Part 4 of The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. DAERA - MMAT requires a supplier to provide analysis of benthic infaunal samples. Data generated from the analysis of these samples on behalf of the Marine Monitoring and Assessment team will support delivery of the relevant statutory monitoring and classification requirements and is submitted to the UK National database. The contract is for an initial period of 3 years from date of award, (envisaged to be 1 April 2025) to 31 March 2028. There are two (2) options to extend for a period of up to twelve (12) months each. Please refer to Tender Documents for full details. ### Lot Information Lot 1 The Marine Monitoring and Assessment team (MMAT) within the Marine and Fisheries Division of DAERA has responsibility for protection of the marine environment. The analysis of benthic infaunal samples is a statutory requirement under The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 as one of the primary biological quality elements used to classify the ecological quality status of a given waterbody. Additionally benthic infaunal analysis may be required under related statutory instruments and agreements including, amongst others, the Marine Strategy Framework, The Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 and Licensing deposits in the sea under Part 4 of The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. DAERA - MMAT requires a supplier to provide analysis of benthic infaunal samples. Data generated from the analysis of these samples on behalf of the Marine Monitoring and Assessment team will support delivery of the relevant statutory monitoring and classification requirements and is submitted to the UK National database. The contract is for an initial period of 3 years from date of award, (envisaged to be 1 April 2025) to 31 March 2028. There are two (2) options to extend for a period of up to twelve (12) months each. Please refer to Tender Documents for full details. Options: The contract is for an initial period of 3 years from date of award, envisaged to be 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2028. There are two 2 options to extend for a period of up to twelve 12 months each. Renewal: the contract will be subject to renewal approximately April 2030 ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008978-2025 | | 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 | 12 Mar 2025 | | Submission deadline | 18 Feb 2025 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 7 Mar 2025 | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | estimated to be April 2030 | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £875,000 | | Lots value | £875,000 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | £194,098 | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Cancelled | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Active | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DAERA:MARINE AND FISHERIES DIVISION | | Locality | DOWNPATRICK | | Post town | Northern Ireland | | Postcode | BT30 6AJ | | Country | Northern Ireland | | ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland | | ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland | | ITL 3 | TLN08 Newry, Mourne and Down | | Local authority | Newry, Mourne and Down | | Electoral ward | Cathedral | | Westminster constituency | South Down | | Delivery location | TLN Northern Ireland | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | APEM | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 77 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services ### Codes - 77000000 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services - 77700000 - Services incidental to fishing - 77800000 - Aquaculture services ## Release History - 12 Mar 2025 at 13:26 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008978-2025 - 17 Jan 2025 at 10:10 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001619-2025 ## Notice URLs - https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps - https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/ ## 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-04d3fa. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04d3fa.json.