---
title: "CEFAS25-25 Contract for provision of intertidal Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) flights for Hinkley Point C Nuclear New Build project"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05065b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05065b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05065b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05065b.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE"
published: "2025-09-30"
---

# CEFAS25-25 Contract for provision of intertidal Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) flights for Hinkley Point C Nuclear New Build project

Buyer: CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05065b

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## Summary

The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), a sub-central government public authority based in Lowestoft, United Kingdom, has successfully awarded a contract for the provision of intertidal Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) flights. The project centres on the Hinkley Point C Nuclear New Build project, aiming to monitor potential coastal change and intertidal algal coverage. The contract was initiated under an open procedure, with the award completed on 30th September 2025. The contract period begins on 18th September 2025 and is set to end by 31st December 2026, with potential annual extensions up to December 2029. Marine Science Support Ltd was selected as the supplier for this contract, estimated at a total gross value of £600,000.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities for companies operating in the survey services sector, specifically those with capabilities in conducting intertidal RPA flights. The contract involves comprehensive planning, execution of surveys, and data delivery, allowing skilled businesses to showcase and further develop their expertise in aerial surveying technologies. The project's alignment with high-profile construction at Hinkley Point C could enhance visibility for participating companies. The open procurement method and clear technical criteria make it well-suited for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) equipped to meet the regulatory requirements and technical challenges associated with environmentally sensitive locations.

## 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 are detailed in full Specification). Cefas requires that the Supplier's flight team assumes full responsibility for the comprehensive management of all aspects of each survey. This includes, but is not limited to, planning (including securing all necessary access), issuing survey notifications in advance of each flight, liaising with NNB regarding other flight operators and ensuring the safe and successful execution of every survey with delivery of data as detailed in the Specification. The initial Contract period will be to 31 December 2026, with the option to extend by an additional 3 x 12-month periods, to be awarded annually, subject to funding, up to maximum end date of 31 December 2029.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Option to extend for 3 x further periods of 12 months each.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060942-2025 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 30 Sep 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 18 Aug 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 27 Aug 2025 |
| Contract period | 17 Sep 2025 - 31 Dec 2026 |
| Recurrence | 2029-07-01 |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £625,000 |
| Lots value | £625,000 |
| Awards value | £500,000 |
| Contracts value | £500,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active, Pending |
| 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 | MARINE SCIENCE SUPPORT |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 79311000 - Survey services

## Release History

- 30 Sep 2025 at 13:55 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060942-2025
- 29 Aug 2025 at 09:50 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/052332-2025
- 23 Jul 2025 at 11:31 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042338-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060942-2025
  30th September 2025 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/052332-2025
  29th August 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042338-2025
  23rd July 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://atamis-9529.my.site.com/s/Welcome
- https://atamis-9529.my.site.com/s/WelcomeAllbidstobesubmittedviatheaboveeProcurementsystem.
- https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-05065b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05065b.json.