---
title: "CEFAS25-81 RFQ for a geophysical and bathymetric survey at Sizewell C"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-056573"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-056573"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-056573.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-056573.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE"
published: "2025-09-30"
---

# CEFAS25-81 RFQ for a geophysical and bathymetric survey at Sizewell C

Buyer: CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-056573

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## Summary

The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) has successfully completed the procurement process for a geophysical and bathymetric survey at Sizewell C, aimed at enhancing understanding of the Ross Worm Sabellaria spinulosa reefs in the area. This project, part of the Sizewell BEEMS programme funded by Sizewell C Limited, involves research vessel services under the industry category. The contract, awarded on 30th September 2025, spans from 18th September to 1st December 2025, with Njord Survey AB as the appointed supplier. The open competition procurement process remained below the threshold, prioritising comprehensive multispectral Multi Beam Echo Sounder (MBES) systems with a contract value of £49,808 GBP. The procurement stage progressed from tender publication in July 2025, with the award notified in September 2025.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses in the geophysical survey and marine research sectors to engage with a public authority like CEFAS. Companies offering advanced hydrographic survey services and possessing suitable vessels equipped with MBES and related technology are ideal candidates. Such contracts can lead to substantial business growth by offering exposure to high-profile projects funded by leading organisations such as Sizewell C Limited. Additionally, this tender highlights openings for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that specialise in environmental scientific analyses, offering them a platform to showcase their technical capabilities and expand their client base in the UK government sector.

## Notice

The Sizewell BEEMS (British EDF Estuarine and Marine Studies) programme is funded by Sizewell C Limited (SZC). Through this programme, Cefas provide authoritative scientific information on the marine and transitional waters in the vicinity of the consented SZC new build nuclear power station and require a competent supplier to deliver the element described below. The Ross Worm Sabellaria spinulosa is a sedentary, epifaunal polychaete worm which builds tubes by consolidating particles of sediment (Limpenny et al, 2010). S. spinulosa is abundant in UK waters, largely existing in solitary form or within small, low-lying aggregations (Hayward and Ryland, 1990). However, under the right environmental conditions they also can establish dense colonies and form biogenic reefs. These biogenic reefs are protected as an Annex I habitat under the EU Habitats Directive (EEC, 1992), and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are designated for their protection. With the aim of improving our understanding of the extent, distribution, and nature of S. spinulosa biogenic reef (i.e. reefiness) across the area of interest, Cefas has commissioned this Contract to deliver a geophysical and bathymetric survey of this area with co-located ground-truthing using an ARIS acoustic imaging system. We have proposed two options as to levels of provision. The primary acquisition will be for a full multispectral Multi Beam Echo Sounder (MBES) bathymetry survey with con-current Side Scan Sonar (SSS) and ARIS ground-truthing. The key element of the requirement is the use of multispectral MBES system. The Supplier will provide a hydrographic survey vessel with A-Frame and winch (SWL 150Kg min) and hydrographic survey services

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The work is expected to be undertaken in summer 2025 but if marine works schedule changes, then an extension may be agreed by both parties to allow the work to be completed, for a period up to 12 months after the Contract end date.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060978-2025 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 30 Sep 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 20 Aug 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 16 Sep 2025 |
| Contract period | 17 Sep 2025 - 1 Dec 2025 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £40,000 |
| Lots value | £40,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £49,808 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| 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 | NJORD SURVEY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

### Codes

- 63726800 - Research vessel services

## Release History

- 30 Sep 2025 at 14:41 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060978-2025
- 11 Aug 2025 at 16:07 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047778-2025
- 24 Jul 2025 at 13:00 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042779-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060978-2025
  30th September 2025 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047778-2025
  11th August 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042779-2025
  24th 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-056573. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-056573.json.