---
title: "CEFAS25-83 Contract for Underwater Forest Study & Citizen Initiative"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-059651"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-059651"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059651.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059651.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE"
published: "2025-09-09"
---

# CEFAS25-83 Contract for Underwater Forest Study & Citizen Initiative

Buyer: CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-059651

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## Summary

The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), a public authority under sub-central government in the UK, has completed a procurement process for a project titled "CEFAS25-83 Contract for Underwater Forest Study & Citizen Initiative." This initiative falls under the Marine research services category, with activities centred in Lowestoft, UK. The awarding of the contract was concluded on 4th September 2025, with an operational period extending from 5th September 2025 until 31st March 2026. The procurement was conducted through a direct method without competition, as it fell below the threshold. The primary goal of this initiative is to advance community science in coastal health, building on previous pilot work conducted by the National History Museum Trading Company Ltd, the awarded supplier.

This tender presents significant growth opportunities for businesses involved in marine research, community science, and environmental consultancy. Companies with expertise in managing community science studies, data collection, and coastal monitoring will find this contract particularly relevant. Additionally, firms with capabilities in developing partnerships with NGOs and government bodies for scientific research will find opportunities to expand their networks and enhance their service offerings. The focus on engaging existing citizen science organisations and creating a comprehensive toolkit suggests further potential for those specialising in volunteer recruitment, resource development, and data management services.

## Notice

The Coastal Health programme would like to build upon the previous community science work carried out by NHM in the pilot phase of the programme through the following activities. Underwater Forests community science study: * Maintain the existing study of Underwater Forests, supporting existing volunteers to collect data. * Curate the data and make it publicly available. * Evaluate the quality of the data collected. * Produce a final report summarising: * The methods chosen and trialled to recruit volunteers, collect and curate data on coastal organisms as indicators of coastal health, * Key findings from the data collected, * Findings from the evaluation exercise and recommendations for future Coastal Health community science studies. Community Science for Healthy Coasts: * Building on initial engagement led by the NHM under the pilot phase of Coastal Health, identify and engage with existing citizen science organisations and partnerships that undertake coastal monitoring, to help Cefas establish a network/partnership for advancing coastal health through community science, including NGOs, government bodies and existing coastal partnerships. * Building on the findings of the Underwater Forests study, work with the above partnership to develop a toolkit for a future coastal health-focused community science monitoring study to address gaps in existing monitoring programmes. The contents of this toolkit may include methods and recommendations for: recruiting volunteers, user-testing resources, data collection and quality assurance protocols, and communication approaches. Deliverables: 1. A summary report of the methods, findings and evaluation of the Underwater Forests Community Science study. To be delivered by - 20th March 2026 2. Underwater Forests survey data to be made open access on NHM data ecosystem. To be delivered by - As soon as possible and no later than 20th March 2026 3. A toolkit for a coastal health community science study that supports the monitoring of the health of UK coastal ecosystems. To be delivered by - 20th March 2026 4. Reporting progress and risks at a monthly meeting with Cefas and providing quarterly financial and progress reports to the programme board. To be delivered monthly and quarterly, ending by 31st March 2026

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054875-2025 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - without competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 9 Sep 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 3 Sep 2025 |
| Contract period | 4 Sep 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £62,000 |

## 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 | NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM TRADING |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73112000 - Marine research services

## Release History

- 9 Sep 2025 at 09:02 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054875-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054875-2025
  9th September 2025 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

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