---
title: "Bycatch Monitoring Programme (BMP) - 25-26"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05eefd"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05eefd"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05eefd.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05eefd.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS"
published: "2026-01-16"
---

# Bycatch Monitoring Programme (BMP) - 25-26

Buyer: DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05eefd

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## Summary

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), located in London, is the buying organisation for the "Bycatch Monitoring Programme (BMP) - 25-26". This contract concerns environmental monitoring efforts aimed at investigating incidences of bycatch affecting protected, endangered, and threatened species within commercial fisheries—an industry category essential for the conservation of marine biodiversity. The procurement is in the Award and Contract stage, with the awarding date being 9th January 2026, and the contract term running from 10th January to 31st July 2026. The procurement method used was a direct award, justified by the necessity of continuity due to previous unforeseen delays in completing certain tasks under the existing contractual arrangements. These activities take place primarily in the United Kingdom.

This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses involved in environmental monitoring services, particularly those with expertise in marine biology and ecology. The focus on sustainable fisheries and species conservation suggests that organisations with experience in working with public authorities and central government would be well-positioned to compete. Additionally, the direct award indicates a stable working relationship with the University of St Andrews, highlighting the importance of building long-term partnerships with governmental agencies to ensure continued business development and potential involvement in future related tenders.

## Notice

The principal purpose of this contract is to investigate incidences of bycatch. This is sensitive species of bycatch, otherwise known as PETS which stands for protected, endangered and threatened species. Incidental capture (bycatch) of PETS in commercial fisheries is a major threat to the conservation of marine megafauna. Injury or death to the PETS bycatch can have population level impacts, socio-economic consequences and can also affect the fishers wellbeing involved. Monitoring our seas and taking mitigating action to protect PETS is a statutory duty for Defra under the Fisheries Act 2020. Through the Fisheries Act 2020, the UK Government has committed to minimise and, where possible, eliminate bycatch of sensitive marine species to ensure sustainable fisheries.

### Procurement Information

Several aspects of work under the current contractual arrangement have been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances outside of our control. This STA direct award will provide sufficient time to ensure that those delayed tasks are completed as well as on going objectives delivered whilst we retender for a new replacement contract. Under the Procurement Act 2023, Schedule 5, Paragraph 6 provides a key justification for awarding a public contract directly to the original supplier when continuity is essential.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003755-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 16 Jan 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 3 Dec 2025 |
| Contract period | 10 Jan 2026 - 31 Jul 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £435,869 |
| Contracts value | £435,869 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active, Pending |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS |
| 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 |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 2 |
| Supplier names | UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS (USTAN; UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

### Codes

- 90711500 - Environmental monitoring other than for construction

## Release History

- 16 Jan 2026 at 10:14 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003755-2026
- 16 Dec 2025 at 09:58 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083160-2025
- 4 Dec 2025 at 15:52 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079859-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003755-2026
  16th January 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083160-2025
  16th December 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079859-2025
  4th December 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- 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-05eefd. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05eefd.json.