---
title: "CEFAS25-139 Request for Quotation for the analysis of seabed imagery"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-060343"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-060343"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060343.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060343.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE"
published: "2026-03-19"
---

# CEFAS25-139 Request for Quotation for the analysis of seabed imagery

Buyer: CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-060343

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## Summary

The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), a sub-central government public authority, has completed the tendering process for the analysis of seabed imagery under the open procurement method. The associated contract, signed on 19 March 2026, has been awarded to Ocean Ecology Limited, and its active period commences on 20 March 2026, concluding on 30 November 2026, with potential extension options. This procurement process falls within the industry category of analysis services. The project involves monitoring surveys in Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) along the East Sussex coast and west of Land's End, crucial for supporting ecological objectives in Marine Protected Areas. The analysis aims to produce Geographic Information System (GIS) deliverables from seabed imagery collected at designated sites in Beachy Head East and Cape Bank MCZs. The value of the contract is set at £31,048.50 with a gross amount of £37,258.20.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the environmental analysis sector, particularly those specialising in marine and ecological data interpretation. Companies that excel in Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies and seabed imagery analysis, such as those capable of delivering high-quality video and image data, are well-placed to participate in such procurement processes. The tender requirements included mapping subtidal habitats, assessing species composition, and identifying formations and non-native species. Businesses with advanced analytics capabilities and experience in Marine Protected Areas conservation can leverage this opportunity for growth in a competitive market, contributing to important ecological assessments and conservation efforts. The procurement was structured to encourage small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), reflecting a broad engagement strategy with diverse suppliers.

## Notice

Cefas and Natural England (NE) have been working collaboratively to deliver monitoring surveys within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as part of the ongoing MPA programme. These surveys aim to support Natural England's monitoring objectives and provide robust evidence to inform conservation measures. Two recent surveys were undertaken at designated Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs): Beachy Head East MCZ in November 2023 and Cape Bank MCZ in September 2025. Both sites are important for understanding subtidal habitats and associated species, and the surveys were designed to gather high-quality data to meet specific ecological objectives. Beachy Head East MCZ is an inshore site located along the East Sussex coast near Eastbourne, within the Eastern Channel region. Covering an area of approximately 195 km2, the survey focused on: * Mapping the extent and distribution of subtidal sediment, rock, and biogenic reef habitats. * Collecting quantitative information on species composition across sedimentary and rocky biotopes. * Identifying the presence of S. spinulosa formations and, where possible, providing data to inform Reefiness assessments. * Recording any presence of non-native species. Cape Bank MCZ, is an inshore site situated in the Western Channel and Celtic Sea region to the west of Land's End, spans roughly 474 km2. The survey objectives included: * Acquiring high-quality video and image data to verify the extent and distribution of subtidal moderate energy circalittoral rock features. * Determining the main characterising species within these habitats to enable temporal comparisons with previous datasets. Requirements: The Supplier is required to undertake the analysis of seabed imagery (video and still images) collected at Beachy Head East and Cape Bank MCZs. This analysis will include the production of imagery-specific Geographic Information System (GIS) deliverables.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025150-2026 |
| 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 | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 19 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 30 Jan 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 19 Mar 2026 |
| Contract period | 20 Mar 2026 - 30 Nov 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £33,333 |
| Lots value | £33,333 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £31,048 |

## 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 | OCEAN ECOLOGY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 71620000 - Analysis services

## Release History

- 19 Mar 2026 at 12:51 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025150-2026
- 9 Jan 2026 at 17:13 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002056-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025150-2026
  19th March 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002056-2026
  9th January 2026 - Tender 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-060343. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060343.json.