---
title: "CEFAS26-106 Contract for Expert contribution for data-limited methods for category 4-6 stocks"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f37f"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f37f"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f37f.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f37f.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE"
published: "2026-09-07"
---

# CEFAS26-106 Contract for Expert contribution for data-limited methods for category 4-6 stocks

Buyer: CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f37f

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## Summary

The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) commissioned research and specialist advisory services for data-limited fisheries stocks, specifically category 4–6 stocks without stock-size indices. The work supports Cefas’s Large Collaborative Project LCP003, Task 1.1, which aims to develop catch rules using length data and other alternative evidence, including spatial indicators, and test them through simulation. The scope covers conceptual frameworks for severely data-limited stocks, length-based catch rules, reviews of size-based management options, hindcast analysis of spatial indicators, support for project outputs and publications, expert input at international workshops, and supervision of a Cefas PhD student working with Imperial College London. Services are hybrid, involving online and in-person meetings at Cefas’s Lowestoft laboratory and international meetings online or in person. The work is classified as research services.

This procurement is complete and was awarded through a below-threshold direct award without competition. The selected supplier is Sea Plus Plus Limited. The award date is 7 September 2026, with an intended signature date of 9 September 2026. The contract period runs from 10 September 2026 to 31 July 2027, with a maximum extent date of 31 March 2030 and provision for three further 12-month renewal periods. The awarded value is £96,000 excluding VAT and £120,000 including VAT. The contract covers one lot, with an expected 20 supplier working days plus reimbursable UK and international travel. Evaluation was based on the specified specialist technical requirements and direct-award route rather than a competitive tender. Cefas’s requirements include regular meetings, correspondence and agreed contributions throughout delivery.

This award indicates demand for highly specialised fisheries science capability rather than general research support. A credible future competitor would need recognised expertise in management strategy evaluation, including the Fisheries Library in R, data-limited evaluation methods, stock assessment, model validation and diagnostics. Relevant experience includes the ICES WKLIFE data-limited methods workshop, life-history and length-based methods, spatial indicators, catch-rule development and hindcasting. The requirement also favours suppliers able to apply high-performance computing and massive parallelisation, contribute to international scientific workshops, review technical outputs and publications, and supervise doctoral researchers. The work suits a specialist individual or small expert consultancy able to combine independent methods development with regular collaboration with Cefas project staff and academic partners.

## Notice

Cefas requires expert services from Laurence Kell 'SEA++' limited, for the provision of expert contribution to support the delivery of Cefas Large Collaborative Project LCP003, Task 1.1 "data-limited methods for category 4-6 stocks". The contract is based on the requirements and structure of a previous agreement with Cefas, adapted for current needs. Task 1.1 of the relevant project will use length data from fisheries to design catch rules that lead to substantial improvement in performance (in terms of increased yield and reduced risk of resource depletion), when compared to the current International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) catch rules for category 4-6 stocks (stocks without stock size indices; catch advice reduced every three years). It develops methods that utilise alternative data in catch rules (e.g. spatial indicators) and builds the simulation framework to test them. Requirements: Specialised technical requirements to be met by the supplier: * Expert contribution for the method development for data-limited fish stocks. * Expert, in-depth knowledge of management strategy evaluation (MSE) and associated techniques (including the Fisheries Library in R, FLR) and internationally recognised leader in these topics. * In-depth knowledge of data-limited evaluation techniques, including methods development, and well-established experience in the ICES data-limited methods workshop WKLIFE (including life-history and length-based methods). * World leading expert in stock assessment methods, model validation, and diagnostics. * Expertise in high-performance computing, including methods for massive parallelisation. * Supervision of PhD students. The supplier will provide expert contribution to the project, including: * Conceptualisation of framework for severely data-limited stocks * Exploration of length-based catch rules * Review of size-based fisheries management options * Development and testing of spatial indicator approaches, including hindcasting. * Contributions to international workshops, such as the ICES data-limited methods workshop ICES WKLIFE in September 2026, and attendance at monthly meetings with Cefas. * Supervision and support of Cefas staff PhD students on spatial indicators in collaboration with Imperial College London Meetings and Communication * The supplier will attend monthly meetings (in-person or online) as agreed with the project team. * Additional meetings may be scheduled as required. * Regular updates and correspondence will be maintained throughout the contract period. Deliverables: Delivery, as outlined in the requirement section above, will be throughout the duration of the contract with regular meetings and agreed contributions which will be confirmed via correspondence with Cefas project LCP003 1.1 task leader. The deliverables include support for the following elements: 1. Work on data-limited catch rules (including conceptual framework for severely data-limited stocks, review of length-based catch rules, written review of size-based fisheries management options) 2. Hindcast analysis of spatial indicators 3. Regular meeting attendance and expert input 4. Support, review, and feedback on project outputs and publications 5. Supervision of Cefas PhD student , as part of the project a. Elements 1-5 are to be delivered by 31 March 2026. Quantity: * 20 working days by the supplier * Travel o UK travel reimbursed at actual cost with receipts o International travel reimbursed as per UK Government rates, with receipts, e.g. 6 days to cover attendance at international meeting Location for services to be undertaken: Hybrid: Online and in-person meetings at Cefas, Lowestoft laboratory, UK; international meeting attendance, either in person or online.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084414-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - without competition |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 7 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 10 Sep 2026 - 31 Jul 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £96,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE |
| Locality | LOWESTOFT |
| Postcode area | 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 | Sea Plus Plus |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73110000 - Research services

## Release History

- 7 Sep 2026 at 13:35 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084414-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084414-2026
  7th September 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- 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-06f37f. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f37f.json.