Contract

Aerial Survey of Areas in the Central North Sea for Seabird and Marine Mammals Species for the POSEIDON Project

  • Defra Network eTendering Portal

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-000534

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0395e4

Published 9 January 2023, 1:34pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Defra Network eTendering Portal

17 Nobel House

London

SW1P 3JR

Email

Supplierenquiries@naturalengland.org.uk

Telephone

+44 2072385921

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority

one.5) Main activity

Environment


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Aerial Survey of Areas in the Central North Sea for Seabird and Marine Mammals Species for the POSEIDON Project

Reference number

ECM 66474

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 60445000 - Aircraft operating services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

There are four core objectives for this contract.

These are to:

a) Conduct four, seasonal, high precision digital aerial surveys of the study area in the central North Sea. Survey data are to be collected using digital video or still imagery at a minimum of 1.5 cm Ground Surface Distance (GSD) to confidently capture and identify to the lowest taxonomic level possible all birds (in flight and on the water) and marine mammals within the surveyed area. Seasons are defined as:

1) December 2022

2) January – March 2023

3) April – June 2023, and

4) July – September 2023.

Whilst we recognise the challenges of surveying large areas to prescriptive timetables, we would suggest contractors aim for the middle month of survey seasons where practical, and limit as far as possible the total time required to survey the study area within a season. Where surveys have to take place at the beginning or end of seasons, Natural England would appreciate discussions to ensure seasons are separated to an acceptable degree.

b) process imagery to identify all birds, marine mammals, and other objects of interest captured to the lowest taxonomic level possible;

c) Quality Assure results so that pre-agreed data standards are met (e.g. to meet MEDIN standards, JCDP data standards for archival in marine data repositories such as the Marine Data Exchange);

d) produce ArcGIS layers, associated metadata, accompanying .csv files, etc. and four brief reports (one for each of the survey seasons) detailing survey effort and observations for each individual survey within pre-agreed timeframes, likely to be within 6 – 8 weeks of data collection. Files provided should quantify locations, dates and times of surveys in a clearly communicated coordinate system and/or projection, regardless of whether animals were sighted or not.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £524,980.19

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance

Survey of defined areas of central north sea.

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Digital aerial surveys of seabirds and marine mammal species.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 30

Quality criterion - Name: Commercial / Weighting: 70

Price - Weighting: 30 / 70 Technical/Commercial

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below

  • The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations

Explanation:

This is a call-off from a framework 'Digital Aerial Surveys for Seabirds and Marine Mammals in English and Welsh Waters, framework agreement'.

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes


Section five. Award of contract

Contract No

ECM 66474

Title

Aerial Survey of Areas in the Central North Sea for Seabird and Marine Mammal Species for the POSEIDON Project.

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

9 January 2023

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 2

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 2

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 2

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 2

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 2

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

APEM Ltd

A17 Embankment Business Park, Vale Road, Heaton Mersey

Stockport

SK4 3GN

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot: £524,980.19


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Natural England

Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green

York

YO1 7PX

Country

United Kingdom