Tender

UK Seafood Fund – Fisheries Industry Science Partnerships (FISP) (Part B - Procurement)

  • Defra Network eTendering Portal

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2021/S 000-026467

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-02eed0

Published 21 October 2021, 10:45pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Defra Network eTendering Portal

17 Nobel House

London

SW1P 3JR

Email

DGCEnquiries@defra.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 2072385921

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://defra.bravosolution.co.uk

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

https://defra.bravosolution.co.uk

Additional information can be obtained from another address:

UK Government

London

Email

DGCEnquiries@defra.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-seafood-fund-fisheries-industry-science-partnerships-scheme

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

https://defra.bravosolution.co.uk

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address

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

UK Seafood Fund – Fisheries Industry Science Partnerships (FISP) (Part B - Procurement)

Reference number

33757

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The tenderer will provide research in order to collect data that improves the knowledge of UK fisheries and aquaculture and their interaction with the marine environment and other marine species to support sustainable fisheries management. The data to be collected and subsequent analysis will be proposed by the UK fishing/seafood industry in collaboration with an appropriate research organisation. Defra requires data to be collected in established ways, as set out in the appropriate MEDIN data collection standards (Marine Environmental Data and Information Network), openly published on the appropriate MEDIN data archive centre, and to publish a scientific report that sets out the data collected, the methodology used and analysis of that data.

The increase in available data and the improvement of knowledge will benefit the UK Government and the UK seafood industry by providing a greater understanding of UK fish stocks and the interaction with other species and the marine environment, which can be used to support UK fisheries policy development and management.

The tender is divided into three Lots as described below, Tenderers may bid for contracts under more than one of the Lots, as applicable.

Lot 1 Fisheries Data Collection - Will address key knowledge gaps to develop assessment and management approaches, including on biological processes such as growth and maturity, ecological processes such as predator-prey relationships, habitat availability/change, mixed-usage water space and stock definition. Projects on data-limited stocks and species are particularly required.

Lot 2 Mixed Fisheries and Selectivity - Will support developing and evaluating new measures that improve the protection of vulnerable stocks while maintaining viable fisheries. The Fishery Fund can support the development and implementation of a UK catch and discard policy, ensuring it is evidence-based and developed with input from the fishing industry.

Lot 3 Environmental Impacts of Aquaculture - Focuses on two areas:

1) better understanding the ecosystem benefits of aquaculture

2) how the environmental impacts of existing systems can be minimised.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: Yes

Tenders may be submitted for all lots

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 1 Fisheries Data Collection

Lot No

1

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 03000000 - Agricultural, farming, fishing, forestry and related products

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Enhanced data collection is required to ensure UK fisheries policy, management and negotiation decisions are based on the best possible science and evidence. There are challenges around implementing the sustainable management of stocks; some of these are data limited stocks and species which have complex life-histories that affect our ability to assess their status.

Contracts awarded under this Lot will be expected to address key data and knowledge gaps to develop monitoring, assessment and management approaches, particularly for data-limited stocks. These aspects form a key component of the Fisheries Management Plans that will guide our future management of fisheries.

These types of projects would include:

Stock assessments and understanding life history parameters such as growth and maturity.

Establishing sustainable harvest limits for data poor stocks, including appropriate metrics.

Ecological processes such as predator-prey relationships.

Stock definition.

Rates of discards and impact of selectivity measures.

Projects on data-limited stocks and non-quota species are particularly encouraged. This includes, but is not limited to, deep sea stocks, cuttlefish, squid, skates, rays, shellfish and other data poor species.

Improved data could lead to increased opportunities for the UK fishing industry and seafood sector by supporting operational flexibility and, by supporting improvements in traceability (tracking seafood supply chains and limiting mislabelling of products by location or species), to demonstrating environmental credentials and provide improved market access.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Start date

1 February 2022

This contract is subject to renewal

No

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

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

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 2 Mixed Fisheries and Selectivity

Lot No

2

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 03000000 - Agricultural, farming, fishing, forestry and related products

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Mixed fisheries & selectivity (Lot 2):

The main UK fisheries catch a mix of commercial species and stocks. A key challenge remains in exploiting the fishing opportunities from healthy commercial stocks whilst simultaneously protecting vulnerable stocks and other protected marine species and habitats. There is a need to identify and develop new technical measures in selectivity that significantly reduce environmental impacts, bycatches and discards whilst maintaining fishing opportunities within advised limits. The UK remains fully committed to ending the wasteful discarding of fish and minimising catches of sensitive and protected marine species.

This FISP lot will fund data collection and research on measures, methods and gear which aim to address these challenges, to support policy and decisions on future fisheries management measure.

Proposals for projects under this section should focus on collecting data on:

Discards and bycatch that would support the development and implementation of a UK catch and discards policy;

Ecosystem impacts of fishing practices/gear to achieve the environmental objectives of the Fisheries Act;

Marine litter and ghost gear.

Gear modifications to achieve reduced environmental impact or less damaging fishing gear innovations

Improved data could lead to increased opportunities for the UK fishing and seafood industry by supporting operational improvements in sustainable catching, and including reducing discards, demonstrating and better evidencing environmental practices which reduce the damage to the marine environment and help to improve fishing opportunities

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Start date

1 February 2022

This contract is subject to renewal

No

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

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

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 3 Environmental Impacts of Aquaculture

Lot No

3

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 03000000 - Agricultural, farming, fishing, forestry and related products

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

This area of funding is specifically for research into aquaculture.

This area of funding will be focussed on improving our understanding of the ecosystem benefits of aquaculture, for example aquaculture as a nature-based solution to ecological contaminants and improving our understanding of how the environmental impacts of existing aquaculture systems can be minimised.

Proposals for funding under this section should focus on research in the following areas:

Understanding the ecosystem benefits of aquaculture e.g. seaweed, bivalves, integrated multi-trophic;

Practical proposals of aquaculture as a nature-based solution and the identification of areas that could benefit from this.

Minimising the environmental impacts of existing aquaculture systems, including escapees; disease & parasite management; recirculation, control and reduction of discharges.

Ecological impacts and benefits of seaweed farming, offshore aquaculture, and recirculation to generate additional evidence on ecological impacts and benefits.

Improved data and knowledge could lead to increased opportunities for the aquaculture sector by supporting the development of fish farming as a nature-based solution towards sustainable fisheries management. Minimising environmental impacts and increasing our understanding of the ecosystem benefits of aquaculture will increase the accessibility of seafood whilst sustainably using marine resources towards the development of healthy stocks.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Start date

1 February 2022

This contract is subject to renewal

No

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

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 three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information

three.1) Conditions for participation

three.1.2) Economic and financial standing

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents

three.1.3) Technical and professional ability

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Open procedure

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

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date

22 November 2021

Local time

12:00pm

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

22 November 2021

Local time

2:00pm


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: Yes

Estimated timing for further notices to be published: 6 months

six.2) Information about electronic workflows

Electronic ordering will be used

Electronic invoicing will be accepted

Electronic payment will be used

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Defra

London

Country

United Kingdom