Scope
Reference
CMS/001
Description
Natural England is developing the Conservation Measures Standard to underpin the delivery of the NRF. Part of this work requires a methodology and tool for quantify the nutrient reductions generated through implementing riparian buffer strips (RBS) in Nutrient Neutrality (NN) catchments to improve water quality. This tool will facilitate mitigation scheme suppliers to design and deliver robust RBS to generate nutrient reductions capable of offsetting nutrient inputs from development in NN catchments.
This tool and its associated guidance will be part of a wider project Natural England has begun to produce standardised tools, guidance and assessment criteria to ensure conservation measure projects (mitigation schemes) are effective at achieving the intended environmental outcome. This project, the Conservation Measures Standard (CMS), will develop Solution Toolkits for each of the measure relied upon to deliver nutrient mitigation, prioritising the most effective and commonly used measures to allow scheme suppliers to design and implement high-quality schemes in accordance with the set standard.
This request for work will build on existing work on RBS to generate nutrient mitigation by commissioning a comprehensive methodology and tool to accurately quantify the nutrient reduction achieved at a project scale through the implementation of RBS. The commission forms two parts, the first request is to design a robust methodology to calculate the N and P reduction achieved in kg/year by implementing a RBS project in a NN catchment. This will need to be developed in collaboration with NE and should incorporate the existing evidence base commissioned by NE. The second part of this commission is to use GIS and data science/analytics to develop a tool to enable site specific calculations for N and P reductions achieved by a RBS project. This must be based on the above methodology and should incorporate a level of precaution to account for any uncertainty. The work should align with other publications and tools generated by NE to quantify the nutrient inputs resulting from new development (Nutrient Neutrality calculators) and to quantify the nutrient reductions achieved by Nature-based Solutions/mitigation measures (Cover Crop calculators).
Total value (estimated)
- £24,999 excluding VAT
- £29,999 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 30 June 2025 to 11 August 2025
- 1 month, 12 days
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 90700000 - Environmental services
Contract locations
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKI - London
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
Participation
This procurement is reserved for
UK suppliers
Conditions of participation
Natural England is developing the Conservation Measures Standard to underpin the delivery of the NRF. Part of this work requires a methodology and tool for quantify the nutrient reductions generated through implementing riparian buffer strips (RBS) in Nutrient Neutrality (NN) catchments to improve water quality. This tool will facilitate mitigation scheme suppliers to design and deliver robust RBS to generate nutrient reductions capable of offsetting nutrient inputs from development in NN catchments.
This tool and its associated guidance will be part of a wider project Natural England has begun to produce standardised tools, guidance and assessment criteria to ensure conservation measure projects (mitigation schemes) are effective at achieving the intended environmental outcome. This project, the Conservation Measures Standard (CMS), will develop Solution Toolkits for each of the measure relied upon to deliver nutrient mitigation, prioritising the most effective and commonly used measures to allow scheme suppliers to design and implement high-quality schemes in accordance with the set standard.
This request for work will build on existing work on RBS to generate nutrient mitigation by commissioning a comprehensive methodology and tool to accurately quantify the nutrient reduction achieved at a project scale through the implementation of RBS. The commission forms two parts, the first request is to design a robust methodology to calculate the N and P reduction achieved in kg/year by implementing a RBS project in a NN catchment. This will need to be developed in collaboration with NE and should incorporate the existing evidence base commissioned by NE. The second part of this commission is to use GIS and data science/analytics to develop a tool to enable site specific calculations for N and P reductions achieved by a RBS project. This must be based on the above methodology and should incorporate a level of precaution to account for any uncertainty. The work should align with other publications and tools generated by NE to quantify the nutrient inputs resulting from new development (Nutrient Neutrality calculators) and to quantify the nutrient reductions achieved by Nature-based Solutions/mitigation measures (Cover Crop calculators).
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Tender submission deadline
21 June 2025, 5:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
To apply for this opportunity you must submit your quotation meeting the requirements detailed in the Request for Quotation (RFQ), entitled Riparian Buffer Strip Tool and Methodology project scale assessment, attached.
Your response must be sent to georgia.findlay@naturalengland.org.uk by 17:00 on 21st June 2025.
If you have any clarification questions linked to this opportunity or the procurement process please submit these via email to georgia.findlay@naturalengland.org.uk or rupert.hammond@naturalengland.org.uk. Please note that, unless commercially sensitive, both the question and the response will be circulated to all tenderers.
Tenders may be submitted electronically
No
Award criteria
see RfQ
Procedure
Procedure type
Below threshold - open competition
Documents
Associated tender documents
NE-Request for Quote - RBS Methodology and Tool for CMS.docx
RfQ
RBS Order Form NE Standard Goods Services Terms and Conditions.docx
Contract Draft
LIT 63284 - Guided Buying_Commercial Response Basic.docx
Commercial Response Template
Contracting authority
Natural England
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PJDG-6588-XDMM
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
United Kingdom
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - central government