Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (Defra Network eTendering Portal)
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Contact
DGC
Telephone
+034 59335577
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
Buyer's address
https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
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
Reducing Noise from Offshore Wind Piling: A Pilot
Reference number
C27437
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
Underwater noise is increasing in the marine environment. A key area of concern is impulsive noise which can be generated from a range of activities including piling during the installation of offshore wind turbine foundations. Without mitigation, mid-frequency sound, such as from impact piling, has been shown to cause permanent hearing loss, tissue damage and lethal injury to marine mammals. The sound can also result in disturbance effects, such as disruption of foraging and potential impacts to breeding, communication and navigation. This can be potentially more harmful at the population level as it can impact a larger number of marine mammals. Fish have also been shown to have lethal and sub-lethal effects from impulsive sounds. It is thought that piling can also cause physiological impacts to eggs and larvae as these life stages contain air sacs. Other impacts such as poor body condition post hatching could occur, in addition to behavioural impacts that can affect the population level. For example, if piling activity is to take place close to a known spawning bed or ground for herring during the key spawning period, the behaviour of the spawning herring could potentially be disturbed, leading to spawning taking place in less suitable locations, or not at all. Mackerel have demonstrated changes in their shoaling behaviour when exposed to piling noise and Atlantic cod have been shown to have delayed migrations to spawning grounds when exposed to pile driving noise.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £1
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Introduction
Underwater noise is increasing in the marine environment. A key area of concern is impulsive noise which can be generated from a range of activities including piling during the installation of offshore wind turbine foundations. Without mitigation, mid-frequency sound, such as from impact piling, has been shown to cause permanent hearing loss, tissue damage and lethal injury to marine mammals. The sound can also result in disturbance effects, such as disruption of foraging and potential impacts to breeding, communication and navigation. This can be potentially more harmful at the population level as it can impact a larger number of marine mammals. Fish have also been shown to have lethal and sub-lethal effects from impulsive sounds. It is thought that piling can also cause physiological impacts to eggs and larvae as these life stages contain air sacs. Other impacts such as poor body condition post hatching could occur, in addition to behavioural impacts that can affect the population level. For example, if piling activity is to take place close to a known spawning bed or ground for herring during the key spawning period, the behaviour of the spawning herring could potentially be disturbed, leading to spawning taking place in less suitable locations, or not at all. Mackerel have demonstrated changes in their shoaling behaviour when exposed to piling noise and Atlantic cod have been shown to have delayed migrations to spawning grounds when exposed to pile driving noise
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 60
Quality criterion - Name: Sustainability and Social Value / Weighting: 10
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £1
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
8 February 2025
End date
31 December 2028
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 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
13 January 2025
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Tender must be valid until: 13 January 2025
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
13 December 2024
Local time
4:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Public Procurement Review Body
N/A
N/A
N/A
publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Public Procurement Review Body
N/A
N/A
N/A
publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Public Procurement Review Body
N/A
N/A
N/A
publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit