Abbey Remains Project - Tender for Archaeological Consultant

Tavistock Town Council as Client and Accountable Body invites tenders from consultants with the relevant skills and capability to carry out planning and execution of archaeological excavations (CIfA standards), associated reporting writing, handling of finds and digital archiving of the areas shown on drawings Figure 2 and Figure 3.

Due to the time sensitivities relating to the overall wider project deliverables, on appointment, contractors are required to apply for the necessary consents to enable the excavation works to take place, which includes one scheduled monument application for the two sites, presenting a robust and focussed archaeological project design and Written Scheme of Investigation that poses the relevant research questions and provides clear justification for the works taking place under SMC. This will include full sections on human remains, archaeological science and proposals for post-excavation analysis. After the consultant has liaised with Historic England (site meeting with project team has already occurred with Historic England in August 2026), the target is to ensure that the SMC is submitted no later than end January 2027. The appointed consultant will also assist the client with the Faculty application relating to Abbey Cloisters Ruin excavation.

As part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund grant conditions, when considering pricing the works an appropriate allowance should be made for working closely with volunteers, as it is the intention to deliver this project with a community engagement approach, pertaining to volunteers under supervision carrying out actual digging and on-site curation.

The consultant should allow for contacting sector specialists and statutory bodies as part of a desk top exercise to ascertain what previous equivalent survey work exists which will inform the works programme. In addition, the project team has commissioned a Ground Penetrating Radar Survey and the report should be available for the end of 2026, which will inform the strategy relating to the SMC application regarding the findings, especially within the Abbey Cloisters Ruin area.

On completion of the excavation works, the contractor will produce a written report which is suitable to inform next steps with regards to providing valuable insight to the research team and interpretation consultants. It should also be in an appropriate format for public perusal as the results will feed into a wider interpretation programme, both digital and physical. As a minimum the report should include: title page, summary of project background, executive summary of results, description and illustration of site locations, methodology, plans and reports of all documentary and other research, description of the results, interpretation of the results, summary and location of project archives, site layout plans, plans showing locations of excavations, detailed plans of areas where archaeological features are recognised along with adequate OD spot height information, section drawings of deposits and features, site matrices where appropriate, photographical records, consideration of evidence in wider context, summary table and descriptive text showing features, classes and number of artefacts recovered and soil and stonework profiles for interpretation and confidence rating.

The consultant must allow for the costs of data archiving, within 6 months of completion of the report, including completing the online OASIS entry and depositing the digital archive with the Archaeological Data Service.