Official UK procurement notice
Bycatch Monitoring Programme (BMP) - 25-26
Authority: DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe principal purpose of this contract is to investigate incidences of bycatch. This is sensitive species of bycatch, otherwise known as PETS which stands for protected, endangered and threatened species. Incidental capture (bycatch) of PETS in commercial fisheries is a major threat to the conservation of marine megafauna. Injury or death to the PETS bycatch can have population level impacts, socio-economic consequences and can also affect the fishers wellbeing involved.
Monitoring our seas and taking mitigating action to protect PETS is a statutory duty for Defra under the Fisheries Act 2020. Through the Fisheries Act 2020, the UK Government has committed to minimise and, where possible, eliminate bycatch of sensitive marine species to ensure sustainable fisheries.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedProcedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 4 Dec 2025, 15:52 GMT
- Last source update
- 16 Jan 2026, 10:14 GMT
- Authority reference
C32534- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-003755- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Delivery area
- Not published
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05eefdFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Single Suppliers Technical Reasons; Additional Repeat Extension Partial Replacement
- Published justification
Several aspects of work under the current contractual arrangement have been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances outside of our control. This STA direct award will provide sufficient time to ensure that those delayed tasks are completed as well as on going objectives delivered whilst we retender for a new replacement contract. Under the Procurement Act 2023, Schedule 5, Paragraph 6 provides a key justification for awarding a public contract directly to the original supplier when continuity is essential.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- —
Timeline
29 Dec 2025 → 16 Jan 2026 · 2 dates- Standstill ends295 days ago29 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Notice published277 days ago16 Jan 2026, 10:14 GMT
Notice history
4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 4 Dec 2025- Transparency notice published4 Dec 2025, 15:52 GMTUK5
- Contract award notice published16 Dec 2025, 09:58 GMTUK6
- Contract signature expected29 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMTscheduled
- Contract details notice published16 Jan 2026, 10:14 GMTUK7
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Court of the University of St Andrews (USTAN)VCSE, University of St Andrewsjoint award29 Dec 2025 – 31 Jul 2026 | £435,869 | 3 Dec 2025standstill to 29 Dec 2025 | Standstill |
| University Court of the University of St Andrews (USTAN)VCSE | £435,869 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Bycatch Monitoring Programme (BMP) - 25-26 · University Court of the University of St Andrews (USTAN)VCSE
- Signed
- 9 Jan 2026
- Value
- £435,869
- Period
- 10 Jan 2026 – 31 Jul 2026
- Status
- active
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
2 commercial parties on the notice- University Court of the University of St Andrews (USTAN)Awarded supplier
- University Court of the University of St Andrews (USTAN)Awarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender