Official UK procurement notice
CEFAS25-25 Contract for provision of intertidal Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) flights for Hinkley Point C Nuclear New Build project
Authority: Cefas
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe BEEMS (British EDF Estuarine and Marine Studies) programme is funded by NNB Generation Company (HPC) Limited. Through this programme, Cefas provide authoritative scientific information on the marine and transitional waters in the vicinity of potential new build nuclear power stations.
Cefas require a supplier to conduct intertidal Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) flights, in accordance with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guidelines, to monitor potential coastal change and intertidal algal coverage for the Hinkley Point C (HPC) Nuclear New Build project to meet regulatory environmental monitoring requirements.
RPA flights and photography are required: (1) along the Hinkley Point foreshore, and; (2) at Combwich Wharf and the surrounding banks of the River Parrett. Flight/survey design and equipment specification must be sufficient for Cefas to create orthophotos (OPs) and Digital Surface Models (DSMs) with a Ground Sampling Distance ((GSD), i.e. resolution) of 3cm/pixel or better (exceptions are detailed in full Specification).
Cefas requires that the Supplier’s flight team assumes full responsibility for the comprehensive management of all aspects of each survey. This includes, but is not limited to, planning (including securing all necessary access), issuing survey notifications in advance of each flight, liaising with NNB regarding other flight operators and ensuring the safe and successful execution of every survey with delivery of data as detailed in the Specification.
The initial Contract period will be to 31 December 2026, with the option to extend by an additional 3 x 12-month periods, to be awarded annually, subject to funding, up to maximum end date of 31 December 2029.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 1 Jul 2029, 23:59 BST.
- No preliminary market engagement: This is a recurring requirement with a well known market, a Planned Procurement Notice was published to alert the market of Cefas' intention to release a tender.
CPV: Survey services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£625,000
- Economic & financial standing
As per Bidder Pack
- Technical & professional ability
As per Bidder Pack
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (3)
- Technical: 65%
- Price: 25%
- Social Value: 10%
Published award criteria (3)
- Technical
- Social Value
- Price
- Economic & financial standing
As per Bidder Pack
- Technical & professional ability
As per Bidder Pack
- Price carries 25 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 2.5 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 1 Jul 2029
- First published
- 23 Jul 2025, 12:31 BST
- Last source update
- 30 Sept 2025, 14:55 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 29 Aug 2025
- Authority reference
CEFAS25-25- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-042338- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05065bFind a Tender- Contract terms summary
As per the Bidder Pack
- Risks
Prolonged Adverse Weather Due to tidal limitations on the surveys, prolonged adverse weather could impact the ability to obtain the dataset for a specific month. This could result in additional costs and/or contract extension in order to meet the requirements. Unable to address the risk upfront as weather is beyond control of Buyer or Supplier. Proportionate mitigation for some weather risk is provided for in the Contract. Risk assigned to both parties. Change in frequency of flight requirements Due to changing schedule at Hinkey Point C (HPC), frequency of flights could change. For example, extensive deliveries to the Combwich site may result in the need for monthly surveys instead of quarterly surveys, on a short-term basis. This could result in additional costs in order to meet the requirements. Unable to address the risk upfront as neither Buyer or Supplier has control over the HPC project scheduling. Proportionate allowance within the estimated total value is provided for in the Contract. Risk assigned to Buyer.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 18 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 11 Aug 2025, 17:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
atamis-9529.my.site.com/s/Welcome ↗ All bids to be submitted via the above eProcurement system.
Timeline
23 Apr 2025 → 30 Sept 2025 · 10 dates- Planning notice published23 Apr 2025, 14:02 BST
- Next notice expected28 May 2025, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published23 Jul 2025, 12:31 BST
- Clarification questions by11 Aug 2025, 17:00 BST
- Submission deadline18 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent29 Aug 2025, 00:00 BST
- Award decision expected by29 Aug 2025, 23:59 BST
- Standstill ends9 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts11 Sept 2025, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published389 days ago30 Sept 2025, 14:55 BST
Notice history
6 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 23 Apr 2025- Planned procurement notice published23 Apr 2025, 14:02 BSTUK3
- Tender notice published23 Jul 2025, 12:31 BSTUK4
- Contract award notice published29 Aug 2025, 10:50 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete29 Aug 2025, 10:50 BST
- Contract signature expected10 Sept 2025, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published30 Sept 2025, 14:55 BSTUK7
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Science Support LtdSMECEFAS25-25 Contract for provision of intertidal Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)11 Sept 2025 – 31 Dec 2026 · up to 31 Dec 2029Extensions: Up to 3 x 12 month extensions | £500,000same award published again · counted once | 28 Aug 2025standstill to 9 Sept 2025 | Standstill |
| Marine Science Support LtdSME | £500,000 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
CEFAS25-25 Contract for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) surveys at Hinkley Point · Marine Science Support LtdSME
- Signed
- 17 Sept 2025
- Value
- £500,000
- Period
- 18 Sept 2025 – 31 Dec 2026 · up to 31 Dec 2029 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- 3 x 12 month extensions
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3final-stage tenders | 3 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Marine Science Support LtdAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (4)
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
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Planned procurement notice Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender