CEFAS25-63 Request for Quotation for marine benthic macroinvertebrate analysis of samples from the Nab Tower dredged material disposal site, 2025.

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This request for quotation is for the processing of the 41 macrofaunal samples: to extract and identify all biota retained following sieving on a 1.0 mm capture mesh, as per the NMBAQC guidelines detailing extraction and identification protocols. In addition to this there is a requirement to ensure these data are audited as per the NMBAQC Own Samples protocol prior to submission to Cefas (Hall, 2019). www.nmbaqcs.org/media/1764/os686970_… ↗.

Enumeration, identification and biomassing to the lowest possible taxonomic level should be carried out following the NMBAQC Processing Requirement Protocol and Taxonomic Discrimination Protocol. Biomass (wet weight in grams to at least 4 d.p.) is required for all enumerable taxa. Balances must be serviced annually and a valid service certificate must be supplied with this tender.

A single reference collection of all species/taxa identified should be returned to the Cefas laboratories in Lowestoft in an appropriate preservation liquid (i.e. 100% IDA or 70% IMS, 20% water and 10% glycerol). The reference collection should contain as a minimum the species name, name of identifier/ supervisor, station code, cruise code, date of collection and name of species identification verifier. A list of all taxa in the reference collection is also requested; in electronic form, with these details included. Notable taxa should be highlighted here such as non-native species and new or unusual records. Non-native species should be added to the Non-native Species Information Portal (NNSIP) (hosted on the Non-native Species Secretariat website, www.nonnativespecies.org/index.cfm ↗).

The abundance and biomass data matrices should be in completed with, at minimum, the detail in the exemplar provided and, then sent via email to the above contacts following completion. All species names must be run through the WoRMS ‘Match Taxa’ tool so that all naming is current (www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php ↗).

Quality assurance:

Three samples from this contract are to be subject to an independent QA process following the requirements of the NMBAQC ‘own sample’ scheme assessment criteria with the scheme coordinator (or their assigned AQC lab). As this is also a project level audit the full data set will be quality assured; in addition to the samples selected to assess processing, additional taxa will be identified for review from the full data matrix. Any remedial action required following the AQC process must be completed within an agreed timeframe at no extra cost to the project, including any subsequent AQC needed.

The AQC contract will be arranged by Cefas. The processing and audit laboratories will include Cefas in all communications relating to this contract and will work to ensure timely delivery.

Deliverables:

• Externally audited, quality-controlled abundance and biomass matrices with current nomenclature (Primary processing and Audit lab)
• Reference collection (Primary processing lab)
• Internal Quality Control logs (Primary processing lab)
• Audited Quality Control report (Audit lab)
• Weekly project summary updates and correspondence between primary processing and audit lab (Primary processing and Audit lab)

Data delivery:

1. Primary analysis to be completed by end November 2025
2. Fully AQC’d data by end of December 2025.
3. Reference collection to Cefas January 2026.

Quantity: 41 mini Hamon grab samples (details of the samples can be found in table 1 below).

Location: Samples are available for collection, by the successful contractor, as soon as possible following contract allocation from the storage facility in Lowestoft. Please include a cost to acknowledge this requirement. Details of the sample collection are to be confirmed following contract allocation and samples must be transported safely and securely.