Ecological Services Framework (EcoSF) 4

Description

The Environment Agency is looking to issue a tender for the Ecological Services (EcoSF4) Framework covering the following four Lots:<br/><br/>Lot 1 – Specialist Macroinvertebrate Services<br/>This Lot covers services relating to all freshwater macroinvertebrate work in both rivers and lakes, needed to cover monitoring required for international, national and local drivers, as well as local investigatory and regulatory needs. <br/><br/>Lot 2 – Habitat and Species (including Invasive, Non-Native Species) Surveys, Evaluation and Report Writing Services<br/>This Lot will be used to procure ecological surveys, reports and advice for a range of activities that will enable nature recovery as envisaged under the Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2023. Projects will often be of an aquatic/riparian nature, including work in and adjacent to estuaries, coastal areas, rivers, lakes and wetlands. The work will contribute to EIP species abundance and extinction risk targets for a range of threatened, protected and priority species. It will also cover services relating to protected and priority habitats and natural capital assets, as well as invasive, non-native species.<br/><br/>Lot 3 – Geomorphology, River Restoration and Habitat Creation Services<br/>There are multiple drivers from within Defra to seek opportunities to restore natural processes to manage, enhance and restore rivers and other habitats. This Lot will allow the Environment Agency and Natural England staff to supplement their in-house expertise around this work area, with the additional resource and expertise that external suppliers can offer. In particular, this Lot focuses upon the supply of river restoration and habitat creation expertise to inform design and feasibility studies. This includes projects that improve natural geomorphological, hydrological and ecological processes for the purposes of reducing flood risk, restoring habitats and improving the movement of fish through catchments (specific fish pass design is covered in lot 4).<br/><br/>Lot 4 – Fish Passage Design Services<br/>This Lot covers the design of fish passes that prioritise the use of nature-based solutions. This will include feasibility studies, options appraisal and detailed design. The final design will offer the maximum benefit in terms of fish passage (for multiple species), ecological connectivity, morphological processes and habitat creation. Lot Lot 1: Lot 1 - Specialist Macroinvertebrate Services This Lot covers services relating to all freshwater macroinvertebrate work in both rivers and lakes, needed to cover monitoring required for international, national and local drivers, as well as local investigatory and regulatory needs. <br/><br/>The core services are: <br/><br/>Surveys of macroinvertebrates, including field survey or sample collection. <br/><br/>Macroinvertebrate species identification and sample analysis. <br/><br/>Non-core services include: <br/><br/>Survey design. <br/><br/>Data analysis and production of reports. <br/><br/>Species verification. <br/><br/>Specialist training in sample collection, analysis and/or identification. <br/><br/>Quality Assurance is an important aspect of this lot, to ensure we maintain the accuracy and precision of data. Lot Lot 2: Lot 2 - Habitat and Species (including Invasive, Non-Native Species) This Lot will be used to procure ecological surveys, reports and advice for a range of activities that will enable nature recovery as envisaged under the Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2023. Projects will often be of an aquatic/riparian nature, including work in and adjacent to estuaries, coastal areas, rivers, lakes and wetlands. The work will contribute to EIP species abundance and extinction risk targets for a range of threatened, protected and priority species. It will also cover services relating to protected and priority habitats and natural capital assets, as well as invasive, non-native species. <br/><br/>Lot 2 will cover the following services: <br/><br/>Habitat surveys and reports, including baseline assessments, post-project appraisal and ecological monitoring. <br/><br/>Species surveys and reports, including appropriate survey design, post-project appraisal and monitoring. <br/><br/>Surveys, advice and reports relating to the control of Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS). <br/><br/>Advice and reports relating to mitigation and enhancement for protected species. <br/><br/>Advice on matters relating to licensing and legislation for both protected species and INNS. <br/><br/>Specialist training in survey design, survey techniques, mitigation and enhancement and/or interpretation of data. Lot Lot 3: Lot 3 - Geomorphology, River Restoration and Habitat Creation Services There are multiple drivers from within Defra to seek opportunities to restore natural processes to manage, enhance and restore rivers and other habitats. This Lot will allow the Environment Agency and Natural England staff to supplement their in-house expertise around this work area, with the additional resource and expertise that external suppliers can offer. In particular, this Lot focuses upon the supply of river restoration and habitat creation expertise to inform design and feasibility studies. This includes projects that improve natural geomorphological, hydrological and ecological processes for the purposes of reducing flood risk, restoring habitats and improving the movement of fish through catchments (specific fish pass design is covered in lot 4). <br/><br/>This Lot will cover the following services: <br/><br/>Geomorphological investigation design, including general principles for survey design, recommendations for specific surveys, and pre- and post-project appraisal. <br/><br/>Desk based geomorphological assessments and reports, such as historical trend analysis, aerial photograph mapping, LiDAR mapping etc. <br/><br/>Field-based geomorphological surveys, assessments and monitoring, such as fluvial audits, catchment baseline surveys, geodynamic assessment, MoRPH surveys, River Habitat Surveys (RHS), river reconnaissance, site walkovers, drone surveys etc. <br/><br/>Input into the development of Natural Flood Management schemes and proposals. <br/><br/>River, wetland and other habitat enhancement, restoration, creation and management. <br/><br/>Development and delivery of geomorphological and working with natural processes training, and technical reference material. Lot Lot 4: Lot 4 - Fish Passage Design Services This Lot covers the design of fish passes that prioritise the use of nature-based solutions. This will include feasibility studies, options appraisal and detailed design. The final design will offer the maximum benefit in terms of fish passage (for multiple species), ecological connectivity, morphological processes and habitat creation. <br/><br/>This Lot will cover the following services: <br/><br/>Production of feasibility reports, options appraisals and detailed designs for fish passage. <br/><br/>Collection of data to inform the fish passage design. <br/><br/>Obtaining fish passage approval for the proposed fish pass design. <br/><br/>Understanding of planning requirements and where required, undertake a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessment of the fish passage design. <br/><br/>Understanding of and conforming to the Construction, Design and Management (CDM) Regulations and how they may apply to the design, construction and future maintenance of the fish pass. <br/><br/>Conforming to the EA’s Safety, Health, Environmental and Welfare (SHEW) Code of Practice and Minimum Technical Requirements (MTR). <br/><br/>Be available to give fish passage design advice during the construction phase. <br/><br/>Post-construction monitoring/inspections of fish passes. <br/><br/>Calculate and document the carbon likely to be produced for the whole life of the project and, where possible, minimising this carbon through innovative design and material choice.