Development of a Nutrient Management Plan for the River Usk Special Area of Conservation

Description

The Usk Catchment Partnership, in its role as Nutrient Management Board for the River Usk Special Area of Conservation is seeking to commission appropriately qualified consultants to develop a Nutrient Management Plan for the non-tidal extent of the Usk Catchment.The River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain at an elevation of just over 500m in the Western area of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. It flows in a long narrow catchment of great scenic beauty for approximately 125km, making it the longest river wholly within Wales. It first flows North into Usk reservoir before heading East through the towns of Brecon, Crickhowell, Abergavenny and then South through Usk, before discharging to the Usk estuary at Newbridge and then to the Severn estuary at Newport . The Usk Catchment Partnership currently covers the freshwater catchment - the area up until the tidal limit of the river at Newbridge.NRW’s Compliance Assessment of Welsh River SACs against Phosphorus Targets (2021) identified that 88% of the water bodies assessed failed their compliance targets. The phosphorus compliance on the Usk fails at a greater rate than any other SAC river in Wales and the percentage of failing water bodies is far higher than any other assessed river.The Catchment Partnership was formed in response to these findings. Although the Catchment Partnership has a wider range of interest than phosphorus reduction, in our role as Nutrient Management Board for the Usk, as supported by Welsh Government , we are obligated to produce an actionable Nutrient Management Plan by the end of the financial year 2024/5.Project BriefThe Catchment Partnership is seeking proposals from suitably qualified persons for the production of an Actionable Nutrient Management Plan for the non-tidal region of the River Usk Catchment.The NMP should be based on the steer provided to NMBs by NRW (link) and include the following key elements:- Catchment Overview- Evidence Assessment- Options Appraisal- Action Plan- Monitoring and review scheduleThe Catchment Partnership expects that the NMP will build on the existing review of evidence developed by the Partnership (draft here) and that the Options Appraisal will take into consideration the Greenshank Report as well as the NRW Mitigation Menu.The NMP must be evidence based and informed by a risk-based approach to options appraisal. It must set out deliverable actions, timescales, costs and be framed in relation to stakeholder responsibilities and statutory obligations in order to facilitate new development to occur within the catchment and pave the way for longer term water quality improvements.TimelineTo meet our funding obligations, all work must conclude within financial year 2024/25.- Deadline for submissions - 9th September 2024- Shortlisting - 10th September 2024- Interviews - 12th September- Appointment - 13th September 2024- Inception - 16th September- Meeting with Knowledge Hub - w/c 30th September- Written Draft submitted to Core Group - 22nd November 2024- Presentation to Core Group - 3rd December 2024- Report of consultation- 21st February 2025- Final document submitted to Core Group - 21st February 2025- Final presentation to Core Group - 6th March 2025Your proposal should demonstrate the following:- Your detailed understanding of the brief- A costed project plan defining key tasks and deliverables (including how consultation on a draft NMP will be managed)- Your ability to deliver against the timetables set out above- Your qualifications to produce the work both as a consultancy and the individuals appointed to work on the project- Details of quality control procedures- Any examples of similar or related past work- Where relevant, references from past clientsResources available to support the proposalBannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority provides a secretariat to the Usk Catchment Partnership; as part of this role, some assistance will be provided in managing contact with key stakeholders.The Catchment Partnership is also supported by a technical advisory group, referred to as our Knowledge Hub (KH). The KH will act as key reference to the NMP development and will provide technical scrutiny on behalf of the Partnership.The Catchment Partnership has undertaken a review of evidence referred to as the State of the Usk Report which should form the basis of the NMP for the Usk.The Catchment Partnership seeks a nature-based approach wherever possible and as such we expect the NMP will be led by the BBNPA_Nutrient management opportunity assessment_v2.pdfHow we will assess your proposalThe Usk Catchment Partnership is publicly funded, and therefore we expect to provide best value for any spend we make. Best value does not just relate to costs, but also to ensuring that any spend best delivers for the catchment as per our obligations to Welsh Government. We therefore assess all proposals against the following criteria with each element weighted as follows.- Price demonstrating value for money - 30%- Demonstration of delivery to timescales - 30%- Relevance of qualifications to deliver NMP - 20%- Compliance to brief - 20%Any further queriesPlease direct any queries to uskpartnership@beacons-npa.gov.ukAbout the Usk Catchment PartnershipThe Usk Catchment Partnership is a Welsh Government supported initiative bringing together statutory bodies and interested parties around a shared aim to restore the ecological health and resilience of the River Usk and its catchment.The partnership is hosted by Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park Authority.The membership is comprised of• Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water• Natural Resources Wales• Monmouthshire County Council• Powys County Council• Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority• The Wye and Usk Foundation• Action for Conservation• Dr Eleanor Keen chair Knowledge Hub• Save the River Usk• Beacons Water GroupThe Partnership is working together to develop an evidence-based Action Plan to help deliver on a range of outcomes relating to water quality, flood risk, nature’s recovery, and resilient communities.NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=144147. Please direct any queries to uskpartnership@beacons-npa.gov.uk.(WA Ref:144147)The buyer considers that this contract is suitable for consortia bidding.