Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
DAERA:Marine and Fisheries Division
Rathkeltair House, Market Street
Downpatrick
BT30 6AJ
UK
Contact person: ssdadmin.cpdfinance-ni.gov.uk
E-mail: ssdadmin@cpdfinance-ni.gov.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Environment
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
ID 5489705 - DAERA Marine and Fisheries - Letting of Benthic Infaunal Analysis contract
II.1.2) Main CPV code
77000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Marine Monitoring and Assessment team (MMAT) within the Marine and Fisheries Division of DAERA has responsibility for protection of the marine environment. The analysis of benthic infaunal samples is a statutory requirement under The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 as one of the primary biological quality elements used to classify the ecological quality status of a given waterbody. Additionally benthic infaunal analysis may be required under related statutory instruments and agreements including, amongst others, the Marine Strategy Framework, The Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 and Licensing deposits in the sea under Part 4 of The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. DAERA – MMAT requires a supplier to provide analysis of benthic infaunal samples. Data generated from the analysis of these samples on behalf of the Marine Monitoring and Assessment team will support delivery of the relevant statutory monitoring and classification requirements and is submitted to the UK National database. The contract is for an initial period of 3 years from date of award, (envisaged to be 1 April 2025) to 31 March 2028. There are two (2) options to extend for a period of up to twelve (12) months each. Please refer to Tender Documents for full details.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
875 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
77700000
77800000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKN
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Marine Monitoring and Assessment team (MMAT) within the Marine and Fisheries Division of DAERA has responsibility for protection of the marine environment. The analysis of benthic infaunal samples is a statutory requirement under The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 as one of the primary biological quality elements used to classify the ecological quality status of a given waterbody. Additionally benthic infaunal analysis may be required under related statutory instruments and agreements including, amongst others, the Marine Strategy Framework, The Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 and Licensing deposits in the sea under Part 4 of The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. DAERA – MMAT requires a supplier to provide analysis of benthic infaunal samples. Data generated from the analysis of these samples on behalf of the Marine Monitoring and Assessment team will support delivery of the relevant statutory monitoring and classification requirements and is submitted to the UK National database. The contract is for an initial period of 3 years from date of award, (envisaged to be 1 April 2025) to 31 March 2028. There are two (2) options to extend for a period of up to twelve (12) months each. Please refer to Tender Documents for full details.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Service Delivery Methodology
/ Weighting: 25.2
Quality criterion: Team Experience
/ Weighting: 15.4
Quality criterion: Standing Operating Procedures SOP
/ Weighting: 18.9
Quality criterion: Social Value
/ Weighting: 10.5
Cost criterion: Total Contract Price
/ Weighting: 30
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
The contract is for an initial period of 3 years from date of award, envisaged to be 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2028. There are two 2 options to extend for a period of up to twelve 12 months each.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2025/S 000-001619
Section V: Award of contract
Contract No: 1
Title: Contract
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
07/03/2025
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 1
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
APEM LTD
Riverview
STOCKPORT
SK4 3GN
UK
Telephone: +44 1614428938
E-mail: tenders@apemltd.co.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
URL: https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 194 098.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
The UK does not have any such bodies with responsibility for appeal/mediation procedures. Instead; any challenges are dealt with by the High Court, Commercial Division, to which proceedings may be issued regarding alleged breaches of the PCR 2015 as amended.
Belfast
UK
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
CPD complied with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and incorporated a standstill period (i.e. a minimum of 10 calendar days) at the point information on the award of contract was communicated to tenderers. That notification provided full information on the award decision. This provided time for the unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract was entered into.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
12/03/2025