CEFAS24-115 Contract for marine benthic macroinvertebrate analysis of Nioz cores collected around Farnes Deep 2024

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£20,000

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  • Analysis services

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  • award

Submission Deadline

10 months ago

Published

10 months ago

Description

The marine Natural Capital Ecosystem Assessment (m-NCEA) programme, in collaboration with Defra and the JNCC aims to contribute to improved understanding of ecosystem services provided by seabed habitat assets, including marine benthic macroinvertebrate sample processing.

As part of this programme, sediment samples were collected using a NIOZ core during a survey in the North Sea in May 2024 onboard the RV Cefas Endeavour. Seventy-four samples were collected at 15 locations in and around Farnes Deep.

The Supplier will process 15 NIOZ core samples (which have been sub divided into 74 separate samples, with a maximum of 5 slices per core - see Annex 1); 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.

The Supplier will provid in an appropriate format (industry standard spreadsheet) and to include taxa abundance, species matrix and biomass by station.

In addition to the above, the analysis will be audited as per the NMBAQC own Samples protocol prior to final submission (Hall, 2019): http://www.nmbaqcs.org/media/1764/os686970_summary-report.pdf. The AQC will be organised and awarded by Cefas following the initial submission of the results from this contract.

Deliverables:
• Quality-controlled abundance and biomass matrices with current nomenclature
• Reference collection
• Internal Quality Control logs
• Weekly project summary updates and correspondence between primary processing and audit lab

Deliverable Dates:

1. Primary analysis to be completed by 30 September 2024
2. Fully AQC'd data by 15 October 2024
3. Reference collection to Cefas by 15 October 2024

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

To view this opportunity please go to https://atamis-9529.my.site.com/login You will need to log in or create a new supplier account. The opportunity can then be found searching 'CEFAS25-63 Macrofaunal Analysis'. 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). http://www.nmbaqcs.org/media/1764/os686970_summary-report.pdf. 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, http://www.nonnativespecies.org/index.cfm?sectionid=81). 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 (http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=match). 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.

Katy Reed

Published 1 week ago

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