Environmental monitoring other than for construction

Tender description

The purpose of this Prior Information Notice is to inform the market of the Welsh Government's intention to procure a new Environment and Rural Affairs Monitoring and Modelling Programme. The Welsh Government recognises that it is unlikely that a single service provider would have the skills and capability across all the required disciplines to deliver a consistent model across all regions in Wales. The Welsh Government encourages a collaborative approach and with the issuing of this notice the market can now start the process of the building of partnerships which bring together the necessary skills and capability. The purpose of this Prior Information Notice is to inform the market of the Welsh Government's intention to procure a new Environment and Rural Affairs Monitoring and Modelling Programme. The Welsh Government recognises that it is unlikely that a single service provider would have the skills and capability across all the required disciplines to deliver a consistent model across all regions in Wales. The Welsh Government encourages a collaborative approach and with the issuing of this notice the market can now start the process of the building of partnerships which bring together the necessary skills and capability. During 2016 the Welsh Government, working in partnership with Natural Resources Wales and a wide range stakeholders, undertook a review to explore and consult on what a new approach to environmental monitoring in Wales may look like. The project developed a consensus and identified a set of key recommendations for a new environmental monitoring framework for Wales: — Make better use of resources (financial and social) across the monitoring community; — Better inform wider Welsh Government policy beyond Environment and Rural Affairs portfolios; — Enable more adaptive, responsive and targeted management of natural resources and ecosystems; — Be a key evidence source for National Natural Resource Policy, including the State of Natural Resources Report and a wider range of legislative requirements including international commitments; — Provide more accurate, timely and efficient delivery of data, evidence and information; — Explore the application of new technologies and environmental modelling; — Deliver integration and sharing of expertise, data and technologies; — Put Wales at the forefront of collaborative and innovative working reflecting its bold legislative agenda. The recommendations received full support from the Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales and stakeholders. This review was undertaken to inform the design of a Glastir Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (GMEP) successor. It is the intention of the Welsh Government to enhance the methodological approach and data time series of the GMEP through this new programme. The Welsh Government, working in partnership with Natural Resources Wales will now progress with the procurement of a new Environment Monitoring Programme. The Welsh Government intends to invest in the region of 1 200 000 GBP to 1 400 000 GBP annually into its Environment and Rural Affairs Monitoring and Modelling Programme over a 4 year contract period. Interested service providers are encouraged to review the full list of key recommendations — Options for a New Integrated Natural Resource Monitoring Framework for Wales and the Glastir Monitoring and Evaluation Programme at https://gmep.wales/resources It is envisaged that a tender exercise will take place during Spring 2017. Potential bidders are encouraged to consider whether and how they could partner with other organisations to deliver this service for Welsh Ministers. Please see the Welsh Government's guidance on joint budding, which can be found at the following link: http://gov.wales/topics/improvingservices/bettervfm/publications/jointbidding/?lang=en