Marine services

Tender description

NRW Marine Licensing Team are currently tendering for the provision of specialist technical advice on the impacts to the environment from marine licence applications. Whilst NRW hosts a number of environmental specialists, there are a number of reasons for NRW MLT to seek additional technical services. Primarily, advice is required in specialist areas outside of the remit of NRW specialists. Alternatively, NRW MLT may require advice within a short timescale beyond the resource capacity available within NRW at the given time. This framework also covers the provision of sampling plans and analysis associated with applications for dredge-disposal applications and water quality modelling advice. NRW may require these services on main rivers as well. Provision of the following in response to applications for disposal of dredge arisings at sea: — Sampling plans. — Sampling analysis. — Sampling reports (including suitability for disposal). Provision of general advice in response to specific requests regarding the following environmental areas: — Marine noise and vibration. — Fish (marine, shellfish and aquaculture, fish telemetry, Computerised Fluid Dynamic modelling). — Modelling e.g. fish impacts, coastal processes, marine mammal collision modelling. — Statistical design of environmental monitoring. — Benthic ecology. This is a multi-discipline lot which covers all the services in Lots 1 and 2. Provision of the following in response to applications for disposal of dredge arisings at sea: — Sampling plans. — Sampling analysis. — Sampling reports (including suitability for disposal). Provision of general advice in response to specific requests regarding the following environmental areas: — Marine noise and vibration. — Fish (marine, shellfish and aquaculture, fish telemetry, Computerised Fluid Dynamic modelling). — Modelling e.g. fish impacts, coastal processes, marine mammal collision modelling. — Statistical design of environmental monitoring. — Benthic ecology. In the provision of service for this lot, the provider will be able to: — Understand, analyse and explain hydrodynamic modelling; — Understand, analyse and explain water quality modelling specifically in terms of coastal thermal, and other (e.g. sewerage, drainage), discharges to the marine environment; — Understand, analyse and explain water quality modelling specifically in terms of changes to the phytoplankton population, nutrient concentrations, stratification and suspended sediment, and sewage/freshwater discharges; — Determine if a given model is fit-for-purpose; — Liaise with NRW modellers to agree consistent approach; — Liaise with NRW non-modellers (e.g. ecologists) to explain the outputs of the water quality modelling; — Liaise with other Agency (EA, NE) experts for consistency of approach — Understand the sensitive receptors e.g. bathing waters, Water Framework Directive and Habitats Directive. This lot includes the provision of pre-application advice on a number of projects anticipated to require consents from NRW within the next 2 years, including Wylfa Newydd and Tidal Lagoon Cardiff. Pre-application advice will include advice on the thermal discharge including TRO content and for WFD receptors such as water column transparency. The supplier will be required to provide technical opinion documents during NRW's statutory consultation stage. Potentially, the provision of evidence at examinations may be required. Successful bidders will be able to a) provide advice for these water quality areas, b) be able to defend the advice during examination and c) be able to write opinion of the model. The supplier for Lot 3 will be available to give pre-application advice on modelling prior to May 2017 and be available to complete parts b) and c) above thereafter.