Research and development services and related consultancy services

Tender description

Thank you for showing an interest in the Authority’s requirement for research on diffuse pollution from historic metal mine activity in the UK. The Authority is seeking to appoint a contractor or contractors to provide the service described in the scope document with effect from 4.2018. The Coal Authority is seeking research partners to undertake field-based research into the important areas below over the next 2-3 years to enable an evidence-based approach to remediation of diffuse pollution as part of its ongoing work with the Environment Agency and Defra. This initial call is for expressions of interest on one or both of the topics detailed below. Successful applicants will then be invited to submit full proposals in due course. The Authority is seeking outline research proposals that tackle one or both of the following topics: (i) Groundwater inputs: Investigation into the role of groundwater / baseflow in metal flux in specific water bodies / stream reaches. (ii) Spoil heap inputs: The relative importance of particulate erosion/run-off versus infiltration/pore water in mobilising metals from spoil heaps (bankside soils) to rivers.