UK SBS PR19053 The Sampling and Analysis of Groundwater at Selected Locations across the Border Areas of Ireland

Tender description

CLOSING TIME FOR BIDS IS 23/10/2019 at 14:00 HOURS. *Please note: MAXIMUM BUDGET IS 160,000 EUROS* DO NOT APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE BUYER. To express your interest in this opportunity email ExpressionOfInterest@crowncommercial.gov.uk. To register on our e-sourcing portal click on https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk and follow the link "Register for CCS eSourcing". This is for the sampling and analysis of groundwater at selected locations across the border areas of the island of Ireland. This work is part of the Catchment Care project. The CatchmentCARE project is being funded through the European Union's INTERREG VA Programme, which is managed by the Special EU Programme's Body. Match-funding has been provided by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Northern Ireland and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in Ireland making a grand total of €13.8 million. The aim of CatchmentCARE is to establish 3 water quality improvement projects in the Finn, Blackwater and Arney Catchments and install 51 boreholes across the region. This will be achieved through 3 policy actions, 6 catchment actions and 3 community actions which were selected based on three critical criteria; measurable impact on water quality; transferable beyond the 3 catchments; and contribute to a project legacy. The actions selected will address water quality issues related to hydromorphology, point and diffuse sources of pollution, farm nutrient management practices, characterisation and monitoring of groundwater quality, lag times in response to the implementation of measures and an economic analysis of the cost of achieving the objectives of the Water Framework Directive in the three catchments. The Catchment Care project will install 51 groundwater monitoring points. The installation will take place over the summer of 2019, 2020 and possibly 2021. It is anticipated that around 20 boreholes will be completed in 2019 and the remainder in 2020. The successful tenderer is required to undertake sample collection and onsite analysis at the 51 boreholes installed and 12 springs. 3 sampling rounds per borehole/spring per year will be required. Drilling is not expected to commence until Sept 2019 then it is anticipated that one sampling round will take place at possibly 20 boreholes in 2019, 3 samplings rounds at 51 boreholes and 12 springs in 2020 and 3 sampling rounds at 51 boreholes and 12 springs in 2021. Suppliers must be available for up to 51 or less boreholes and 12 springs depending on situations beyond our control. Additionally, if the BGS requires sampling at additional sites, the successful tenderer will be offered the opportunity to undertake this work at the rates provided in the initial tender. It is anticipated that no more than 5 additional sites will be added to the sampling programme, although some sites may be replaced. During each of the sampling rounds, the successful tenderer will be required to take duplicate samples.