Diving Services Framework 2022

Tender description

The management of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) should aim to achieve the ‘favourable conservation status’ (FCS) of habitat and species features. Features can be: an entire habitat; a range of plant/animal communities; an individual plant/animal community; or individual species. In the case of SACs, the features are the habitats and/or species listed in Annex I and Annex II of the Habitats Directive for which the individual MPAs were designated. To inform management and enable reporting on the FCS of the subtidal aspects of the SACs, NRW undertakes diving monitoring work. A monitoring work programme has been established for each statutory site by NRW. The programme, or parts thereof, will be implemented by the contractor working as part of a team alongside NRW specialist staff. NRW in conjunction with specialist diving biologist contractors completed multiple field seasons of diving monitoring work across Wales. Techniques include well-established Marine Nature Conservation Review methodology (Phase 2 level survey, Hiscock 1996) as well as developing and adapting techniques such as fixed-point quadrat sampling and video and digital stills photography to assess the various attributes of reefs in the Welsh SACs. Lot 1: Sponge / invertebrate taxonomist A diver qualified to dive under the Scientific ACOP and according to the HSE Diving at Work regulations. They will have an advanced specialist knowledge and experience in the identification and taxonomy of invertebrates (e.g. sponges, ascidians, bryozoans, and hydroids) methods for identification and preservation and key literature to assist identification in field laboratory where in situ identification is not possible. Where suitably competent and experienced to supervise diving activities at work, you may be required to provide rolling diver supervisor duties as part of this lot. This role may also be combined with Lot 7 coordinator role Approx 5-10 days per annum Lot 2: Algal taxonomist A diver qualified to dive under the Scientific ACOP and according to the HSE Diving at Work regulations. They will have an advanced specialist knowledge and experience in the identification and taxonomy of red, green and brown seaweeds, the methods for identification and preservation and key literature to assist identification in field laboratory where in situ identification is not possible. Where suitably competent and experienced to supervise diving activities at work, you may be required to provide rolling diver supervisor duties as part of this lot. This role may also be combined with Lot 7 coordinator role 5-15 days per annum. Lot 3: Non-native species taxonomist A diver qualified to dive under the Scientific ACOP and according to the HSE Diving at Work regulations. They will have advanced specialist knowledge and experience in the identification of non-native species. They will have excellent taxonomic skills to be able to identify these species from native species. They will be up to date with such species currently found or likely to be found in the UK, horizon scanning literature and other sources of information. They will have specialist knowledge in the methods for identification and preservation and key literature to assist identification in field laboratory where in situ identification is not possible. Where suitably competent and experienced to supervise diving activities at work, you may be required to provide rolling diver supervisor duties as part of this lot. This role may also be combined with Lot 7 coordinator role 5 days per annum. Lot 4: Experienced monitoring / diving marine biologists An experienced diver qualified to dive under the Scientific ACOP and according to the HSE Diving at Work regulations. They will have excellent general marine taxonomic skills and will be able demonstrate their experience in carrying out a variety of underwater surveying techniques similar to that identified in NRW’s Standard Operating Procedures for our subtidal diving SAC monitoring including ‘cell frequency species counts’, ‘Sponge morphology quadrats’, and transect type surveys. They will also be experienced in photography, videography and other marine fieldwork methodologies to carry out our routine monitoring work. Where suitably competent and experienced to supervise diving activities at work, you may be required to provide rolling diver supervisor duties as part of this lot. This role may also be combined with Lot 7 coordinator role Requirement: Typically 20-40 person days per annum. Lot 5: Assistant surveyor An experienced diver qualified to dive under the Scientific ACOP and according to the HSE Diving at Work regulations. A scientific diver with biological knowledge - not to be confused with commercial divers who may be an experienced diver but have no biological expertise/knowledge nor training in biological field survey techniques. Able to assist experienced surveyors, carry out videography, targeted sample collection, and surveys where less taxonomic skills are required such as seagrass surveys. Requirement: Typically 10-20 person days per annum. Lot 6: Diving supervisor A person suitably competent and experienced to supervise diving activities at work in accordance with the Scientific ACOP and according to the HSE Diving at Work Regulations. They don’t need to have biological expertise, but they do need to understand the nature of the work and the areas / dive sites where the diving operations are to take place. They will be expected to keep records of diving activities, control the diving operations, liaise with other maritime users and assist with running of survey logistics. This role is for the supply of a dedicated dive supervisor as opposed to the provision of ad hoc diver supervisor duties whilst providing services under another Lot. Requirement: unknown. Subject to projects being undertaken. Lot 7: Survey coordinator A person with the skills and experience to plan, lead and coordinate field logistics and manage dive teams. Close liaison with project officer assisting in the coordination of survey requirements and field team needed. Creating HSE Dive Project Plans, liaising with relevant Harbour Authorities and ensure Notice to Mariners are issued if required. Liaising with recompression chambers facilities ahead of and during surveys to ensure availability in an emergency. Able to ensure the quality of the information gathered (monitoring data, dive logs, filed activity diary etc), is secured and appropriately catalogued. Competent in ensuring the completion of an end of season field report that summarises the years field operations and (with input from NRW staff) draws summary conclusions from the data collected. This person could be an independent trader who would form a consortium for the purposes of the framework or it could be the manager of an organisation/company who would tender for the entire set of work (1-4 above). It is expected that the coordinator would also take on one of the diving roles alongside the Survey Coordinator role. They must indicate which secondary Lots they could also fulfil. Requirement: Typically 20-40 person days per annum. Lot 8: Diving data analyst A person with a scientific background and preferably a diver with a knowledge of marine biological species. They will be adept at transcribing complex data from field recording forms to spreadsheets or Marine Recorder. Able to check the taxonomic species names in relevant literature where necessary. They will be competent in data validation techniques, use of spreadsheets and statistical software. The analyst may also be required to work with imaging software such Adobe Photoshop and Premiere for stitching images or extracting species data. A knowledge of annotation software BIIGLE and CATAMI would be advantageous. This role may be expected to attend surveys and input data at the survey base but not take part in diving operations themselves. They may also be required to analyse recorded video to extract species and abundance data.