CEFAS23-85 RFQ for Intertidal Sabellaria Monitoring Surveys at Hinkley Point

Tender description

Cefas require services to conduct intertidal Sabellaria monitoring surveys for the Hinkley Point C (HPC) Nuclear New Build project to meet regulatory environmental monitoring requirements. The BEEMS (British EDF Estuarine and Marine Studies) programme is funded by NNB GenCo (EDF Energy). Through this programme, Cefas provide authoritative scientific information on the marine and transitional waters in the vicinity of potential new build nuclear power stations and require a competent contractor to deliver the element described below. Requirement: Cefas require services to conduct intertidal Sabellaria monitoring surveys for the Hinkley Point C (HPC) Nuclear New Build project to meet regulatory environmental monitoring requirements. The Sabellaria monitoring programme focuses on hard substrate habitats present on the foreshore at Hinkley Point. As such, biological observations are collected every year: (1) The Sabellaria alveolata are monitored at four sites along the foreshore at Hinkley point and Stolford (Figure 1) and requires the following: a) The preparation and upload of the sampling grid in RTK-GPS units (Real Time Kinematic - Global Positioning System), to ensure high accuracy of sampling location, according to survey protocol defined by Cefas prior to the survey. b) The measurement of the extent of the Sabellaria formation as a walkabout around the edge of the tube aggregations seen on the rock platform using continuous data recording on the RTK-GPS units. c) The collection of up 150 quadrat observations at each of the four sites using 0.5mquadrats, RTK-GPS units and high-resolution Go-Pro camera (Figure 2). At each quadrat, a series of biological information must be recorded using a weatherproof tablet loaded with a Microsoft (MS) form prepared by Cefas. d) After the survey, all GPS data and photos must be sent securely to Cefas (walkabout data, quadrat coordinates and photos). Note that MS Forms are automatically received by Cefas once tablets are connected to the internet however it is the responsibility of the successful supplier to ensure that this upload is completed. (2) The Sabellaria alveolata formations are also monitored at three of the four sites along the foreshore at Hinkley point and Stolford (Figure 3) using a Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS). The TLS is used to measure the topography of the Sabellaria alveolata formations, allowing the change in elevation over time to be monitored. Scan locations are over a fixed plate using a custom-made fixed scanner mounting pole to ensure an identical vantage point is obtained at each scan location and the survey protocol requires the following: a) Identify the target locations (Figure 4) using RTK-GPS units, check their condition, and remove the protective nuts and lid to then install targets on appropriate target rod facing the first scan position. b) Find the scan station position on the foreshore using an RTK-GPS units and check the condition of the plates (Figure 5, left). Remove protective caps to scan location plates. Install the mounting scan poles into position (Figure 5, right). The scanner is set up at four positions at each site, resulting in a survey area covering approximately 45 m2 at each of the three sites. A temporary tripod is used at one location where the plate cannot be fixed to the rock. c) Put the Leica P40 scan station on the mounting pole and level appropriately. d) Setup the Leica P40 scan station to scan the area of interest and run the scan at each of the scan stations. Visually check that all the area was covered after each scan to ensure the area of interest was captured. e) RTK-GPS measurements of each target and scan locations are collected at the end of the measurements to ensure the scan results had consistent errors associated with the originally measured target positions. f) Download the scan data at the end of each survey day from the Leica P40 scan station via a USB drive and transfer securely to a computer. g) Data need to be processed using the Leica Cyclone software to import all the scans taken during the survey into one database. Targets are used as fixed points to align the scans in space. h) GPS data and processed scan measurements data should be sent securely to Cefas within a month after the survey ends. Cefas requires the successful Supplier’s survey team to manage the planning (including access), notifications, and safe execution of each survey. Note that the access to the scan station locations is restricted to around one hour either side of the low tide. The survey team usually arrive two hours before low water to undertake the following tasks prior to completing the scans.