CEFAS24-64 RFQ for intertidal Rock Platform monitoring surveys at Hinkley Point

Tender description

CEFAS24-64 Request for Quotation for the provision to provide intertidal Rock Platform monitoring surveys at Hinkley Point, Somerset, UK Background: The BEEMS (British EDF Estuarine and Marine Studies) Hinkley Point programme is funded by Nuclear New Build Generation Company (HPC) Ltd. (subsidiary of 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 elements described below. Requirement: Cefas require a Supplier to provide services to conduct intertidal monitoring surveys for the Hinkley Point C (HPC) Nuclear New Build project to meet regulatory environmental monitoring requirements. The rock platform monitoring programme focuses on hard substrate habitats present on the foreshore at Hinkley Point including the Sabellaria alveolata formation and the macroalgae assemblages, with a focus on the species Corallina officinalis. 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 Cefas requires the following: a) The preparation and upload of the sampling grid in Real Time Kinematic - Global Positioning System units (RTK-GPS), 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 defined sites using 0.5m frames, 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 form are automatically received by Cefas once tablets are connected to the internet, however it is the responsibility of the Supplier to ensure that this upload is completed. (2) The macroalgal assemblage ground truthing surveys are carried at three study areas (Figure 1) along the foreshore at Hinkley Point and Cefas requires the following: a) The collection of up to 35 observations at each of the three study areas using RTK-GPS units with integrated. The sampling grid is to be prepared by Cefas ahead of the survey. At each sampling point, a series of biological information must be recorded using a weatherproof tablet loaded with a MS form prepared by Cefas. Additionally, a photo of the substrate and associated algae present must be taken using the GPS camera unit. b) After the survey, all GPS data must be securely sent to Cefas (quadrat locations and photos). Note that MS form are automatically received by Cefas once tablets are connected to the internet, however it is the responsibility of the Supplier to ensure that this upload is completed. (3) The macroalgal taxa diversity is monitored at four sites along the foreshore at Hinkley point and Lilstock (Figure 1) and Cefas requires the following: c) The recording of the taxa presence across a series of three transect within each of the three macroalgae study areas on the foreshore at Hinkley Point and at Lilstock. The transects cover the full intertidal range and the species identification requires the expertise of a trained ecologist in the identification of macroalgal species. d) The list of taxa is pre-loaded on weatherproof tablet loaded with a MS form prepared by Cefas. Any un-listed taxa found along the transects must be annotated in the comment box on the form and a sample must be collected in a Ziplock bag to be later reviewed by expert at Cefas. e) The start and the end of the transect must be pre-loaded in the GPS units. Starting and end point during the survey must be recorded and all GPS data must be sent securely to Cefas after the survey. Note that MS form are automatically received by Cefas once tablets are connected to internet however it is the responsibility of the Supplier to ensure that this upload is completed. (4) The Corallina officinalis ground truthing surveys are carried out at six sites (Figure 1) monitored across the foreshore at Hinkley Point and Cefas requires the following: a) The collection of a number of quadrats observations at each of the six waterfalls using RTK-GPS and high-resolution Go-Pro camera (Figure 2). The sampling grid is to be prepared by Cefas ahead of the survey. At each sampling point, the percentage cover the macroalgal taxa present must be recorded using a grided quadrat (Figure 3) and a weatherproof tablet loaded with a Microsoft form prepared by Cefas. The total number of observations will be defined at a closer date to the survey. a) After the survey, all GPS data must be securely sent to Cefas. Note that MS forms are automatically received by Cefas once tablets are connected to internet however it is the responsibility of the Supplier to ensure that this upload is completed. (5) The Sabellaria alveolata formations are monitored at three sites along the foreshore at Hinkley point and Stolford (Figure 4) using a Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS). The TLS is used to measure the topography of the S. 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 5) 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 6, left). Remove protective caps to scan location plates. Install the mounting scan poles into position (Figure 6, 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 could not 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 needs 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.