JNCC OFFSHORE DEEPWATER SURVEY FOR EXISTING AND PROPOSED MPAs TO THE WEST OF SCOTLAND
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JNCC OFFSHORE DEEPWATER SURVEY FOR EXISTING AND PROPOSED MPAs TO THE WEST OF SCOTLAND
JNCC reference: C13-0236-0665
OJEU reference:2013/S 053 087246
Background
JNCC wish to commission a deepwater survey in the summer of 2013 to gather seabed data/evidence from a number of deepwater areas to the west of Scotland. There are four areas of interest; the first three are Scottish Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (MPA) proposals whilst the last area is a candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC). The four areas are shown in Figure 1 and are as follows:
- SW Sula Sgeir & Hebridean Slope Scottish Nature Conservation MPA proposal
- Geike Slide and Hebridean Slope Scottish Nature Conservation MPA proposal
- The Barra Fan and Hebrides Terrace Seamount Scottish Nature Conservation MPA proposal
- East Rockall Bank cSAC
The required evidence within these four areas will be acquired through a number of survey methodologies, including but not limited to acoustic methods (for example, deepwater multibeam and sidescan sonar), benthic sampling (box cores/grabs) and high resolution seabed imagery (video and stills).
Figure 1: Location map showing the four areas of interest for this deepwater survey; East Rockall cSAC, Geike Slide, SW Sula Sgeir and Barra Fan.
Scottish Nature Conservation MPA proposals
The Scottish MPA Project helps deliver the Scottish Government’s commitment to a ‘clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse marine and coastal environment that meets the long term needs of people and nature’. The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 contains provisions to designate Nature Conservation MPAs, Demonstration and Research MPAs and Historic MPAs within territorial waters. The UK Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 contain provisions to designate MPAs for the conservation of nationally important marine wildlife, habitats, geology and undersea landforms in offshore waters.
In November 2012 Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) submitted formal advice to the Scottish Government on the identification of possible Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (possible MPA) to protect biodiversity and geodiversity in Scotland’s seas. Our proposals for Nature Conservation MPAs build on the existing network of protected areas including Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Areas (SPA), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and existing fisheries restrictions.
Lists of marine habitats, species and large-scale features of functional significance for the overall health and diversity of Scotland’s seas (collectively known as MPA search features), together with equivalent marine geodiversity interests, were used to inform the selection of possible MPAs. The presence of these specific features also served as a guide or proxy to highlight areas of possible wider nature conservation interest.
Scottish MPA project: Principles guiding the use of the scientific evidence-base
Application of the science-based process set out in the MPA Selection Guidelines[1] required a robust evidence-base for the biodiversity and geodiversity features present in Scotland’s seas. Building the evidence-base involved mining the existing data held by SNH, JNCC and others, as well as undertaking new field surveys in areas where data needs were greatest. Stakeholder engagement helped to support data compilation efforts, facilitating data sharing and identifying opportunities for collaborative research.
SNH and JNCC applied expert judgement in the identification of the possible MPAs. Non-executive bodies were used to scrutinise and peer-review the process. Our judgements on whether the guidelines were met and a summary of the evidence that was used to support these assessments have been documented in Data Confidence Assessments. The data confidence assessments published alongside our advice provide a description and an evaluation of the type, age, source and extent of evidence used to support each of the proposals. Within the Data Confidence Assessments that support the possible MPAs, JNCC has highlighted where the acquisition of additional evidence would increase the confidence in the extent and condition of features within possible MPAs.
The survey work proposed within this document is designed to improve the evidence base for features in up to three of the offshore possible MPAs in Scotland’s seas, and will gather a combination of acoustic data, benthic samples and seabed imagery. Extracts from the Data Confidence Assessments for the Geikie Slide and Hebridean Slope, South-west Sula Sgeir Slide and Hebridean Slope and the Barra Fan and Hebrides Terrace Seamount MPA proposalcan be seen in Figures 2, 3 and 4 respectively.
Figure 2: The known distribution of protected featureswithin the Geikie Slide and Hebridean Slope MPA proposal
Figure 3: The known distribution of protected features within the South-west Sula Sgeir Slide and Hebridean Slope MPA proposal
Figure 4: The known distribution of protected features within The Barra Fan and Hebrides Terrace Seamount MPA proposal. Evidence for coral gardens and seamount communities is pending verification
East Rockall Bank cSAC
The UK Government has a responsibility to implement the 1992 Directive on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna (92/43/EEC) (the‘Habitats Directive’). As part of this implementation the JNCC has provided advice toUK Government on suitable areas in UK offshore waters (i.e. from 12 to 200nautical miles from the coast and the UK Continental Shelf as set out in Ordersmade under Section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964) that may qualify asSpecial Areas of Conservation (SACs). These sites must contain habitats listedon Annex I and/or species listed on Annex II to the Directive. Three Annex Ihabitat types are known to or potentially occur in UK offshore waters:
- Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time
- Reefs (composed of three sub-types; bedrock, stony and biogenic)
- Submarine structure made by leaking gases
Further information on definitions and interpretation of these habitat types andtheir corresponding sub-types can be found on the JNCC website(
Over recent years, the JNCC has run a programme of collaborative andcommissioned offshore survey work with other organisations to gather seabed evidence to support the identification of SACs. Following this programme of work, East Rockall Bank cSAC was one of five new candidate SACs submitted to the European Commission on 31st October 2012.
East Rockall Bank cSAC is located to the west of Scotland, about 320km west of the Outer Hebrides. It is located along the eastern flank of Rockall Bank, a geological feature approximately 450km long and 200km wide, orientated northeast to southwest, ranging in depth from 0m (where a rocky ‘island’ outcrop breaks the surface) to 1000m (Howell et al, 2009[2]). The eastern edge of Rockall Bank forms a scalloped faulted scarp slope, which descends steeply down into the Rockall Trough at around 1000 to 1500m water depth (Howell et al, 2009, Long et al, 2010[3]).
The survey work proposed within this document will gather further evidence to better define the detailed distribution of Annex I habitat (including the three sub-types) from three specific areas within the cSAC boundary to aid the development of site management plans; specifically, additional groundtruthing in the form of seabed imagery is considered to be a key requirement. These three areas are shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5: The above figure highlights three specific areas within the East Rockall Bank cSAC where additional groundtruthing is sought. Note that the middle area highlighted on the left hand map is focussed on the escarpment edge, which actually extends along the majority of the western edge of the cSAC. Additional groundtruthing is required all along this feature.
The Requirement
JNCC require an offshore survey contractor with an excellent demonstrable track record to undertake a deepwater survey to the areas outlined previously. The water depth ranges of these areas are from 100m down to 2200m; contractors should ensure that their proposals are appropriate to gather seabed evidence from this range of depths. The contract is planned to start on 1st July 2013 through to the end of March 2014. Summary requirements are outlined below:
- Provision of a suitable and appropriate offshore survey vessel and personnel for up to 20 consecutive ‘at sea’ days during July/August 2013. Vessel should be equipped with dynamic positioning and a USBL (Ultra Short BaseLine) system to position equipment deployed off the vessel.
- Acquire seabed acoustic data (multibeam bathymetry and backscatter along with sidescan sonar) through use of dedicated deepwater systems and analyse appropriately.
- Deploy seabed imaging equipment such as remotely operated vehicle or drop-camera frame equipped with high resolution video (e.g. Kongsberg High Definition Compact Colour Zoom Video Camera, OE14-502 or equivalent) and high resolution digital stills camera (e.g. Kongsberg 10MP Underwater Digital Stills Camera, OE14-408 or equivalent) to undertake camera transects of seabed features. Please Note: in the detailed specification and resulting tender submissions, JNCC will require that the contractor provides two costed options, one for use of an ROV and the other for using a drop-down camera system.
- Collection and subsequent analysis of infaunal samples from sedimentary habitats (through use of grab/box core) and epifaunal samples from rocky habitats (through use of ROV manipulator arm or other methods).
- Undertake interpretation of acoustic and biological data to develop habitats maps for the study areas.
- Undertake reporting (including cruise report following survey and final report) as required for completion by March 2014.
Potential Providers should make clear how they will deliver this work programme.
Timetable
- Contract advert published in OJEU
- Expressions of interest deadline
- Issue of invitation letters
- Return of tenders deadline
- Notification of intention to award to preferred contractor/non-success
- Standstill period (10 days)
- Award of contract
- Start of contract
Term of contract
The potential term of the contract is from8 July 2013 until the end of March 2014. Contract performance will be assessed annually to ensure that it meets requirements.
Consortia and sub-contracting
Where a consortium or sub-contracting approach is proposed, all information requested should be given in respect of the proposed prime contractor or consortium leader. Relevant information should also be provided in respect of consortium members or sub-contractors who will play a significant role in the delivery of services or products under any ensuing contract. Responses must enable the Authority to assess the overall service proposed.
Where the proposed prime contractor is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) or holding company, information should be provided about the extent to which the SPV/holding company will call upon the resources and expertise of its members to fulfil the Requirement.
JNCC recognises that arrangements in relation to consortia and sub-contracting may be subject to future change. Service providers/suppliers should therefore respond in the light of such arrangements as are currently envisaged. Potential Providers are reminded that any future change in relation to consortia and sub-contracting must be notified to the JNCC so that it can make a further assessment by applying the selection criteria to the new information provided.
Details should also be provided in relation to the proportion of any contract awarded that the Potential Provider proposes to subcontract.
Additional Information
JNCC expressly reserves the right to require a Potential Provider to provide additional information supplementing or clarifying any of the information provided in response to the requests set out in this Pre-Qualification Questionnaire. JNCC may seek independent technical advice to validate information declared, or to assist in the evaluation.
Award Criteria
Submissions will be evaluated against the following criteria:
Quality of proposal
•Clarity of the proposal
•Degree of scientific merit
•Realism and measurability of milestones/feasibility of delivering outputs
•Degree to which tender demonstrates an understanding of the requirements (including policy context)
•Serious weaknesses which threaten success
Details of contractor/sub-contractor
•Expertise, experience and balance of team
•Adequacy of sub-contractors (if any)
•Adequacy of proposals for:
- Explanation of how the contactor will achieve the work outlined in this proposal;
- Demonstrating a clear understanding of QA/QC procedures when acquiring, analysing and interpreting acoustic and biological data ;
Cost and value for money
•Total cost
•Transparency and correctness of costs in tender
•Appropriateness of ratio of senior to junior staff time
Tendering Process
The contract notification has been published in the Official Journal of the EuropeanUnion (OJEU) the ‘restricted procedure’. The restricted procedure involves a two-stage process. The first stage requires interested parties to express their general interest to tender using a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire. This questionnaire will be used to determine if the contractor has the relevant skills and experience to be eligible for an Invitation to Tender.
Invitations to Tender will be issued by JNCC on the 26 April 2013 to the strongest potential contractors, based on the information provided in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire responses. The full contract specification, and terms and conditions will also be sent at this stage.
What to do next
Interested parties should download and complete the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire and return to Dora Iantosca via email to .
The deadline for receipt is 22 April 2013 by 16.00.
For further information on the procurement process, please contract:
Dora Iantosca at Tel: +44 1733 866894, Email:.
For all technical queries please contact Neil Golding on +44 1733 866840, email .
JNCC, Peterborough, UK 13/03/2013
[1]
[2] HOWELL, K.L., DAVIES J.S., JACOBS, C., & NARAYANASWAMY, B.E. 2009. Broadscale Survey of the Habitats of Rockall Bank, and mapping of Annex I Reef Habitat. JNCC Report Series 422
[3] LONG, D., HOWELL, K.L., DAVIES, J. and STEWART, H. 2010. JNCC Offshore Natura. survey of Anton Dohrn Seamount and East Rockall Bank Areas of Search, JNCC Report Series 437.