Radiological Surveillance Programme for OSPAR

The UK is a contracting party to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North- East Atlantic (the 'OSPAR Convention'). Under the OSPAR Convention the UK is required to submit this data on an annual basis. This requirement is contained within the OSPAR Radioactive Substances Strategy where it commits the OSPAR Commission to annually collect data on Concentration of Radionuclides in the Marine Environment. The UK is signed up to the OSPAR Convention (North-East Atlantic Environment 2030), NEAES2030 and so regular reporting is required in order to review progress towards the targets of the Radioactive Substances Strategy.

The programme of radiological surveillance work provides the source data (sample collection, analysis, and annual reporting) and therefore, the means to monitor and make an assessment of progress in line with the UK's commitments towards OSPAR's Radioactive Substances Strategy. This provides a framework for preventing and eliminating pollution in the North-East Atlantic, including the seas around the UK.

The work specified here forms part of a wider programme of work under OSPAR and is managed by The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

As part of the tender response Bidders will need to provide a more detailed breakdown of timings; suggested dates and timescales for different aspects of the project such as indicative dates of progress review meetings, submission of progress notes, timings for information collation and writing of the report etc.

Helpful links are listed below:

• OSPAR Radioactive Substances Strategy (covers nuclear and non-nuclear discharges): https://www.ospar.org/convention/strategy
• UK Strategy for Radioactive Discharges: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-strategy-for-radioactive-discharges-2018-review-of-the-2009-strategy

This procurement will be competed via open procurement. The service will run for 3 years with an optional 2 year extension.

The deadline for expressions of interest is the 03/06/24. If you are interested in this requirement and wish to be kept up-to-date, please register on the Department's Procurement Platform; Jaggaer - https:beisgroup.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/go/.