CEFAS23-67 Contract for provision of ATR-FTIR instruments for the Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP)

The Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) was announced in 2021 as a key bilateral aid programme under the £500m Blue Planet Fund.

The OCPP is a UK Government-led programme delivered under the Blue Planet Fund. Through this programme, Cefas, in partnership with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), provide technical assistance to support countries in tackling marine pollution, support sustainable seafood practices, and establish designated, well-managed and enforced Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Cefas require provision of multiple Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (ATR- FTIRs) as part of the Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) programme across multiple countries. Portable ATR-FTIRs are required to ensure the delivery of key tasks for this project including the creation of microplastic laboratory facilities in-country, for the identification of plastics in environmental samples.

ATR-FTIR spectroscopy is a useful technique for measuring the infrared spectra of solids and liquids as well as probing adsorption on particle surfaces. The ATR- FTIR will be used by the OCPP participating countries during their microplastic monitoring programmes for cross analysis and polymer identification for quality assessment and quality control purposes. Installation and training onsite by the successful Tenderer will contribute towards the capacity building for microplastics analysis.

At present, Cefas require provision of 3 units for the following organisations:

1. Ghana - The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
2. Ghana - Centre for Coastal Management (CCM) based at the University of Cape Coast
3. Bangladesh - Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Cefas may require further ATR-FTIR units for other locations under this programme of work and this Contract covers provision of additional units up to a total Contract value of £250,000.