Scoping a brief for a review of Landscape Character Assessments to inform the update of the 'An Approach to Landscape Character Assessment' document

Natural England is planning to update the Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) and Seascape Character Assessment (SCA) 'Approach' documents through a set of three phased and interlinked work packages.

The three projects will comprise:

phase 1 - scope and test a brief for phase 2 (concentrating on LCAs) - the subject of this request for tender;

phase 2 - using and adapting the brief from phase 1, undertake a comprehensive review of the current approaches to published LCAs and SCAs, and their uses and effectiveness; and

phase 3 - update the LCA and SCA 'Approach' documents informed by the findings in phases 1 and 2.

NOTE: Full and separate specifications will be produced and tendered for each of the phase 2 and phase 3 projects, this request for tender relates to the phase 1 project only.

The output from phase 1 will be in the form of a short report, setting out the proposed brief for the phase 2 project informed by the findings of the testing stage of the phase 1 project. The phase 1 contract is anticipated to be awarded in early March 2023, with work starting as soon as practical after that. The contract is expected to run until end of March 2023, with flexibility for report finalisation beyond this date.

Additional information: To apply for this opportunity you must submit your quotation meeting the requirements detailed in the Request for Quotation (RFQ) attached.

Your response must be sent to jacqui.jobbins@naturalengland.org.uk by 12 midday on 24th February 2023.

If you have any clarification questions linked to this opportunity or the procurement process please submit these via email to jacqui.jobbins@naturalengland.org.uk. Please note that, unless commercially sensitive, both the question and the response will be circulated to all tenderers.