CEFAS22-77 Request for Quotation for supply, installation and operation of tide gauge and power supply at Combwich Wharf, Somerset.

The BEEMS (British EDF Estuarine and Marine Studies) programme is funded by NNB Generating Company HPC (NNB GenCo). 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 supply, install and operate a tide gauge to monitor the tidal water level at Combwich Wharf in Combwich, Somerset. The water level data collected by the gauge will inform vessel operations at the Wharf and environmental monitoring and assessment.

Minimum required specifications for the tide gauge system are: - To meet all applicable Health and Safety legislation requirements e.g. Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), including provision of a failure mode analysis. - Provision of tidal height measurements with accuracy to 0.1 m (or better if feasible) - Provision of tidal height updates at 5-minute intervals (with the option to increase to 1-minute intervals if required in future). - Delivery of data in real time (or near-real time) via a web page, with password protected download facility for multiple (up to 15) users, to be maintained and operated by the successful Tenderer. The website should display observed tidal height, tidal predictions (which will be supplied by Cefas as .csv or similar) tidal residuals (difference between observed and predicted values), and preferably further information, for example power supply voltage and system status. - Transmission of all data to Cefas in near-real time for archiving (for example via File Transfer Protocol (FTP)). - Powered by a low voltage, independent electrical supply as the location does not have access to mains power. This should ideally be via solar panel and battery to minimise visual intrusion as far as reasonably practical, or by combined solar and micro-wind turbine system, if required. - Installation of peripherals in a lockable weatherproof cabinet to ensure security, with suitable protection for cables between the sensors, power supply and cabinet to minimise wear and tear. - No part of the gauge should be submerged due to the harsh nature of the site, which experiences a large tidal range and a high concentration of suspended sediment. Note that the seabed below the proposed location for the gauge dries out at low tide so a partial record of the full tidal range will be measured. The gauge must be able to measure water heights at a distance of up to 9m below the sensor, as a minimum. - The tide gauge sensor must be mounted so that it will not interfere with local vessel operations and must be serviceable from shore in a safe manner. For example, the sensor may be mounted on a retractable arm to allow access without the use of a vessel.

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