Natur am Byth Môr: Water Quality Project for Llŷn & Ynys Môn

Natur am Byth! (NaB!) Môr, the marine component of NaB!, is led by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS). MCS is responsible for the development and delivery of all actions within NaB! Môr. There are two focal marine areas for the NaB! Môr project: Llŷn & Ynys Môn and Pembrokeshire. The delivery phase of the project involves a number of contracts. MCS will commission and manage these contracts. In managing this contract, MCS will work with NaB! programme management staff, to maximise the benefits of partnership working.NaB! Môr includes the following marine species and themes:• Native oyster (Ostrea edulis) – Pembrokeshire focussed, although links to Llŷn & Ynys Môn region• Seagrass (Zostera spp.) – covers both regions• Pink Sea Fan – Pembrokeshire only• Water quality theme – covers both regionsWhile NaB! Môr will be delivering the Water Quality work programme in Pembrokeshire and Llŷn & Ynys Môn there are also opportunities under a separately funded project for similar work. Gwynedd Council will be managing contracts to deliver a Water Quality work programme in Ceredigion, Carmarthen, and the Severn. Contracts for all 5 locations will follow the same methodology and timescales. Opportunities to tender will be published (on SelltoWales) at the same time and potential contractors are invited to apply for any or multiple contracts. Please note that the total number of sample points vary for each location and the outputs also differ, the value of each contract reflects these variations. Procurement rules will align with those of the relevant commissioning authority(ies) (attached at Annex 1).This contract will be delivered between August 2024 and May 2025.The contractor will need to work closely with the project coordinators for Llŷn & Ynys Môn and Pembrokeshire and, particularly the coordinator for Llŷn & Ynys Môn who will be leading on this area of work.This invitation to tender covers a contract to deliver a large citizen science/volunteer engagement project to collect and analyse water quality data in Llŷn & Ynys Môn.This water quality project will be delivered in pre-selected locations in the Llŷn & Ynys Môn area of the NaB! Môr project (please see Annex 2 for indicative locations of the NaB! Môr project areas). Please note there are similar invitations to tender for other areas in Wales (see section 2.5).The contractor will use information provided by MCS to prepare and run the SWEPT (Surveying the Welsh Environment for Pollution Threats) style citizen science water quality project (see SWEPT - Pembrokeshire Marine SAC) (Annex 3). Contractors will be expected to train and safely manage volunteers, collate, analyse, and share the results, reflect and produce a brief report. A report template will be provided.The following information will be provided to contractors:- Site locations, these will be used to inform sampling points.- SWEPT methodology and data requirements.- List of candidate volunteers.- Information to enable the completion of volunteer risk assessments.- Report template.- Survey equipment.- Online data collation tool.- Advice on suitable training venues as required.- Welsh translation as required.- Pre and post survey questionnaires for volunteers to aid evaluation.Work Package 1: Prepare for the SWEPT (Surveying the Welsh Environment for Pollution Threats) style citizen engagement project.- The Contractor will work with the Regional Coordinator and the volunteers to assign 100 specific sampling points with-in the site locations provided to volunteers.- The Contractor will help to determine access and relevant permissions (if required). It is expected that most of the sampling points will be at publicly accessible locations e.g. bridges across fresh water streams.- The Contractor will ensure the completion of volunteer risk assessments- The Contractor will run a training session for volunteers and ensure that all participants are content with what is expected of them. Please note that the SWEPT methodology and a list of candidate volunteers will be provided.Work Package 2: Deliver the SWEPT (Surveying the Welsh Environment for Pollution Threats) style citizen engagement project between October and December 2024.- Support volunteers in collecting and recording water quality data from 100 sampling points at pre-selected sites in Llŷn & Ynys Môn over two months. (Month 2 will be a repeat of month 1. A total of 2 surveys will be conducted for each sampling point). Please note that survey equipment and access to an online reporting tool will be provided.- Collate all data in an excel table with location in what3words and O.S. six-figure grid reference, and a GIS map layer.- Provide feedback to volunteers and gather evaluation data (questionnaires will be provided).Work Package 3. Reporting- Analyse the data collected and produce a brief report, in line with a prescribed format The report should be provided in word (doc) format and results additionally provided in an excel table with location in what3words and O.S. six-figure grid reference, and a GIS map layer. Select partners may collect additional data in support of this project, where this occurs the contractor will include this data into the report. Limited NRW lab testing of water samples and separate additional bacterial testing may also be undertaken and should also be included in the report. Where multiple methods provide water quality data for sampling points, a comparison will be required.