New Cefas vessel contract to support sound science

The government's marine science agency, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), signed a new contract today, Tuesday 24 March, for the provision of future vessel and gear management services for its research vessel, RV Cefas Endeavour.

The six-year contract was agreed with P&O Maritime Services (UK) Ltd. It runs from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2015, with an option for extension.

Cefas Chief Executive, Dr Richard Judge, said: "We are pleased to have reached agreement with P&O Maritime Services. The contract means that we will continue to enjoy high-quality vessel and services management, important contingency support and flexibility that enables us to optimise the vessel's use.

"This package is good news all round and builds on the successful relationship we have enjoyed with our previous management sub-contractor, SMIT Internationale NV, since 2001."

The contract includes the transfer of four Cefas staff members and 36 staff from SMIT - ten of whom were previously employed by Cefas when its vessel services were outsourced in 2001.

Cefas owns its 72-metre research vessel, which is a critical asset that supports the full breadth of its marine science activities. The agreement represents real benefits for the agency - in cost certainty, quality, resilience and contract control - all of which mean improved value for money for Cefas and, in the end, taxpayers.

P&O Maritime Service's CEO, Andrew King, said "This is an exciting opportunity to work in partnership with England's leading marine research organisation and we are looking forward to further developing the skilled team that will join us and to providing further support capability to Cefas.

Cefas' marine science ensures there is a robust evidence base for government decision-making, and helps to shape and deliver wider policy. The ongoing provision of its research vessel actively supports the marine science requirements of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill.

Notes to editors

1. Cefas is an internationally renowned scientific research and advisory establishment and the UK's largest and most diverse applied marine science organisation. It has over 500 staff, two UK laboratories (in Lowestoft and Weymouth), its own ocean-going research vessel, and over 100 years of experience. Operating as an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Cefas works alongside government and other agencies, both in the UK and internationally, to play a vital role in securing healthy marine and freshwater environments for everyone's well-being, health and prosperity.
2. Bridging the interface between science, policy and delivery, Cefas provides evidence-based scientific advice, manages related data and information, conducts world-class scientific research, and facilitates collaborative action through wide-ranging relationships. Those relationships span the EU, government and its agencies, international fora, scientific institutions and research centres, universities, NGOs and industry. For more detail about its range of activities visit /.
3. Cefas uses the RV Cefas Endeavour for a number of work programmes, from annual fisheries stock surveys to fishing gear trials, and from seabed surveys to create underwater habitat maps to launching autonomous equipment used to predict wave heights and potential flood risks. Environmental monitoring is undertaken for a range of UK and European projects. For a detailed specification of Cefas' research vessel, see /about-us/research-vessel.aspx. For more about the type of equipment deployed on the vessel, see /products-and-services/environmental-monitoring-equipment.aspx.
4. P&O Maritime Services http://www.pomaritime.com/Home.asp
5. The new arrangement replaces an existing services contract with Kier Group plc, which expired on 31 March 2008 but was extended by twelve months to 31 March 2009. The RV's management services were sub-contracted through Kier Group and delivered by Smit Internationale NV.
6. The process of re-tendering began in 2007. The procurement process followed was a full OJEU "Competitive Dialogue" process. The initial seven bidders were reduced to five at the pre-qualification and first-phase evaluation; and a second phase reduced the field further. Dialogue with the remaining three bidders helped to develop the final specification, against which the parties bid and were evaluated.
7. The service required is set-out in a specification calling for crewing, management, maintenance, operation and repair.
8. Photographs of the RV Cefas Endeavour / contract signing are available on request.

Press contact:

Cefas Ross Jolliffe: Telephone: 01502 524561 / Email: ross.jolliffe@cefas.co.uk

P&O Alan Rowan alan.rowan@pomaritime.ie