CONTRACT NOTICE – NATIONAL

1 Authority Details

1.1

Authority Name and Address

1.2

Address from which documentation may be obtained

As in 1.1

1.3

Completed documents must be returned to:

As in 1.1

2 Contract Details

2.1

Title

Powys County Council Woodland management plans

2.2

Description of the goods or services required

Powys County Council holds a portfolio of land assets across the county of Powys, which includes a range of woodlands that are geographically spread across the county.

As part of its commitment to addressing the Councils Climate and Nature Emergency, Powys County Council is looking at ways ensure that its landholdings are managed sustainably. Our landscape holds immense potential for both supporting wildlife and sequestering carbon, all within a vibrant land management economy.

Quotes are sought for the compilation of a series of woodland management plans, to consider opportunities to proactively maximise the biodiversity, carbon sequestration, water management and recreation potential of areas managed by the Council.

The management plans will be used to direct future operational activity and to support enhanced biodiversity and associated public access/engagement with these green spaces.

PLEASE REFER TO SPECIFICATION FOR FULL DETAIL

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=144671.

The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.

Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.

2.3

Notice Coding and Classification

2.4

Total quantity or scope of tender

To prepare individual woodland management plans for each of the nine woodlands in this specification. Each plan should include content based around the areas noted below, with a pro-active focus around biodiversity enhancement and, in association, opportunities for improved public access and interpretation of the natural asset (in a broad range of formats). Overview of activities expected:

- Carry out basic walk through surveys

- Create woodland compartment maps

- Description of native woodland features

- Review of biodiversity data

- Appraisal of ecological status

- Prepare a 30 year management strategy with detailed action plan for the next 10 years .

- Propose content of on-site signage for the public, highlighting key features

- Recommend future projects to enhance biodiversity and public access to each area .

- Plans should set out climate risks to management activities and set out the evidence base /modelling.

Biodiversity

• Review of current biodiversity data and ecological status

• Potential biodiversity

- Growth/enhancement and protection of existing habitat and species.

- Opportunities for the creation of new habitats, using the Powys Nature Recovery Action Plan (NRAP) to establish which habitat opportunities exist and support benefit to Section 7 Species.

- Identification of a range of innovative techniques e.g natural addition of splits in trees to support improved bat habitat; use of dead wood, maximising the natural woodland structure (open glades) etc.

- How best the Council can monitor the impact of any enhancements to biodiversity

• Programme of enhancement works

- Make use of operational tree surveys to put forward a programme of enhancement work that is centred around the biodiversity benefit and woodland health in general.

- To support improved public communications, the creation of an annual visual ‘woodland calendar’, explaining why actions /activities are taking place e.g at a certain time of the year.

- Consideration: All enhancement works programmed within a woodland will have prior agreement and have been communicated with other interested parties prior to any work being completed.

Carbon Sequestration

• Identify opportunities for carbon sequestration that would support the Councils activity in relation to climate impact.

• Identify areas where habitat can be created or restored and what the Green House Gas removal potential would be of such plans.

• Identify the Green House Gas removal potential of different types of habitat.

Public Access

• Annual calendar of works taking consideration of biodiversity (linked with the above), and the impacts upon access e.g the presence or cutting of brambles that may impede access but provide a food source for insects etc.

• Plans must take into account relevant designations – e.g public rights of way, common land, SSSI. The contractor will need to liaise with Natural Resource Wales, as relevant to each woodland.

• Identify opportunities for:

- New and/or improved messaging around the woodland asset, from a nature recovery perspective.

- Site interpretation or signage.

- For increased public engagement e.g with schools etc

- Ways to achieve access to and awareness of the woodland/s that may not be physical access.

Draft plans must be submitted for review by 31st January 2025. The finalised plans and invoices must be submitted by 28th February 2025.

3 Conditions for Participation

3.1

Minimum standards and qualification required

A capability to meet the brief is fundamental and the lowest tender will not necessarily be accepted. Powys County Council reserves the right not to award proposals if they are deemed unsatisfactory.

The ability to work in both Welsh and English would be an advantage but is not a requirement.

Selection and appointment will be based upon the written submissions.

4 Administrative Information

4.1

Type of Procedure

Single stage

4.2

Reference number attributed to the notice by the contracting authority

N/a

4.3

Time Limits

4.5

Language or languages in which tenders or requests to participate can be drawn up

4.6

Tender Submission Postbox

5 Other Information

5.1

Additional Information

Please note that operational tree surveys have already been carried out to assess the health of the trees in the woodlands concerned and any remedial work needed, so that is outside the scope of this contract.

The Countryside Access and Recreation team has internal staff with the skill to deliver operational tree inspections. It also has staff with expertise around public rights of way management and common land legislation.

• The Council will provide maps of the woodlands as a starting point, showing known

constraints e.g. designated common land boundaries, environmentally protected areas.

• The contractor will need their own GIS mapping software, but the Council can provide

datasets showing the woodland boundary and public rights of way.

(WA Ref:144671)

The buyer considers that this contract is suitable for consortia bidding.

5.2

Additional Documentation

5.3

Publication date of this notice