CONTRACT NOTICE – NATIONAL

1 Authority Details

1.1

Authority Name and Address

1.2

Address from which documentation may be obtained

1.3

Completed documents must be returned to:

2 Contract Details

2.1

Title

Lake Vyrnwy Vertebrate Control 2024-25

2.2

Description of the goods or services required

RSPB Cymru is looking to appoint one or more Contractors to undertake lethal fox control for the benefit of ground-nesting birds on the Lake Vyrnwy estate in accordance with the requirements outlined in this document. The tenders should fulfil the requirements of the brief outlined in this document.

Predation pressure on nests and young is an important suppressor of population recovery in many of Vyrnwy’s ground-nesting birds including curlew, black grouse, hen harrier and merlin. Targeted control of predator numbers immediately prior to the breeding season has been shown to improve the productivity and recovery of priority species populations, particularly when coupled with habitat improvements.

Although non-lethal measures (such as predator fences around nest sites) are employed wherever possible, the scale of the landscape and remoteness of habitats limits the effectiveness of these measures. This contract therefore proposes to undertake lethal predator control targeting foxes across at least 5,000 hectares between Mid-November and Mid-March for each year of the project.

Both the area and period for control are indicative and we invite specific recommendations from tenderers on variations to these proposals.

Predator control will be undertaken humanely and strictly according to RSPB codes of practice, General License requirements in Wales and any other relevant legislation.

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=144679.

2.3

Notice Coding and Classification

2.4

Total quantity or scope of tender

The Contractor will be contracted to shoot foxes on the Lake Vyrnwy estate and will be expected to spend time familiarising him/herself with the site noting fox earths and tracks pathways. The Contractor will reduce (by shooting) the population of foxes that could impact on target species on the nest or with fledged young. The Contractor will provide sufficient gamekeeping resource to work across the total agreed Area of Control and for the agreed Period of Control. The contractors will exercise control strictly in accordance with RSPB codes of practice and provide evidence to demonstrate compliance. Each contractor will also track their movements using a GPS logger to support monthly reports of activity and provide evidence of predators killed, along with GPS locations of kills.

RSPB Cymru anticipate that control will be necessary across key areas of the reserve relating to known nesting areas for various species. This includes FBT land on the Lake Vyrnwy Estate and land owned by the RSPB at Cerniau. The total indicative Area of Control is approximately 5128 hectares. However, these control areas are subject to change, based on the needs of the project and the rights of access/control agreed with the rights holders. Specific proposals are also invited from tenderers on suitable Areas for Control together with their rationale. Tenders which tackle part of the indicative Area of Control will be considered in combination with other tenders if this is deemed to be the best overall solution.

RSPB Cymru anticipates that lethal control of foxes will be undertaken between Mid-November and Mid-March to maximise the benefit for nesting birds. However, tenderers are invited to propose alternative Periods of Control together with their rationale as part of their submission.

The tenderer and the RSPB will frequently lease to determine the appropriate amount of effort to concentrate on each area, at specific periods of the contract. These decisions will be based on data from RSPB camera traps, which are strategically placed around the control area, past scat transect data, and frequency of fox contacts detected by the tenderer. The RSPB anticipate a focussed period of control around December and January, with a reactive approach being taken through February and March.

The tenderer must also propose a level of control (hours of lethal control per week) which they anticipate will be required to achieve the project outcomes.

3 Conditions for Participation

3.1

Minimum standards and qualification required

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

(WA Ref:144679)

5.2

Additional Documentation

5.3

Publication date of this notice