Contract for provision of intertidal Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) flights for Hinkley Point C Nuclear New Build project

Descriptions

The BEEMS (British EDF Estuarine and Marine Studies) programme is funded by NNB Generation Company (HPC) Limited. Through this programme, Cefas provide authoritative scientific information on the marine and transitional waters in the vicinity of potential new build nuclear power stations. Cefas require a supplier to conduct intertidal Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) flights, in accordance with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guidelines, to monitor potential coastal change and intertidal algal coverage for the Hinkley Point C (HPC) Nuclear New Build project to meet regulatory environmental monitoring requirements. RPA flights and photography are required: (1) along the Hinkley Point foreshore, and; (2) at Combwich Wharf and the surrounding banks of the River Parrett. Flight/survey design and equipment specification must be sufficient for Cefas to create orthophotos (OPs) and Digital Surface Models (DSMs) with a Ground Sampling Distance ((GSD), i.e. resolution) of 3cm/pixel or better (exceptions are detailed in full Specification). Cefas requires that the Supplier’s flight team assumes full responsibility for the comprehensive management of all aspects of each survey. This includes, but is not limited to, planning (including securing all necessary access), issuing survey notifications in advance of each flight, liaising with NNB regarding other flight operators and ensuring the safe and successful execution of every survey with delivery of data as detailed in the Specification. The Contract will be awarded as soon as possible following notification of award, expected early September 2025, with the first Surveys due to start in October or November 2025, pending completion of all pre-survey health and safety requirements detailed above. The initial Contract period will be to 31 December 2026, with the option to extend by an additional 3 x 12-month periods, to be awarded annually, subject to funding, up to maximum end date of 31 December 2029. Please note that these extensions are not guaranteed. The total estimated budget of £625,000 (excluding VAT) covers the full potential Contract duration.