North-East Atlantic Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control (NMBAQC) Scheme

Descriptions

Formed in 1992, the 'North East Atlantic Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control Committee' (NMBAQCC) is a sub-group to the Healthy and Biologically Diverse Seas Evidence Group (HBDSEG), which in turn is part of the UK Marine Monitoring and Assessment Strategy (UKMMAS). The NMBAQCC has an ongoing remit to establish best practice and/or external quality assurance schemes for many biological elements, including invertebrates, fish, epibiota, macroalgae, phytoplankton, zooplankton and particle size analysis (psa) supporting interpretation of benthic invertebrate assemblages. One or more consultants are therefore required to undertake these services, providing a high quality service and being pro-active in the management of the quality assurance programme of the elements. This will entail the organisation of all samples received from participants, the provision of sample material for the scheme components, development of protocol documentation and responsibility for the collection, collation and statistical analysis of the results obtained. The NMBAQCC require a provision for quality control to externally quality assure the analysis of marine biological samples. Currently these services are provided via a national framework with the following three lots, along with framework consultant who delivers the requirements: -Lot 1 - Benthic Invertebrates -Lot 2 - Particle Sizes -Lot 3 - Fish