o XXXX indicates where information has been redacted under exemptions / exceptions in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and / or Environmental Information Regulations 2004. SERVICE ORDER This Service Order specifies the requirements necessary for the completion of an agreement for the purchase of Services for undertaking the River Hull Headwaters (SSSI) River Restoration Feasibility Study & Optional Appraisal CONTRACT REFERENCE NUMBER: 24851 DATE: 09 November 2012 PURCHASE ORDER NUMBER: to follow Tbc FROM: Natural TO: xxxxxxxxxxxx England Foundry House, 3 Millsands, Riverside JBA Consulting Exchange, Sheffield S3 8NH Salts Mill Project Officer: xxxxxxxxxx Victoria Road Job Title: Lead Adviser: Yorkshire East Saltaire 4th Floor, Foss House, King’s Pool, 1-2 Shipley Peasholme Green, York, YO1 7PX BD18 3LF Telephone No: xxxxxxxxxxx Tel. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx E-mail Address xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED AT: INVOICE ADDRESS: Outputs to: Natural England, DFSSD Accounts Payable, Natural England PO Box 92, Lion House 4th Floor, Foss House Willowburn Trading Estate King’s Pool Alnwick Peasholme Green Northumberland York YO1 7PX NE66 9AR SERVICES: To undertake a feasibility study of the restoration options on Lowthorpe Beck (TA087604) just upstream and downstream and including Lowthorpe Weir and the Upsteam Sluice (left hand bank) on the Lowthorpe Beck, part of the River Hull Headwaters SSSI, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. CONTRACT PERIOD: Commencement Date: w/c 12th November 2012 Duration: For completion by 15 March 2013 CONTRACT PRICE EXCLUDING VAT: CONTRACT PRICE INCLUDING VAT: £12,933.04 £15,519.65 DESRIPTION OF SERVICES and TIMETABLE (specification): The work should be supplied in accordance with: The specification (see attached at Annex A). JBA tender proposal dated 23rd October 2012. Clarification response e-mails from xxxxxxxx to xxxxxxxxxx dated 05 November 2012 (including price revision) and 07 November 2012 1 Timetable – contract to commence as soon as possible. Completion by 15 March 2013. PAYMENT PROFILE, RATES AND CHARGES: See breakdown of costs below: Item of work/task Total cost exclusive of VAT Project Management inc. start up meeting Investigation & analysis of removing the weir/s & subsequent channel restoration Assess and evaluate societal importance Investigate options and produce detailed designs for preferred options Definition of potential delivery mechanisms and costings Preparation of final report Production of stakeholder consultation material Expenses Total £12,933.04 Payment on submission of monthly invoices in arrears for work completed and expenses incurred subject to the satisfaction of the Natural England Project Officer. NATURAL ENGLAND RESPONSIBILITIES: As set out in the specification at Annex A. MANAGEMENT INFORMATION: If requested under clause 15 of the General Terms following action note 06/10 5March 2010 issued by OGC, the Supplier may need to supply management information to Natural England or the GPS (Government Procurement Service) formally OGC. The final scope of these requirements may vary according to the category of spend and will be agreed with the supplier at the time of engagement but may consider the following: line item amount; invoice line descriptions; invoice line number; currency code; order date; VAT inclusion flag; VAT rate; list price; number of items; unit of purchase; unit of purchase quantity; price per unit; supplier product/service code; product description; product/service level (product or service name); UNSPSC code; taxonomy code; taxonomy name; geographical; project code; project description; project start date; project delivery date (estimate and actual); total project cost and project stage. SPECIAL TERMS: Natural England General Terms and Conditions (see copy at Annex B) shall apply to this Service Order together with Special Terms for the Purchase of Services (see copy at Annex 2 C). With regard to the Special Terms for the Purchase of Services clause 2.3 will be disapplied for this contract. SIGNATURE: Signed on behalf of Natural England: Signed on behalf of the Contractor: Authorised Signatory: Authorised Signatory: ……………………………………………… ……………………………………………… Print name: xxxxxxxxxx Print name: Job title: Lead Adviser, Procurement Team Job title: Date: 09 November 2012 Date: 3 Annex A Specification Project Reference No: 24851 Project Title: River Hull Headwaters Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) River Restoration Feasibility Study & Options Appraisal Lowthorpe Beck About Natural England Natural England is the government’s advisor on the natural environment. We provide practical advice, grounded in science, on how best to safeguard England’s natural wealth for the benefit of everyone. Our remit is to ensure sustainable stewardship of the land and sea so that people and nature can thrive. It is our responsibility to see that England’s rich natural environment can adapt and survive intact for future generations to enjoy. We work with farmers and land managers; business and industry; planners and developers; national, regional and local government; interest groups and local communities to help them improve their local environment. 1) Introduction Many river SSSIs, or sections of river SSSIs, have had physical modifications to the channel that affect their optimal functioning as habitats for characteristic wildlife communities. These are recognised as reasons for ‘Unfavourable Condition’ - e.g. inappropriate dredging; inappropriate weirs, dams or other channel structures; and inland flood defence works. Natural England’s SSSI Remedies programme includes ‘river restoration projects’ as a mechanism for achieving ‘favourable condition’. Our objectives for ‘Favourable Condition’ in SSSIs designated for river habitat have been set out in Common Standards agreed by the UK conservation agencies. They apply equally to European Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and SSSI designations and relate to the ability of the river (as a representative of its type) to provide favourable habitat conditions for the characteristic biological community, rather than conditions which might favour a particular species. In‐channel structures such as weirs and sluices can have a fundamental effect on the physical character of a river, altering physical habitat provision for characteristic flora and fauna. There are three main effects that structures can have: 1. Alterations to the geomorphology and hydraulics of the channel through water impoundment and altering sediment transfer; 2. Alterations to flow regime; 3. Interruption of biological connectivity, including the passage of fish and invertebrates. Natural England and the Environment Agency recognise the impacts of the many artificial in‐channel structures on English rivers, and the need to remove as many of these structures as possible (where feasible). The need to do this is heightened by climate change, for which restoring natural river processes, habitats and connectivity are vital adaptation measures. However, we also recognise that some of these artificial structures may have important functions or historic/cultural associations, which need to be considered carefully. 4 The Joint Natural England/Environment Agency River Hull Headwaters SSSI Restoration Plan, Royal Haskoning (June 2010) (see attached) identifies use of an adjacent channel, thought to be a historic natural channel of the river and/or modification or removal of the weir at Lowthorpe as two possible options to reduce the impacts on geomorphology, hydraulics and biological connectivity. Options Appraisal We require a contractor to complete a feasibility study of the restoration options on Lowthorpe Beck (TA087604) just upstream and downstream and including Lowthorpe Weir and the Upsteam Sluice (left hand bank) on the Lowthorpe Beck, part of the River Hull Headwaters SSSI, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. This feasibility study will involve an investigation and detailed analysis of options to reduce the impact of the structure on geomorphology, hydraulics and biological connectivity. Options to be assessed include potential use of a side channel to the East of the current river channel (thought to be a historic river channel) removing or modifying the weir, and subsequent and associated channel restoration. Following consultation, detailed designs for the preferred option should be produced. This investigation will include assessing the benefits associated with removing the barriers to the geomorphology and ecology of the river and adjacent areas, as well as the potential impacts such as sediment release, changes to channel depth and flow rates, changes to the ecology of adjacent wetland habitats (including adjacent SSSI fen, wet grassland & wet woodlands upstream of the site), fishery management, weed management, structural stability of adjacent buildings and banks, river management and flood risk, historic environment, and measures to reduce these potential impacts. 2) Objectives The objectives of the project are: 1. To undertake a feasibility study and options appraisal to evaluate whether the in channel structures could be mitigated, removed or deemed to be immovable, taking into account technical, ecological and societal constraints, this should then be submitted to Natural England, detailing potential options. Potential use of the side channel at Lowthorpe should be considered as part of this evaluation. 2. To identify likely delivery mechanisms for all options and provide approximate costings. 3. Produce detailed designs for the