CN240228 - Ecology and Surveying Services

The Council is seeking a Supplier to provide ecologist services within Kent. Sites will generally be located within close proximity of the Council’s highway asset where potential animal damage is identified.

The Supplier will be required to support the Council in identifying any animal damage and conducting the necessary surveys and remedial work to ensure construction works can take place in adherence with Natural England.

Additional ecological works and tasks, including those related to other protected species as well as badgers, may also be required as part of this contract. This will be a call off contract where the required services will be ordered if there is a requirement. There is no guarantee of work within this contract.

From the first initial identification of potential animal damage, primarily caused by badgers and other protected species:

• An ecologist will be contacted, and a meeting will be arranged to assess the site.

• The ecologist will determine if a full survey is required, which may include a camera trap survey.

The Council requires that the survey and results be delivered as promptly as possible within a four-week period, depending on contractor availability. The number of days to undertake a full survey can be site specific and will be agreed upon in advance.

Depending on level of activity, a licence to interfere with animals primarily badgers, and other protected species, may be required from Natural England. This will be dependent on a full ecological survey and method statement of works.

The site will adhere to the requirements set by Natural England in accordance with the Wildlife Act 1992 and the Badger Act 1992.

The legal working window for interfering with badgers is from 1st July to 30th November each year. This will include all operations associated with a site that requires investigation, excavation, and reinstatement.

Depending on the individual site, excavation is almost certainly required. This may require the site to have all animal holes gated and these are monitored over a 21-day period, with checks at least, every three days. Following monitoring, excavation can commence, but it should be done dig with care. In some cases, a ‘live dig’ approach will be necessary instead of the gating and 21 days of monitoring.

During excavation works, the ecologist will be onsite to assess the works and ensure the conditions of the licence are met.

Once the excavations have been completed, the ecologists are typically not required during the reinstatement process.

The final duty of the ecologist is to write a full report of on-site operations to be submitted back to Natural England, as this is a requirement of the licence conditions.

All traffic management, civil works, and materials will be supplied by Kent County Council.