Ireland – Survey vessels – Multi-supplier Framework Agreement for the provision of legacy marine data and rights to publish legacy marine data relating to the geographical South Coast DMAP Proposal

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) is seeking to establish a sustainable Multi-Supplier Framework Agreement to meet marine data procurement requirements to support the development of the Designated Marine Area Plans in Ireland’s marine space. To support the development of the first area identified for designation under the Offshore Wind Phase Two policy and framework off Ireland’s South Coast, the State will undertake comprehensive surveying activities within the defined areas primarily through our partners in the Marine Institute (MI) and Geological Survey Ireland (GSI). This will take place through a comprehensive programme of survey activity that will take place within the geographical area of the South Coast DMAP Proposal and/or marine areas identified for offshore wind development within the future Draft South Coast DMAP, and/or marine areas identified for offshore wind development within the final South Coast DMAP approved by the Oireachtas. As the initial stage of this wider surveying programme, the State are planning our first reconnaissance survey of the South Coast DMAP in Q4 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, this surveying will be without prejudice to the South Coast DMAP establishment process, which will be informed by comprehensive public engagement, including targeted engagement with key stakeholders, as well as environmental assessments. In addition to the above anticipated programme of survey work, DECC is seeking to supplement our own existing marine data with existing, high-quality, and unprocessed datasets which have been collected in recent years by private industry. This framework will focus on the geographical area of the South Coast DMAP Proposal, as published on 14 July, and other subsequent frameworks will potentially focus on other future DMAP areas as required. For the avoidance of doubt, this will be without prejudice to the South Coast DMAP establishment process, the provisions for which are set out in the MAP Act. Through the acquisition process within this competition, the State will seek to develop a broad inventory of applicable and available data to help inform future marine spatial planning, including ORE development. Where specific data not currently in the State’s possession is found to be unavailable or of insufficient quality, DECC will engage with MI/GSI to undertake the necessary surveying activities in the identified areas