Expressions of Interest - contract for building of bespoke ‘bat towers’

Description

Vincent Wildlife Trust invites Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified contractors for the construction of bespoke bat towers to support the recovery of lesser horseshoe bat populations across Wales. This work will contribute to the Landscape for Lessers project, funded by the Welsh Government’s Nature Networks Fund.The design of each bat tower will vary depending on the species’ requirements at each location and will be adapted to reflect local planning requirements and site conditions. Tower designs have been developed, although modifications will be required to suit specific site needs.The maternity bat towers have an approximate footprint of 3x3x4.5m and are constructed of block and timber construction with a slated pyramid roof. The expected cost for construction is expected to be in the range of GBP 17,000-25,0000The night roosts are constructed from precast concrete pipes, the cost for construction is expected to be in the range of GBP 5000-£8,000.Further details and photo can be found under the additional documents tab.Construction will take place across three key regions:- Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire- Swansea- Powys and DenbighshireWe are looking to work with a contractor who can work across multiple sites, including some remote locations in woodlands and agricultural fields.NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=158261.The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems. Project descriptionThe lesser horseshoe bat has recovered from a severe bottleneck during the second part of the 20th century. Today, Wales is a critical stronghold for the species, supporting some of the largest and most important populations in the UK and western Europe. Yet, recent studies show that without intervention, these populations are at risk of decline due to multiple factors such as the loss of roosting and foraging habitats. Two additional risks of decline have recently emerged; competition for roosting sites from greater horseshoe bats and the direct and indirect impacts of the presence of predators.The lesser horseshoe bat is particularly sensitive to environmental changes and has specific roosting requirements, including undisturbed sites with stable temperatures and humidity, which are increasingly rare. Immediate conservation actions are therefore essential to prevent further declines, isolation of populations and potential local extinctions. One of the most pressing reasons for this project is the ongoing loss of suitable roosting sites. Lesser horseshoe bats depend on old buildings, barns, and natural caves for shelter, which have dwindled due to urban development, agricultural changes, and renovations. In addition, the increase in greater horseshoe bat populations, a species sharing very similar ecological niches, has resulted in the local decline of lesser horseshoe bats in isolated regions, such as Pembrokeshire, due to increased competition and the lack of other suitable roosting opportunities nearby.For this project, we have identified areas where the provision of new roosting sites will contribute the most towards the conservation of the species. This includes areas where LHB are already present but also in areas where it is currently absent, and where the addition of potential roosts will strongly contribute towards connecting isolated populations.(WA Ref:158261)