Wragge & Co LLP Projects team has advised the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and new client the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) on the procurement of a contract with P&O Maritime Services (UK) Limited.

Under the six-year contract, with an option for extension, Australian-owned P&O Maritime Services will provide future vessel and gear management services to Defra and Cefas's research vessel RV Cefas Endeavour. Negotiations were conducted under the competitive dialogue procedure.

Partner Michael Whitehouse led the team with assistance from associate Nicholas Foulkes. Paul Carberry provided pensions advice, Kelly Chapman and Claire Hughes assisted with employment issues, Chris Gayle advised on performance guarantee issues and Lee McBride offered real estate advice.

They worked alongside Andrew Schultz and Chris Harrison, in-house legal counsel, at Defra. John Sartori and Jock O'Shea at Blake Dawson advised on Australian law issues.

Nicholas Foulkes said: "This is the first time Cefas has run a procurement under the competitive dialogue procedure. We offered innovative solutions, including a bespoke contract, often in extremely tight timeframes, to enable this essential agreement to conclude."

Cefas chief executive, Dr Richard Judge, said: "We are pleased to have reached agreement with P&O Maritime Services. The contract means that we will continue to enjoy high-quality vessel and services management, important contingency support and flexibility that enables us to optimise the vessel's use."

Defra is a UK government department which works towards delivering a healthy environment and a low carbon, resource-efficient economy. Wragge & Co previously advised on its 15-year, sustainable built environmental and workplace support service contract worth approximately £900 million.

Cefas is an internationally renowned aquatic scientific research and advisory establishment and one of Defra's executive agencies. It works alongside government and other agencies, in the UK and internationally, to secure healthy marine and freshwater environments. Andrew Schultz and Chris Harrison, in-house legal counsel at Defra, also advised Cefas.

Wragge & Co's Projects team advises many of the leading players in PFI, PPP and international projects. With sector expertise in health, waste, education, aerospace, defence, rail and energy, the team draws on cross-firm expertise to provide high-quality legal advice to private and public sector clients. Previous experience in the marine services sector includes advising on the Ministry of Defence's £1.2 billion Future Provision of Marine Service PFI contact. Other notable deals include the MoD's £3.9 billion CVF aircraft carrier alliance, rated as a 'stand-out' project by the Financial Times' Innovative Lawyers report 2008.

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For further information about this press release, contact Kathryn Hobbs on +44 (0)121 685 2785, Amie Ryalls on +44 (0)121 685 2708 or Rebecca Davies on +44 (0)121 685 3819

This press release may contain information of general interest about current legal issues, but does not give legal advice.