The English Heritage Maritime Team is managing the contract for the Provision of Archaeological Services in Relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973) on behalf of English Heritage, Historic Scotland, Cadw and the Environment and Heritage Service, Northern Ireland.

The contract is for three years starting 1 May 2003, with scope for one-year extensions for a further two years.

The objectives of the contract include:

• providing advice on the designation of wrecks under the 1973 Act;
• facilitating management and understanding through fieldwork;
• liaising between the heritage agencies and ‘licensees’ – people licensed to investigate protected wrecks;
• assisting these groups in achieving high standards of work; and
• maintaining and disseminating information about protected wrecks.

Fieldwork is expected to include diving and surveying on 10-15 protected wrecks each year, and assessment of a further 20 sites that may warrant designation. Fieldwork on protected wrecks may be up to 14 days, though an average of seven days is expected. Assessment will involve one day’s diving/surveying for each site.

Geophysical survey is not included among the core tasks of the contract, but can be arranged on the basis of day rates.

Summary reports on protected wrecks are to be completed within three weeks of fieldwork, and reports on assessments of undesignated sites are to be submitted within five days. The contractor is also expected to contribute to an annual report for public dissemination.

The contractor is required to advise on the archaeological diving expertise of applicants for licences, to provide advice and liaison, and to monitor licensed fieldwork and post-fieldwork activities. The contractor is expected to visit each licensee each year.

The contractor is expected to attend all meetings of the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites (ACHWS) and – on request – meetings of the Protection of Wrecks Advisory Group, which comprises representatives of the four heritage agencies, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and ACHWS.