Archaeological Geophysical Survey Consultant

Tavistock Town Council seeks a qualified archaeological geophysical surveyor to conduct a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey of a designated area (drawing J26.014) meeting Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) standards. The survey site includes a churchyard with active ceremonies, public highways, and Bedford Square (a busy market area). The appointed contractor must: apply for necessary consents including Section 42 licence and submit a method statement; accommodate unsociable hours and traffic management for highway surveying; participate in two half-day community engagement sessions with small groups (max 5 people) in the churchyard and/or Bedford Square as required by National Lottery Heritage Fund grant conditions; conduct desk-based research by contacting sector specialists and statutory bodies to identify previous equivalent survey work; produce a comprehensive written report suitable for both archaeological specialists and public audiences, including title page, results summary, introduction, methods, results, conclusions, acknowledgements, indemnity statement, references, appendices, interpretative plans cross-referenced to Blaylock's Abbey plan; and complete data archiving within 6 months of report completion, including OASIS registration and digital archive deposit with the Archaeological Data Service. The contract start and consent application deadline is early October 2026, with survey work and report completion targeted for end of December 2026. Estimated budget: £13,000 to £20,000 plus VAT. Alternative surveying methods with supporting rationale may be proposed alongside the standard price schedule.