Germany – Engineering-related scientific and technical services – Rahmenvertrag zur Geotechnischen Begleitung und ingenieurgeologischen Modell- und Berichterstellung zur Baugrundvorerkundung für Offshore-Windparks innerhalb der Zonen 3, 4 und 5 der deutschen AWZ der Nordsee gemäß FEP

Conclusion of a framework agreement from 2026 for geotechnical supervision, including the supervision of laboratory tests and the associated documentation from the geotechnical survey (GB FERKL), as well as for the creation of engineering geological models and geological and geotechnical reports (GeoB) as part of the area preliminary investigation in the German AWZ. The geological and geotechnical preliminary investigation of the subsoil is part of the basic information that is made available to potential operators of offshore wind farms by the BSH according to § 10 of the WindSeeG. Based on this data basis, potential project operators are to be enabled to assess the suitability of the subsoil and the costs associated with the construction measures. Based on the geophysical data and preliminary evaluations, the further geotechnical investigation is planned. In particular, the exact locations for pressure sounding campaigns are determined and the execution of a surveyor both onshore and offshore is accompanied. All data collected are used to determine further locations for drilling with sampling and to accompany the execution. For this purpose, it is necessary to create a sampling plan and a laboratory program. Furthermore, the results from previous hydrographic and geophysical investigations as well as the geotechnical surveys are to be combined and evaluated into a 3-dimensional engineering geological depth model (hereinafter referred to as the engineering geological model). The description of the combined data basis (hydrography, geophysics, geotechnics) and the engineering geological model form the core of the Geological Report. The Geological Report and the coordinated geotechnical data report for the area preliminary investigation (gDF) together with the underlying engineering geological model are the central products of the engineering geological preliminary investigation of the subsoil. The scope of services can be summarised as follows:

• Accompanying and monitoring the geotechnical survey works on board the surveyor's ships. The following survey methods are applied:

o Indirect findings (pressure soundings):

 continuous pressure soundings with recording of the pore water pressure (CPTu) from the seabed until the abort criterion is reached

 discontinuous (overdriven) pressure soundings with recording of the pore water pressure at the bottom of the borehole (DHCPTu) up to max. 80 m below the seabed (as per AG specification)

o Direct findings (drillings with sample extraction) up to max. 80 m below the seabed (as per AG specification)

o Borehole geophysical measurements (PS-logging) at each survey location from max. 80 m below the seabed to the minimum depth below the seabed (approx. 10 m)

• Contribution to the determination of the pressure sounding locations with regard to the engineering geological model

• Determination of locations for sampling. Part of this is:

o the creation of a sampling plan (Sampling Plan) taking into account the engineering geological model and the CPT data

o the creation of a preliminary laboratory program (Preliminary Laboratory Programme)

• Determination of the specific laboratory program (Specified Laboratory Programme)

• Accompanying and monitoring the laboratory work

• Classification tests

• Condition description

• Standard soil mechanical tests

• Checking the surveyor's measurements and invoices

• Drawing up the acceptance recommendation for the surveyor's services and documents, including monitoring the rectification of any defects identified

• Reprocessing of the multichannel seismic prestack data basis

• Creation of the engineering geological model

• Creation of the synthetic model extension

• Creation of data products

• Creation of the Geological Report

• Creation of the geotechnical data report OR contribution to the creation of the geotechnical data report