Request Information - Charging Policy
Standard charges for full data searches are set out below. A full data search will include the protected species, biodiversity action plan species and Kent Red Data Book species as well as searches for Invasive Non-Native Species, bats and birds for a buffer of 1 or 2 km from a site centroid. Also included is a map of nearby designated sites and known bat roosts, in PDF format.
There are occasionally cases where charges may vary for a specific data search,
due to the parameters of the particular site in question and the information
requested. Final charges will be set by KMBRC once we are in possession of a
completed data request form and map of the search area. We reserve the right
to charge for any given enquiry, but will contact you before commencement of
work if the charges vary from those detailed below (or in any case if you have
requested a quotation on our information request form).
The charge KMBRC makes for enquiries is for the time it takes our staff to capture,
audit, maintain, extract and supply data to the enquirer. The KMBRC reserves
the right to recoup a proportion of the costs of acquiring and managing data,
whilst maintaining charges at a reasonable level. It is important to note that
a portion of the income derived from this enquiry service is used to promote,
support and assist the voluntary recording community in Kent, without whom there
would be no data, and the KMBRC would not exist. Charges are regularly reviewed
to reflect current costs.
Please note: the first chargeable request we receive from any new client will require up-front, cleared payment prior to provision of the report. Subsequent requests will be invoiced for, with the work, on our 30 day terms. We also reserve the right to request up-front payment from individuals or organisations who have previously breached our 30 day terms.
Completion of a data request form and authorisation to proceed constitutes a
contract of work between the parties named on the form (ie Kent and Medway Biological
Records Centre and the requestor). We can only accept payment from third party
clients in advance of provision of the work.
Summary of Current Charges
Standard reports (supplied in PDF format): |
|
| Administration charge for any one species report for an area not exceeding 50km2 | £100 |
| Charge for 1-5 additional species reports (total) | £100 total |
| Charge for Habitat and BAP Habitat Maps | £20 each |
| Charge for a site map of a study area greater than 6km in either direction
(per extra map required) | £20 |
| Charge for areas exceeding 50km2 | Variable |
| Charge for hard copy of the report (per copy) | £20 |
| Discount for data searches which result in a complete absence of data | -50% |
| Priority Fee | 20% |
| VAT | Current Rate |
So for example, if you require only a bat report but need it today, the charge will be £100 + £20 priority fee +VAT. If you require bat records, protected species records and a map of designated sites then the charge will be £200+VAT.
Exemptions from Payment:
Enquiries received from the general public are normally free of charge for the first hour of work. Enquiries on a larger scale will be discussed individually and either the scope of enquiry reduced or a charge may be levied. It should be noted that no enquiry data received under this exemption should be used for commercial purposes, including planning applications. If this is intended, then a payment must be made.
Searches on behalf of species recording groups and individual recorders who have a data exchange agreement with us are free of charge. Data processing, manipulation and interrogation facilities are available to the recording groups and individuals, under the provision of our technical support for recording groups (click for further details).
No charge is made to KMBRC Service Level Agreement (SLA) Partners. This also applies to their contractors, but details must be given on the relevant section of the Information Request Form and authorisation sent to KMBRC by the SLA partner.
Some other categories of user may also be exempt from charges. Please fill in a form and add your circumstances to the comments section, or contact us to discuss your situation.
