Award

Open Access LandIS Portal

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

17 Oct 2025 at 08:49

TenderUpdate

28 Feb 2025 at 12:02

Award

19 Feb 2025 at 11:31

Planning

18 Feb 2025 at 09:01

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for the "Open Access LandIS Portal" involves the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in collaboration with Cranfield University. This contract, valued at £14,184,518, was signed on 29th September 2025 and has reached the Award stage. The project centres on environmental information systems, aiming to modify licencing conditions for various datasets such as the National Soil Map and National Soil Inventory, enabling wider access. The procurement method was limited, without prior publication, due to the intellectual property rights held by both Defra and Cranfield University. The contracting authority and supplier are located in the UK, and the covered services primarily pertain to environmental and data services with a potential extension option totaling several years.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specializing in environmental services and data management, particularly those with expertise in information technology software maintenance. Entities such as private firms, public sector bodies, and consultants can benefit from the collaboration, especially if they face restrictions in accessing key datasets. The adaptation of licensing arrangements opens new markets and avenues for partnerships, making it advantageous for enterprises aiming to support environmental initiatives like the ELMS, Nature Recovery Network, and Agriculture Land Classification, subsequently contributing to policy objectives like the Net Zero initiative.

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Notice Title

Open Access LandIS Portal

Notice Description

The existing LandIS agreement between Cranfield University (CU) and Defra sets out the conditions under which Defra can access:<br/><br/>* The platform which is owned and hosted by Cranfield for the provision of National Soil Map (NATMAP)<br/>* National Soil Inventory (NSI) and soil attribute data (SOILSERIES & HORIZON), and its supplementary data bases (broadly: the LandIS platform data).<br/><br/>All Crown bodies currently enjoy full royalty-free access to LandIS, and this available to charities and research institutions. Non-crown bodies such as the Environment Agency or Natural England, and other public sector bodies, private individuals, consultants, and businesses do not have royalty-free access to this data.<br/>Defra and Cranfield University are working towards reducing or removing some of the licencing restrictions pertaining to the afore mentioned datasets.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The existing LandIS agreement between Cranfield University (CU) and Defra sets out the conditions under which Defra can access:

* The platform which is owned and hosted by Cranfield for the provision of National Soil Map (NATMAP)
* National Soil Inventory (NSI) and soil attribute data (SOILSERIES & HORIZON), and its supplementary data bases (broadly: the LandIS platform data).

All Crown bodies currently enjoy full royalty-free access to LandIS, and this available to charities and research institutions. Non-crown bodies such as the Environment Agency or Natural England, and other public sector bodies, private individuals, consultants, and businesses do not have royalty-free access to this data.
Defra and Cranfield University are working towards reducing or removing some of the licencing restrictions pertaining to the afore mentioned datasets.

Options: 4 years 5 months + 1 year + 1 year + 1 year

Procurement Information

Cranfield University and Defra own separate and joint Intellectual Property in the NATMAP, NSI and other associated supplementary Databases. This project will allow for the majority of the databases to be accessed via the Open or Restricted License by removing the current licencing requirements, whilst allowing the IP rights to be retained. This is a compliant Single Tender Action under Regulation 32 Public Contracts Regulations 2015, as we are protecting the exclusive rights held by both Defra and Cranfield University.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04e30b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066137-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services


CPV Codes

72267100 - Maintenance of information technology software

72300000 - Data services

90714100 - Environmental information systems

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£6,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£20,684,518 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
19 Feb 20251 years ago
Contract Period
1 Jul 2025 - 30 Jun 2029 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Additional Buyers

DEFRA GROUP COMMERCIAL

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL)

Contact Name
Jemma Godleman
Contact Email
jemma.godleman@defra.gov.uk, procurement@defra.gov.uk
Contact Phone
03459335577

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Post Town
South West London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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