Award

Incident Management Forecasting System (IMFS) software support, maintenance and development services

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

20 May 2025 at 11:47

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Environment Agency has concluded the contracting process for the procurement of software support, maintenance, and development services for its Incident Management Forecasting System (IMFS), which utilises the Delft-FEWS software. This direct award contract has been given to Stichting Deltares, the sole owner and licensor of Delft-FEWS, due to the technical nature that prohibits competition, as changing systems would require rewriting all forecasting models. The procurement falls under the category of weather-forecasting services and is valued at up to £14.9 million (net of VAT). The contract covers a period from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2030, with options to extend for an additional five years. The main location for the contract activities is London, and the procurement complies with the legal framework outlined in the UK's Procurement Act 2023.

This contract presents opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) interested in providing ancillary or complementary services in support of the software platform. Businesses specialising in software engineering, cybersecurity, and environmental technology are particularly well-placed to benefit from partnering with Stichting Deltares or the Environment Agency. The ongoing demand for enhancements and updates due to cyber security and climate change considerations underscores the need for innovative solutions and services that help bolster the Environment Agency's operational capacity in managing flood and water quality events across the UK.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Incident Management Forecasting System (IMFS) software support, maintenance and development services

Notice Description

The Incident Management Forecasting System (IMFS) is the Environment Agency's primary flood forecasting system and uses Deltares owned Delft-FEWS software as a platform to run models for flood forecasting, groundwater modelling, bathing water quality forecasting, and other services. The National Groundwater Modelling Service (NGMS) also uses Delft-FEWS software. The purpose of this Transparency Notice is to announce the Environment Agency's intention to enter into a contract for software support and maintenance (and the provision of new software enhancements and improvements) with Stichting Deltares for 5 years with the option to extend by a further 3 years and a further 2 years (i.e. 5+3+2) at a total maximum cost of PS14.9m (net of VAT).

Procurement Information

Stichting Deltares are the sole owners and licensor of Delft-FEWS and there are no alternatives available to the Environment Agency without rewriting all forecasting models. It is the view of the Environment Agency that this contract is justifiable under Paragraph 5 in Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 to award the contract for the supply and support of the Delft-FEWS software because, as Stichting Deltares own the intellectual property for the software, and develop and support the specialist Delft-FEWS software, therefore no reasonable alternative exists, nor can another organisation supply and support the product. Additionally, it is the view of the Environment Agency that this contract is also justifiable under Paragraph 6 in Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 to award the contract for the supply and support of the Delft-FEWS software because, at this time, no alternative solution is available because any decision to deviate from Delft-FEWS would require a redevelopment of all Environment Agency models, therefore competition is absent for technical reasons.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05189c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023199-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71351600 - Weather-forecasting services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£14,925,560 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 May 20259 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
20 May 20259 months ago
Contract Period
30 Jun 2025 - 30 Jun 2030 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
Contact Name
Neil Widdop
Contact Email
neil.widdop@defra.gov.uk
Contact Phone
07826 950799

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

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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