Tender

Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) 2016 Groundwater Activity Cost Benefit

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

12 Sep 2025 at 08:23

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

05 Sep 2025 at 10:12

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

20 Jun 2025 at 12:49

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Environment Agency has initiated a public procurement process for the project titled "Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) 2016 Groundwater Activity Cost Benefit," focusing on research consultancy services. The tender is open under an "open" procurement method, with a specific emphasis on services below the threshold for open competition. The active procurement stage involves a Request for Quotation (RFQ), with submissions due by 17:00 on Friday, 26 September 2025. The central government body seeks to commission a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) to evaluate what constitutes "disproportionately costly" in groundwater remediation activities, with guidance development as the intended outcome. The project is located in the United Kingdom, with the contracting stage expected to start on 13 October 2025 and conclude on 27 February 2026.

This tender presents valuable opportunities for businesses experienced in research consultancy and environmental services, particularly those specialising in groundwater activity assessments and land remediation. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) are deemed suitable to apply, enhancing their potential to secure government contracts. Companies with expertise in conducting literature reviews and cost-benefit analyses within environmental frameworks would benefit from participating in this project, gaining visibility and experience in handling projects aligned with the UK's Environmental Permitting Regulations. This opportunity enables businesses to contribute to the evolution of environmental guidance while expanding their experience and client base in the public sector.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) 2016 Groundwater Activity Cost Benefit

Notice Description

This project will commission a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) of UK specific resources to identify relevant considerations for what is meant by "disproportionately costly". Disproportionately costly is one element of assessing if all necessary and reasonable measures have been taken to prevent inputs of pollutants into groundwater for remediation and re-deposit of contaminated materials as a groundwater activity (Schedule 22 Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016). Guidance exists on how to carry out cost benefit analysis for the detailed evaluation of remediation options to manage the risks from land contamination. There is no guidance on how to carry out cost benefit analysis for the purposes of evaluating disproportionately costly. This REA will be used to develop guidance on how to carry out cost benefit analysis for the purposes of evaluating disproportionately costly.

Planning Information

The literature review and associated report will be completed over a three-month timeline, using the Environment Agency's Literature Review Guidance document, which provides guidance as to how literature reviews should be completed to align with Environment Agency requirements. Timeline The Environment Agency's indicative timetable, which is subject to change, is detailed below: Procurement Activity Anticipated Date Market Engagement 20 June 2025 - 11 July 2025 Publish Invitation to Tender (ITT) 28 July 2025 ITT response date 22 August 2025 Contract award / contract issued 8 September 2025 Contract Start Date 8 September 2025 Draft final report submitted 8 December 2025 Contract End Date 31 March 2026 Market Engagement Questions Questionnaire responses will be used to inform our assessment of carrying out this requirement and how it might potentially be delivered, including the route to market. Responses will not, under any circumstances, be used as an evaluation tool. Please indicate your expression of interest and any feedback by 11 July 2025 by emailing lucy.snape@environment-agency.gov.uk. All responses and details of respondents will be held in the strictest commercial confidence and will not be shared wider. Please provide examples in your responses to projects, programmes of work and international standards where necessary. Questions 1. Contractor Name 2. Please provide two brief examples that demonstrate your organisations experience and expertise in the remediation of brownfield sites, specifically where a groundwater activity was carried out (Schedule 22 of EPR 2016 Groundwater activities). 3. Are there any factors that may prevent you from submitting a bid for this project, such as capacity and/or expertise? 4. Given your understanding of the scope, are you able to provide the outputs for all of the requirement, including all deliverables? 5. Please set out what you foresee as key risks or challenges associated with delivery of the outlined services (including mitigations where relevant). 6. Given your understanding of the technical specification provided: a. Do you believe the project tasks are adequately described with relevant information? b. Is there any further information you would need about the specification? c. Do you have any suggestions on how the specification could be modified to improve the project outcome? 7. What key information does the Environment Agency need to provide in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) documents to ensure that you can prepare a quality bid and price the work accurately? 8. Do you wish to express an interest in this project? If your reply is No, please provide a brief reason why you have opted out for monitoring purposes. 9. Please provide an estimation of costs to carry out this project to the nearest £5k. Please note these will not be taken as a formal quote and will only be used for project planning purposes. 10. Any other comments of feedback?

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0550ee
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056023-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73210000 - Research consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£30,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£30,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
26 Sep 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
11 Jul 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
12 Oct 2025 - 27 Feb 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
lucy.snape@environment-agency.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

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

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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