Planning

EA Robotic Automated Sample Preparation

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

30 Mar 2026 at 13:26

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

13 Oct 2025 at 11:15

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Environment Agency, in collaboration with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, is preparing a tender for a robotic automated sample preparation system. This procurement falls under the industry category “Laboratory, optical and precision equipment” and is valued at £400,000 (gross value £480,000). Located in London, UK, the procurement stage is currently in planning, with the publication of a planned procurement notice on 30th March 2026. Key dates include a tender submission deadline on 12th June 2026, with an award period concluding by 9th October 2026. This tender is part of an open procurement process using a competitive flexible procedure, involving both a technical questionnaire and a demonstration stage.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in the manufacture and supply of laboratory and precision equipment, particularly those specialising in automated systems for environmental analysis. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) equipped to provide innovative solutions in robotic systems for the trace analysis of semi-volatile organic substances, including PFAS, will find this tender particularly relevant. As the contract could span from October 2026 to October 2029, it offers a substantial opportunity for businesses capable of delivering a fully automated, computer-controlled standalone benchtop robotic system adhering to specific environmental criteria.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

EA Robotic Automated Sample Preparation

Notice Description

Provision of a robotic system(s) suitable for the trace analysis or semi volatile organic substances including but not limited to of Poly Fluro Alkyl Substances (PFAS) in a range of environmental waters and associated materials. All critical parts of the system must therefore be free of PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) and other PFAS containing materials. The system will be used in the development of up to 7 existing methodologies for which the modules described have been determined as being required to cover the range of analytes. Fully automated, computer controlled standalone* benchtop robotic system with the ability to house and control multiple modules as described for the automation of liquid-liquid extraction for a minimum of 45 samples per single workflow. * Not connected to an analytical instrument.

Planning Information

Testing the market to assist in the determination of the procurement strategy for a robotic system(s) suitable for the trace analysis or semi volatile organic substances including but not limited to of Poly Fluro Alkyl Substances (PFAS) in a range of environmental waters and associated materials. If you are able to provide this requirement please get in touch with the procurement team, no later than close on Friday 31st October 2025, at: mandy.worsnop@defra.gov.uk, providing details of potential solutions. Please use the subject title “EA Robotic System(s) Market Engagement” in your request. Any future tender exercise will be conducted through the Defra eSourcing portal. If your organisation is not already registered, you can create an account at https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome. This engagement does not constitute a formal notice to tender and there is no guarantee the Environment Agency will proceed with an external tendering exercise to create a form of contract.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05ae26
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029143-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

CPV Codes

38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£400,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£400,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Mar 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
12 Jun 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
14 May 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
21 Oct 2026 - 21 Oct 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
Additional Buyers

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

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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