Planning

EA Robotic Automated Sample Preparation

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

13 Oct 2025 at 11:15

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Environment Agency, acting as the buying organisation, is currently in the planning stage for a procurement process titled "EA Robotic Automated Sample Preparation." This tender focuses on procuring a robotic system for the analysis of semi-volatile organic substances, notably Poly Fluoro Alkyl Substances (PFAS), in environmental waters. The industry category is laboratory, optical and precision equipment, and the location is the United Kingdom. Interested parties should engage in market testing by contacting the procurement team before 31st October 2025. The Environment Agency, with its contact person Mandy Worsnop from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has scheduled a tentative commencement for the contract on 30th March 2026, with the process being facilitated through the Defra eSourcing portal.

This procurement process offers significant opportunities for businesses in the laboratory and technology sectors, specifically those adept at designing automated systems. As the contract is above the threshold, it presents a lucrative opportunity amounting to £480,000 in gross value. Businesses with expertise in developing and deploying high-precision laboratory equipment stand to benefit greatly. Furthermore, it's tailored to be inclusive of SMEs, providing smaller enterprises the opportunity to compete. The process is intended to enhance capabilities in environmental analysis, hence, businesses already operating in this niche or looking to expand in this growing field could leverage the demand for innovative, PFAS-free robotic systems.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Start Free Trial Book a Demo
All Features Pricing

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. The system must comprise as a minimum but not limited to the following modules: * Duel robotic arm to house twin syringe systems * Sample vial tray holder * Wash station with Waste Port * Solvent containing Reservoirs * Shaker / Vortex * Centrifuge * Tool Storage Location * Vial decapper * Temperature Controlled Vial Storage * Nitrogen Evaporator

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/064702-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
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
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
22 Dec 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
29 Mar 2026 - 29 Mar 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
Additional Buyers

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Contact Name
Mandy Worsnop
Contact Email
mandy.worsnop@defra.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

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05ae26-2025-10-13T12:15:54+01:00",
    "date": "2025-10-13T12:15:54+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05ae26",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PNWW-1475-NYLN",
            "name": "ENVIRONMENT AGENCY",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PNWW-1475-NYLN"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "SW1P 4DF",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI32"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Mandy Worsnop",
                "email": "mandy.worsnop@defra.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PNBD-3289-CDGX",
            "name": "DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PNBD-3289-CDGX"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "SW1P 4DF",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI32"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Mandy Worsnop",
                "email": "mandy.worsnop@defra.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "procuringEntity"
            ],
            "roleDetails": "Defra group Commercial carrying out the procurement on behalf of the Environment Agency.",
            "details": {
                "url": "https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome"
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PNWW-1475-NYLN",
        "name": "ENVIRONMENT AGENCY"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "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.",
                "dueDate": "2025-10-31T23:59:59Z",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "064702-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064702-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-10-13T12:15:54+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "P-38457",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "EA Robotic Automated Sample Preparation",
        "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. The system must comprise as a minimum but not limited to the following modules: * Duel robotic arm to house twin syringe systems * Sample vial tray holder * Wash station with Waste Port * Solvent containing Reservoirs * Shaker / Vortex * Centrifuge * Tool Storage Location * Vial decapper * Temperature Controlled Vial Storage * Nitrogen Evaporator",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "38000000",
                        "description": "Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 480000,
            "amount": 400000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-03-30T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2029-03-29T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2025-12-22T23:59:59Z"
        },
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}