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Kidlington Waste Removal

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

03 Feb 2026 at 10:17

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

19 Jan 2026 at 17:41

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

06 Jan 2026 at 15:23

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The public procurement process for Kidlington Waste Removal was managed by the Environment Agency, with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as the procuring entity. This contract, awarded on 19 January 2026, was mandated due to the extreme urgency caused by significant fire risks at the Kidlington waste site, located in the UKJ14 region of the United Kingdom. These risks, identified by the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, necessitated immediate intervention to remove approximately 21,000 tonnes of illegally deposited mixed waste. The contract, valued at £6,084,563.52 with an overall gross value of £7,301,476.22, has been classified under refuse and waste-related services and is scheduled to be active until at least June 12, 2027. It uses the NEC Option C contract model, where cost changes are managed via compensation events, ensuring project flexibility and responsiveness to unforeseen challenges.

This opportunity opens up significant avenues for businesses specialising in waste management services, particularly those capable of handling large-scale, urgent projects. Acumen Waste Services Limited, a small to medium enterprise (SME), was awarded the contract due to their capacity to provide comprehensive waste clearance and management, showcasing the viability for suitably skilled SMEs in the sector. The direct award route highlights an urgent need for reliable partners who can rapidly mobilise resources to avert potential disasters. Businesses involved in similar fields can leverage this contract type and award model by demonstrating their capability to respond under pressing conditions, thereby positioning themselves for future procurement opportunities within emergency response sectors.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Kidlington Waste Removal

Notice Description

This contract has been directly awarded under the extreme urgency provisions, as set out in the Transparency Notice published on 6 January 2026 and in the Direct Award Justification of this notice, to mitigate a significant fire risk at the Kidlington waste site identified by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. A fire at this location would have serious consequences for public safety, including air quality impacts from smoke, disruption to critical infrastructure such as the A34 major highway, and risks to the local environment. The contract covers the full end-to-end clearance of approximately 21,000 tonnes of illegally deposited mixed waste at the site. This includes establishing, maintaining, and removing site facilities and access arrangements; testing, removing and disposing of all waste material at appropriately permitted facilities (including all required waste-transfer documentation); managing site leachate; managing odour; and providing site security throughout the works. The contract will commence on 19 January 2026. The contract's initial duration will align with the completion date set out in the first Accepted Programme of the ECC, which is 12th June 2026. The works will then be subject to a 12-month defects period. The authority may extend the contract to reflect any changes to the completion date under the Accepted Programme. The target cost for the works is PS6,084,563.52. Under the NEC Option C contract model, any changes to this target cost will be managed through the compensation-event process clearly set out in the ECC. Adjustments to the contract value or contract duration will only occur where compensation events are assessed and agreed in accordance with the contract conditions.

Procurement Information

Approximately 21,000 tonnes of mixed waste have been illegally deposited at the site. Independent advice from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (OFRS) confirms a rapidly increasing fire risk, driven by the volume and composition of the waste, the limited ability to safely access and control a fire if one were to start, and the lack of viable options to contain or manage firewater. A fire at this location would have a severe impact; including: * Lead to the closure of the A34, a major transport corridor between the South coast and the Midlands * Disrupt emergency services, local utilities and essential services * Cause pollution to the River Cherwell, which would impact on public water abstraction downstream on the River Thames and surrounding environment * Produce significant smoke affecting nearby communities These serious risks require immediate intervention to protect public safety, the environment and critical infrastructure because of the increasing risk of spontaneous combustion of the waste and the inability for the OFRS to access the site and tackle any fire. Work needs to start immediately not only to remove the fire risk but also to avoid the upcoming bird nesting season which could impact on site clearance works. The use of the extreme and unavoidable urgency provision is justified because: * The situation could not reasonably have been foreseen, arising from an unexpected significant increase in the likelihood of spontaneous combustion at the site identified by OFRS in December. * The urgency is not attributable to the contracting authority. EA does not clear illegal waste sites, such as this site at Kidlington, except in exceptional circumstances. The decision to clear this site was based on the exceptional circumstances created by the rapidly escalating fire and environmental risks . * The time limits for any competitive procurement procedure cannot be met without creating unacceptable risk to people, the environment, and critical infrastructure.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060042
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009313-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

90500000 - Refuse and waste related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£6,084,563 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£6,084,563 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Feb 20266 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
6 Jan 20267 months ago
Contract Period
20 Jan 2026 - 12 Jun 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
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
Postcode Area
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

Acumen Waste Services Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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