Notice Information
Notice Title
Water Quality Research and Catchment Planning in the River Wye.
Notice Description
This opportunity is an Open Procedure advertised by Defra group Commercial on behalf of Defra. The Wye catchment covers two nations, and five counties, and contains a complex mix of land use, including agriculture, urban areas, and a wealth of protected sites. With this varied geography comes a complex stakeholder landscape, combining a range of values and interests. This also brings a range of pressures on the water environment of the catchment. Defra and the Welsh Government are seeking to deliver a research project to investigate sources of pollution and pressures affecting the Wye and develop and test ways to improve land management for water quality using a 'living-labs' approach to test solutions with local stakeholders. Additionally, the project will identify best practice approaches to undertaking research involving complex stakeholder groups. The aims of the research programme are to build on existing evidence and work alongside stakeholders to: * Investigate the sources of the pollution and pressures affecting the river, in particular focussing on agricultural pollution * Study the impacts of changing farming practices and land management in the catchment * Develop and test new ways to improve land management to improve water quality, which are suitable for the Wye catchment and will also be transferable to other catchments, using a 'living-labs' approach to test solutions * Examine what's driving wildlife decline and water flow - the movement and quantity of water which is crucial for habitats and species * Understand best practice for undertaking research involving a complex stakeholder group. This strategy aligns with other foundational initiatives such as the Environmental Improvement Plan and the Land Use Framework. For further information please visit Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2025 - GOV.UK
Lot Information
Lot 1
Renewal: There is an option of a 6-month extension to the project due to unforeseen circumstances.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-0606a0
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003483-2026
- Current Stage
- Tender
- All Stages
- Tender
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK4 - Tender Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Open
- Procurement Method Details
- Open procedure
- 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
73110000 - Research services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £1,000,000 £1M-£10M
- Lots Value
- £1,000,000 £1M-£10M
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 15 Jan 20261 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- 18 Feb 2026Expired
- Future Notice Date
- Not specified
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 16 Mar 2026 - 17 Apr 2029 3-4 years
- 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
- DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
- Contact Name
- DGC
- Contact Email
- procurement@defra.gov.uk
- Contact Phone
- 03459335577
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
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003483-2026
15th January 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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-0606a0-2026-01-15T12:58:27Z",
"date": "2026-01-15T12:58:27Z",
"ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0606a0",
"initiationType": "tender",
"parties": [
{
"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": "DGC",
"email": "procurement@defra.gov.uk",
"telephone": "03459335577"
},
"roles": [
"buyer"
],
"details": {
"url": "https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome",
"classifications": [
{
"id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
"scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
"description": "Public authority - central government"
}
]
}
}
],
"buyer": {
"id": "GB-PPON-PNBD-3289-CDGX",
"name": "DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS"
},
"planning": {
"noEngagementNoticeRationale": "To ensure that the project's objectives would be met, and to confirm the market appetite, a UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice was published on 10 December 2025, @4:02pm whilst a supplier event was conducted on 17th December 2025. The turnaround was amazing with 22 suppliers in attendance. There's a glitch with the system. This project is Research and Development under Paragraph 22 of the Procurement Act. https://atamis-9529.my.salesforce.com/a2ZTu000003GprGMAS/p"
},
"tender": {
"id": "C32695",
"legalBasis": {
"id": "2023/54",
"scheme": "UKPGA",
"uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
},
"title": "Water Quality Research and Catchment Planning in the River Wye.",
"description": "This opportunity is an Open Procedure advertised by Defra group Commercial on behalf of Defra. The Wye catchment covers two nations, and five counties, and contains a complex mix of land use, including agriculture, urban areas, and a wealth of protected sites. With this varied geography comes a complex stakeholder landscape, combining a range of values and interests. This also brings a range of pressures on the water environment of the catchment. Defra and the Welsh Government are seeking to deliver a research project to investigate sources of pollution and pressures affecting the Wye and develop and test ways to improve land management for water quality using a 'living-labs' approach to test solutions with local stakeholders. Additionally, the project will identify best practice approaches to undertaking research involving complex stakeholder groups. The aims of the research programme are to build on existing evidence and work alongside stakeholders to: * Investigate the sources of the pollution and pressures affecting the river, in particular focussing on agricultural pollution * Study the impacts of changing farming practices and land management in the catchment * Develop and test new ways to improve land management to improve water quality, which are suitable for the Wye catchment and will also be transferable to other catchments, using a 'living-labs' approach to test solutions * Examine what's driving wildlife decline and water flow - the movement and quantity of water which is crucial for habitats and species * Understand best practice for undertaking research involving a complex stakeholder group. This strategy aligns with other foundational initiatives such as the Environmental Improvement Plan and the Land Use Framework. For further information please visit Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2025 - GOV.UK",
"status": "active",
"items": [
{
"id": "1",
"additionalClassifications": [
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "73110000",
"description": "Research services"
}
],
"deliveryAddresses": [
{
"region": "UK",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
}
],
"relatedLot": "1"
}
],
"value": {
"amountGross": 1200000,
"amount": 1000000,
"currency": "GBP"
},
"procurementMethod": "open",
"procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
"mainProcurementCategory": "services",
"specialRegime": [
"concession"
],
"aboveThreshold": true,
"submissionMethodDetails": "https://atamis-9529.my.site.com/s/Welcome",
"submissionTerms": {
"electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
"languages": [
"en"
]
},
"tenderPeriod": {
"endDate": "2026-02-18T12:00:00Z"
},
"enquiryPeriod": {
"endDate": "2026-02-04T12:00:00Z"
},
"awardPeriod": {
"endDate": "2026-03-12T23:59:59Z"
},
"lots": [
{
"id": "1",
"status": "active",
"value": {
"amountGross": 1200000,
"amount": 1000000,
"currency": "GBP"
},
"awardCriteria": {
"criteria": [
{
"type": "quality",
"name": "Technical",
"description": "E01 Approach and methodology 35% E02 Project management (including project plan) 30% E03 Proposed staff and contractor/sub-contractor expertise 25% E04 Risk 10%",
"numbers": [
{
"number": 60,
"weight": "percentageExact"
}
]
},
{
"type": "quality",
"name": "Social Value",
"description": "SV01 Sustainability Weighting to be awarded will be 10% of 100%",
"numbers": [
{
"number": 10,
"weight": "percentageExact"
}
]
},
{
"type": "cost",
"name": "Price",
"description": "Weighting to be evaluated will be 30% of 100%",
"numbers": [
{
"number": 30,
"weight": "percentageExact"
}
]
}
]
},
"selectionCriteria": {
"criteria": [
{
"type": "economic",
"description": "1. Bidder Pack- Part One Core Requirements above threshold PA 2023 2. Bidder Pack - Part 2_Procurement Specific Requirements above threshold PA 23 3. Tender Specification"
}
]
},
"suitability": {
"sme": true,
"vcse": true
},
"contractPeriod": {
"startDate": "2026-03-16T00:00:00Z",
"endDate": "2029-04-17T23:59:59+01:00",
"maxExtentDate": "2029-10-18T23:59:59+01:00"
},
"hasRenewal": true,
"renewal": {
"description": "There is an option of a 6-month extension to the project due to unforeseen circumstances."
}
}
],
"documents": [
{
"id": "conflictOfInterest",
"documentType": "conflictOfInterest"
},
{
"id": "003483-2026",
"documentType": "tenderNotice",
"noticeType": "UK4",
"description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
"url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003483-2026",
"datePublished": "2026-01-15T12:58:27Z",
"format": "text/html"
}
]
},
"language": "en"
}