Tender

Services-Framework-Provision of Sample Courier Services for Laboratory Services

UNITED UTILITIES WATER LIMITED

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

13 Feb 2026 at 17:26

TenderUpdate

02 Feb 2026 at 17:15

Tender

30 Jan 2026 at 17:44

Summary of the contracting process

United Utilities Water Limited is seeking to procure a courier service for transporting samples to their central laboratory in Warrington. The tender process, which falls under the procurement category of services, uses a competitive flexible procedure aimed at selecting a sole supplier. The sample courier service is necessary for compliance with OFWAT's regulations, requiring daily collection and transportation under specified refrigerated conditions. The procurement is currently in the tender stage with a deadline for expressions of interest on 20th February 2026, and the award period set to end on 30th June 2026. The contract is valued at £11,520,000 gross, covering services throughout the North-West region under the CPV code 64120000 for courier services.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in logistic and transport services, particularly those experienced in handling goods under controlled temperature conditions. Companies proficient in route optimisation and electronic reporting can benefit, providing a managed service model that includes supplier-provided refrigerated vehicles and route management. The successful supplier will gain access to a long-term contract, starting from 6th July 2026 and ending on 6th July 2034, providing stability and growth potential across a broad geographic area in the UK. Both large enterprises and SME logistics companies with the technical capacity to meet regulatory requirements, can find this procurement contract strategically advantageous for expanding their market presence in the utilities sector.

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Notice Title

Services-Framework-Provision of Sample Courier Services for Laboratory Services

Notice Description

United Utilities Laboratory Services require a courier service for the transportation of samples from sites across the Company to the central Laboratory at Lingley Mere (Warrington) on a daily basis. It is a requirement of OFWAT (The Water Services Regulation Authority) that the Company constantly undertakes analysis of water/waste water samples from various sample points throughout the North-West Region. Water Quality Officers, Network Owners, Wastewater Operatives, Trade Effluent Officers, Agricultural Advisors and Project Staff obtain the samples requiring analysis. Samples are left at drop off points for collection by the dedicated courier in a refrigerated van. Samples need to be transported under refrigerated conditions to ensure that they are maintained at a temperature of between 2 and 7 degrees centigrade. It is a requirement to maintain evidence that this has been achieved to enable United Utilities to adhere to regulatory requirements with respect to the transportation of accredited samples under the Environment Agency's Monitoring Certification Scheme (MCERTs), Drinking Water Test Specifications (DWTS) and ISO 17025. On collection, the courier takes the samples to a Sample Registration Centre (SRC) or directly to Lingley Mere Laboratories Sample Reception. An additional dedicated courier service is then required to operate between the SRC's and the Laboratories at Lingley Mere, where required. Consignment Notes or Delivery Notes detailing the sample load carried and all other required information to the Laboratory at Lingley Mere are part of the hand-over procedure at the SRCs and the Laboratory. These are currently in paper form, the Company would like to move this to an electronic format, where reports should consist of (minimum requirement): * Sample bottle barcode number * crate barcode number * vehicle registration * collection date and time * collection location * time samples dropped off * location of sample drop off Route optimisation will also be a requirement of the tender, with bidders expected to demonstrate how routes will be optimised to ensure efficiency, reliability, and timely delivery of samples while maintaining required temperature controls. Detailed dates and milestones will be share in the tender documentation.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06138a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013638-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

64 - Postal and telecommunications services


CPV Codes

64120000 - Courier services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£9,600,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£9,600,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Feb 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
5 Jul 2026 - 6 Jul 2034 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNITED UTILITIES WATER LIMITED
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
GREAT SANKEY
Postcode
WA5 3LP
Post Town
Warrington
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD6 Cheshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD61 Warrington
Delivery Location
TLD North West (England)

Local Authority
Warrington
Electoral Ward
Great Sankey North and Whittle Hall
Westminster Constituency
Warrington South

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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