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DAC 03/26 Purchase of FlowCam Cyano

Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

20 Feb 2026 at 09:10

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

09 Feb 2026 at 08:43

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

06 Feb 2026 at 16:59

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has successfully completed a direct award procurement process, marked by the contract "DAC 03/26 Purchase of FlowCam Cyano". This process, concluded on 19 February 2026, pertains to the acquisition of equipment necessary for monitoring cyanobacteria in bathing waters. Situated in Belfast, the buyer operates under the regulations applicable to Northern Ireland and falls within the public authority sector of central government. The procurement, categorised under laboratory, optical, and precision instruments, involves a direct award to Planet Ocean Limited, citing exclusive intellectual property rights as the rationale. The contract, valued at £170,000, covers a period until 19 February 2029.

This procurement offers significant business growth opportunities for companies specialising in laboratory and environmental monitoring equipment. The use of direct award underscores the importance of possessing exclusive rights and specialised equipment, pinpointing opportunities for firms with unique intellectual property in these areas. Businesses akin to Planet Ocean Limited, particularly those in precision equipment manufacturing, are well-positioned to leverage such tenders for expansion within the public sector. Entrepreneurs should identify similar niches with exclusive offerings to increase competitiveness in direct award contracts. Furthermore, SMEs focusing on innovative solutions within the scientific instrumentation domain can find lucrative possibilities through public procurement avenues.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

DAC 03/26 Purchase of FlowCam Cyano

Notice Description

The equipment, and associated installation, training and servicing, is required to improve monitoring of cyanobacteria (blue green algae) in bathing waters and other recreational sites.

Procurement Information

All public procurements should comply with Public Procurement Policy and Managing Public Money NI. The value of this Direct Award Contract (DAC) at PS170,000 is above the UK threshold and therefore the Procurement Act 2023 and Procurement Regulations 2024 apply. There are direct award justifications provided for under Section 41 and Schedule 5 of the PA23 which permit a Contracting Authority to award a public contract to a single supplier where the supplies or services can only be supplied by a particular supplier, and the following conditions are met: (a) due to a particular supplier having intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-064a9f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015491-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

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

38200000 - Geological and geophysical instruments

38400000 - Instruments for checking physical characteristics

38500000 - Checking and testing apparatus

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£170,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£170,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Feb 20266 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
6 Feb 20266 months ago
Contract Period
20 Feb 2026 - 19 Feb 2029 3-4 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
Department of Agriculture, Environment 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
BELFAST
Postcode
BT3 9ED
Postcode Area
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Sydenham
Westminster Constituency
Belfast East

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Planet Ocean 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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