Tender

Services-Framework-Lab Sample Couriers Service

UNITED UTILITIES WATER LIMITED

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

17 Feb 2026 at 10:24

Tender

13 Feb 2026 at 17:00

Summary of the contracting process

United Utilities Water Limited, located in Warrington, UK, is seeking bids for a framework agreement, titled "Services-Framework-Lab Sample Couriers Service," within the courier services industry. This tender is currently at the procurement stage, with updates made on 17th February 2026 and an initial notice dated 13th February 2026. The tender involves the transportation of samples under refrigerated conditions from various sites across the North-West Region to a central laboratory. The deadline for submission of the Certificate of Professional Qualifications (CoPQ) is set for 10th March 2026, while the enquiry period ends on 27th February 2026. The tender process is described as open and follows a competitive flexible procedure, aiming to award the contract to a single supplier by 30th June 2026, with the new contract to commence on 6th July 2026 and end on 6th July 2034.

This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses specialising in refrigerated courier services, particularly those that can demonstrate efficiency in route optimisation and temperature control compliance. The procurement is above the financial threshold, with a contract value reaching up to £11,520,000. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may find this tender particularly appealing as the procurement process accommodates such businesses, and the award criteria balance both technical quality and commercial pricing, with a weight of 60% on quality and 40% on price. Companies capable of transitioning from paper to electronic reporting formats and offering a managed service model will likely be well-positioned to meet the requirements outlined by United Utilities, thereby fostering potential business growth in the utilities sector.

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Notice Title

Services-Framework-Lab Sample Couriers Service

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. Deadline for CoPQ submission: 10/03/2026

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06545f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014158-2026
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
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
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
17 Feb 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
12 Jun 20264 months to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
6 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
Sofia Gomes
Contact Email
sofia.gomes@uuplc.co.uk
Contact Phone
+44 7901172777

Buyer Location

Locality
WARRINGTON
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)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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