Award

British Geological Survey Licence 2026

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

17 Mar 2026 at 11:36

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

17 Mar 2026 at 10:50

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process involves the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) awarding a contract titled "British Geological Survey Licence 2026". This contract falls under the services category, specifically within the environmental services industry, and is located in the United Kingdom. The tender process utilised a direct award procurement method due to exclusive rights held by the British Geological Survey (BGS), the sole provider of the necessary data licence. This licence includes various geology and groundwater datasets required by the Defra Group. The award status is pending as of 17th March 2026, with the contract period beginning on 1st April 2026 and concluding on 31st March 2027.

This tender poses unique opportunities for businesses that specialise in geological data services or environmental data analysis due to the exclusive nature of the contract with the British Geological Survey. Although the direct award limits immediate competition, businesses able to develop similar datasets or services may find future opportunities to collaborate or subcontract within such niches. Companies with capabilities in handling environmental datasets and providing integrated solutions in support of governmental or large-scale environmental projects would be well-suited for future engagements with Defra, potentially aiding in strategic business growth in government-industrial partnerships.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

British Geological Survey Licence 2026

Notice Description

This is a data licence required for the Defra Group. This data can only be purchased from British Geological Survey who are the sole providers. The data licence provides the use of a number of British Geological Survey (BGS) data layers which include multiple geology and groundwater datasets.

Procurement Information

This is a data licence required for the Defra Group. This data can only be purchased from British Geological Survey who are the sole providers. This is therefore a compliant STA under Schedule 5: 5. The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract-- (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. And 6. The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract-- (a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. The data licence provides the use of a number of British Geological Survey (BGS) data layers which include multiple geology and groundwater datasets.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-066be0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023962-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

90700000 - Environmental services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£247,103 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Mar 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
13 Mar 20263 weeks ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD 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
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (BGS

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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-066be0-2026-03-17T11:36:15Z",
    "date": "2026-03-17T11:36:15Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-066be0",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PNBD-3289-CDGX",
            "name": "DEPARTMENT FOR 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": {
                "email": "procurement@defra.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PDQJ-7126-JDHG",
            "name": "British Geological Survey (BGS)",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PDQJ-7126-JDHG"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Nicker Hill, Keyworth, Nottinghamshire",
                "locality": "Keyworth",
                "postalCode": "NG12 5GG",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKF16"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "businessdevelopment@bgs.ac.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "large",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PNBD-3289-CDGX",
        "name": "DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "C33494",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "British Geological Survey Licence 2026",
        "description": "This is a data licence required for the Defra Group. This data can only be purchased from British Geological Survey who are the sole providers. The data licence provides the use of a number of British Geological Survey (BGS) data layers which include multiple geology and groundwater datasets.",
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "This is a data licence required for the Defra Group. This data can only be purchased from British Geological Survey who are the sole providers. This is therefore a compliant STA under Schedule 5: 5. The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract-- (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. And 6. The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract-- (a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. The data licence provides the use of a number of British Geological Survey (BGS) data layers which include multiple geology and groundwater datasets.",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "singleSuppliersIntellectualPropertyExclusiveRights"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "title": "British Geological Survey Licence 2026",
            "status": "pending",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 296523.78,
                "amount": 247103.15,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-PPON-PDQJ-7126-JDHG",
                    "name": "British Geological Survey (BGS)"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "90700000",
                            "description": "Environmental services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2027-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "023900-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK5",
                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023900-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-03-17T10:50:14Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                },
                {
                    "id": "023962-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023962-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-03-17T11:36:15Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2026-03-30T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ],
            "date": "2026-03-13T00:00:00Z",
            "standstillPeriod": {
                "endDate": "2026-03-27T23:59:59+00:00"
            }
        }
    ],
    "language": "en"
}