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Wastewater Testing

Ministry of Justice

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

15 Sep 2026 at 13:19

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

09 Sep 2026 at 12:07

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

16 Apr 2026 at 10:59

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Justice intends to procure prison wastewater testing services. The scope covers wastewater sampling, laboratory analysis, reporting and associated monitoring technology, to provide insight into the health of the prison population. The work is classified as services and includes drug-detection equipment and data-analysis services. It is planned as a single requirement, delivered for the Ministry of Justice across its prison estate. Suppliers with expertise spanning environmental or public-health sampling, laboratory testing, analytical reporting and technology-enabled monitoring may find the requirement relevant. The work may also suit businesses able to combine field operations with secure, reliable data handling and interpretation for a public-sector client.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the Ministry of Justice has stated its intention to procure, but there is no invitation to tender yet. The expected procedure is an above-threshold open procedure. The planned contract period is from 31 March 2028 to 1 April 2030. The estimated value is £4,850,000 excluding VAT, or £5,820,000 including VAT. The buyer expected to publish the next notice on 9 January 2027. Preliminary market engagement has concluded; the questionnaire is no longer active and no further responses are being sought. The requirement is planned as one lot, with the lot indicated as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

This will suit suppliers that can provide a joined-up wastewater testing service rather than a single laboratory or equipment component. Relevant preparation may include demonstrating capability in wastewater sampling, laboratory analysis, drug detection, data analysis, reporting and ongoing monitoring technology. Businesses with capacity to operate across a prison estate, maintain consistent sampling and testing processes, and produce clear reports for a central government customer are likely to be well placed. Experience in public health, environmental monitoring, analytical science, laboratory quality management or secure operational environments would be relevant to the stated requirement. The buyer has indicated that the future procurement should support insight into prisoner health, so suppliers should consider how their methods and reporting turn test results into useful population-level intelligence.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Wastewater Testing

Notice Description

The Ministry of Justice recognises the potential of prison wastewater testing in offering insight into the health of the prison population. The intended procurement is for the provision of wastewater sampling, laboratory analysis, reporting and associated monitoring technology.

Planning Information

We are keen to hear from suppliers to better understand the appetite, capability and capacity to deliver this requirement which will support with the development of any future procurement for this Service. A Market Engagement Questionnaire has been developed and we invite responses via the link below: https://forms.office.com/e/WkM8gYzSG0 The deadline for completion of the Market Engagement Questionnaire is 23:59hrs on Friday 8 May 2026. This Market Engagement exercise does not commit the Authority to a formal procurement and any information provided in this questionnaire is subject to change.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0683e0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087294-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK1 - Pipeline 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

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

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

38544000 - Drug detection apparatus

72316000 - Data analysis services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,850,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
9 Jan 20273 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2028 - 1 Apr 2030 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Ministry of Justice
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
SW1H 9AJ
Postcode Area
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

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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