Notice Information
Notice Title
International Specialist Courier for APHA (2026)
Notice Description
Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is seeking early expressions of interest and pre-market engagement from suppliers for the transportation of Category B (UN3373) samples internationally by a Courier Specialist.
Planning Information
Defra Group Commercial, on behalf of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), intends to publish a tender opportunity for the provision of an International Specialist Courier service. The successful supplier(s) will be required to collect and deliver Category B (UN3373) consignments within the UK and internationally, including to and from Northern Ireland, Europe, Non-EU countries, and worldwide destinations. Given the specialist nature of these consignments, suppliers must hold the appropriate licenses for transporting biological substances under chilled conditions using dry ice. In addition, suppliers will be required to provide import services and manage complex customs clearance process. If your organisation is interested in this forthcoming opportunity, please register your interest by emailing angelica.ho@defra.gov.uk. In your response, kindly confirm the following: 1) Whether your organisation would be interested in the opportunity. 2) Your standard rates and an explanation to your approach to pricing for sending consignments to and from Northern Ireland, Europe, Non-EU countries, and Rest of the World. We would appreciate receiving all responses by 12pm on 29th May 2026. Thank you for your time and interest. We look forward to hearing from you.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-0699e6
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044867-2026
- Current Stage
- Planning
- All Stages
- Planning
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Not Specified
- Procurement Method Details
- Not specified
- Tender Suitability
- SME
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
64 - Postal and telecommunications services
-
- CPV Codes
60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
60161000 - Parcel transport services
60400000 - Air transport services
60411000 - Scheduled airmail transport services
60421000 - Non-scheduled airmail transport services
64100000 - Post and courier services
64110000 - Postal services
64113000 - Postal services related to parcels
64120000 - Courier services
64121000 - Multi-modal courier services
64121100 - Mail delivery services
64121200 - Parcel delivery services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- Not specified
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 15 May 20262 weeks ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- 29 Jun 20264 weeks to go
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 30 Sep 2026 - 30 Sep 2029 3-4 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Planning
- Lots Status
- Planning
- Awards Status
- Not Specified
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY
- Additional Buyers
- 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
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044867-2026
15th May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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-0699e6-2026-05-15T12:18:58+01:00",
"date": "2026-05-15T12:18:58+01:00",
"ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0699e6",
"initiationType": "tender",
"parties": [
{
"id": "GB-PPON-PBHC-6261-BLLQ",
"name": "ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY",
"identifier": {
"scheme": "GB-PPON",
"id": "PBHC-6261-BLLQ"
},
"address": {
"streetAddress": "Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street",
"locality": "London",
"postalCode": "SW1P 4DF",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom",
"region": "UKI32"
},
"contactPoint": {
"email": "network.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-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": "network.procurement@defra.gov.uk"
},
"roles": [
"procuringEntity"
],
"roleDetails": "Conducting the procurement process.",
"details": {
"url": "https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome"
}
}
],
"buyer": {
"id": "GB-PPON-PBHC-6261-BLLQ",
"name": "ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY"
},
"planning": {
"milestones": [
{
"id": "engagement",
"type": "engagement",
"description": "Defra Group Commercial, on behalf of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), intends to publish a tender opportunity for the provision of an International Specialist Courier service. The successful supplier(s) will be required to collect and deliver Category B (UN3373) consignments within the UK and internationally, including to and from Northern Ireland, Europe, Non-EU countries, and worldwide destinations. Given the specialist nature of these consignments, suppliers must hold the appropriate licenses for transporting biological substances under chilled conditions using dry ice. In addition, suppliers will be required to provide import services and manage complex customs clearance process. If your organisation is interested in this forthcoming opportunity, please register your interest by emailing angelica.ho@defra.gov.uk. In your response, kindly confirm the following: 1) Whether your organisation would be interested in the opportunity. 2) Your standard rates and an explanation to your approach to pricing for sending consignments to and from Northern Ireland, Europe, Non-EU countries, and Rest of the World. We would appreciate receiving all responses by 12pm on 29th May 2026. Thank you for your time and interest. We look forward to hearing from you.",
"dueDate": "2026-05-29T23:59:59+01:00",
"status": "scheduled"
}
],
"documents": [
{
"id": "044867-2026",
"documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
"noticeType": "UK2",
"description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
"url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044867-2026",
"datePublished": "2026-05-15T12:18:58+01:00",
"format": "text/html"
}
]
},
"tender": {
"id": "P-39754",
"legalBasis": {
"id": "2023/54",
"scheme": "UKPGA",
"uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
},
"title": "International Specialist Courier for APHA (2026)",
"description": "Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is seeking early expressions of interest and pre-market engagement from suppliers for the transportation of Category B (UN3373) samples internationally by a Courier Specialist.",
"items": [
{
"id": "1",
"additionalClassifications": [
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "64120000",
"description": "Courier services"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "64100000",
"description": "Post and courier services"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "60400000",
"description": "Air transport services"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "64121200",
"description": "Parcel delivery services"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "64110000",
"description": "Postal services"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "60411000",
"description": "Scheduled airmail transport services"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "64121000",
"description": "Multi-modal courier services"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "64113000",
"description": "Postal services related to parcels"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "60000000",
"description": "Transport services (excl. Waste transport)"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "60161000",
"description": "Parcel transport services"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "64121100",
"description": "Mail delivery services"
},
{
"scheme": "CPV",
"id": "60421000",
"description": "Non-scheduled airmail transport services"
}
],
"deliveryAddresses": [
{
"region": "UK",
"country": "GB",
"countryName": "United Kingdom"
}
],
"relatedLot": "1"
}
],
"mainProcurementCategory": "services",
"aboveThreshold": true,
"lots": [
{
"id": "1",
"suitability": {
"sme": true
},
"contractPeriod": {
"startDate": "2026-10-01T00:00:00+01:00",
"endDate": "2029-09-30T23:59:59+01:00",
"maxExtentDate": "2031-09-30T23:59:59+01:00"
},
"hasRenewal": true,
"status": "planning"
}
],
"communication": {
"futureNoticeDate": "2026-06-29T23:59:59+01:00"
},
"status": "planning"
},
"language": "en"
}