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Boston Barrier Operation & Maintenance

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

27 Jul 2026 at 11:13

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

04 Jun 2026 at 17:06

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Environment Agency intends to procure long-term operation and maintenance services for the Boston Barrier and its associated assets in Boston, Lincolnshire. The barrier system includes more than 100 individual assets, including a radial-gate flood barrier, protecting over 14,000 residential properties and 800 commercial and community buildings. The requirement is primarily for flood-defence maintenance, supported by engineering, construction consultancy, construction management, and electrical and mechanical installation repair and maintenance services. The work is intended to maintain the barrier and associated assets in a state of continuing readiness. Procurement will be facilitated through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ commercial function, with the Environment Agency as the buyer.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the Environment Agency has stated its intention to procure, but has not issued an invitation to tender. It expects to use a competitive flexible procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, with a pre-selection stage followed by an invitation to tender and potentially final clarification or negotiation interviews or presentations. The current programme anticipates a future notice on 26 October 2026, although the buyer says dates may change. One planned lot is estimated at £3 million excluding VAT, or £3.6 million including VAT. The intended contract period is 4 January 2027 to 30 June 2032, with renewal possible to 30 June 2033. The contract is above the relevant threshold.

The requirement should suit SMEs and established operators able to manage safety-critical flood-defence infrastructure over a long service period. Relevant preparation would include demonstrating capability in operating and maintaining mechanical, electrical and engineering assets, flood barriers, and associated construction or engineering systems. Suppliers should expect a procurement-specific questionnaire and conditions of participation, followed by a scored mini-technical submission used to select suppliers for the tender stage. The tender is expected to assess quality, including social value, alongside price. A site visit is likely during the tender stage, so bidders should be prepared to understand the Boston Barrier installation and its operational environment. Electronic submission will require access to specialist communication tools that are available free of charge.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Boston Barrier Operation & Maintenance

Notice Description

This notice replaces prior notice 2025/S 000-024077 issued on 21/05/2025. The procurement is now being conducted as a Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. The Boston Barrier comprises a group of over 100 individual assets including a radial gate flood barrier, which between them protect more than 14,000 residential properties and 800 commercial and community buildings. Since being active the barrier and associated assets have been operated and maintained under an NEC Term Service Contract. The current contract is expected to end in June 2027 and to ensure the continuing readiness of the gate and associated assets a new service contract for their long-term operation and maintenance is required. The Tender will be split into the following high-level stages: Stage One - Pre-Selection Stage. This will consist of the following requirements: * 1A: Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), including Conditions of Participation (CoP). * 1B: A Mini-Technical Envelope (Scored), which will be used to down-select suppliers. Stage Two - Invitation to Tender (ITT) Stage. This will likely include a site visit and will consist of the following requirements: * 2A: Quality Envelope (including Social Value) * 2B: Price (Commercial Envelope) (OPTIONAL) Stage Three - Final Clarification and Negotiation interviews and/or presentations. Full details of the Procurement Process and instructions will be detailed in the tender notice at the point of issue. Please note: The Authority may update or amend this Notice including all dates. The tender date stated is an estimate only at this stage. Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address. Tenders or requests to participate will need to be submitted electronically, this electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ae16
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070677-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

50 - Repair and maintenance services

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

45246410 - Flood-defences maintenance works

50710000 - Repair and maintenance services of electrical and mechanical building installations

71300000 - Engineering services

71310000 - Consultative engineering and construction services

71530000 - Construction consultancy services

71540000 - Construction management services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
26 Oct 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Jan 2027 - 30 Jun 2032 Over 5 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
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
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
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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