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Specialist Analytical Services for Natural Resources Wales

Natural Resources Wales

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

21 Jul 2026 at 15:18

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Natural Resources Wales intends to procure specialist analytical laboratory services to support its statutory freshwater, marine, biota, sediment and regulatory monitoring programmes. The work will be delivered across Wales. The requirement is for analyses that NRW’s own Analytical Services cannot provide because of method complexity, specialist instrumentation and capacity constraints. The appointed provider will support continuity of data collection and consistent analytical methods throughout the updated six-year Monitoring Strategy and Planning cycle. This is a public-sector environmental testing and monitoring service, rather than a supply of laboratory equipment. The procurement is being led by Natural Resources Wales, a Welsh public authority, and is structured as a single service requirement covering the programme’s specialist analytical needs.

The process is at the planning and preliminary market engagement stage: Natural Resources Wales has stated its intention to procure, but has not yet invited tenders. The expected procurement route and evaluation method have not been settled in the published information. Suppliers are invited to complete an optional Pre-Market Engagement Questionnaire to provide market insight and help shape the future approach; participation will not form part of any formal evaluation or affect future participation. Responses are requested by 7 August 2026 at 10:00. The buyer expects a subsequent notice on 19 October 2026. The estimated value is £600,000 excluding VAT, or £720,000 including VAT. The planned contract period is 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2031.

This engagement is likely to suit specialist environmental laboratories and other analytical service providers with the capability to test freshwater, marine, biological and sediment samples for statutory and regulatory monitoring. Suppliers should be prepared to demonstrate specialist instrumentation, complex analytical methods and sufficient capacity to support a multi-year monitoring programme, with reliable continuity and consistent methodology across the full service period. The requirement is marked as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises, so organisations of these types may find the future procurement relevant if they can provide the required technical services. Businesses can use the engagement stage to explain available analytical capabilities, capacity, delivery models and methodological strengths before the formal procurement is shaped.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Specialist Analytical Services for Natural Resources Wales

Notice Description

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) intends to establish a contract for the provision of Specialist Analytical Services. The purpose of the requirement is to outsource specialist analytical services supporting NRW's statutory Freshwater, Marine, Biota, Sediment, and regulatory monitoring programmes. These analyses cannot be delivered in house at NRW Analytical Services (NRWAS) due to method complexity, specialist instrumentation, and capacity constraints. The new contract will align with the updated six year Monitoring Strategy and Planning (MSP) cycle, ensuring continuity of data collection and consistency in analytical methodologies across the full programme period. This notice is a Preliminary Market Engagement Notice. The purpose of the pre market engagement questionnaire is to gather market insight, help shape our approach and ensure that suppliers are aware of the upcoming opportunity. NRW has issued a pre market engagement questionnaire to support this engagement. Participation is optional and does not form part of any formal evaluation, nor will it affect a supplier's ability to participate in the future procurement. Instructions on how to access the pre market engagement questionnaire can be found in the engagement section of this notice.

Planning Information

Suppliers are invited to complete a Pre Market Engagement Questionnaire for Specialist Analytical Services. The purpose of the engagement is to gather market insight to help shape our approach and ensure that suppliers are aware of the upcoming opportunity. Participation is optional and does not form part of any formal evaluation, nor will it affect a supplier's ability to participate in the future procurement. To access the Pre Market Engagement Questionnaire: 1) Register or log into the e TenderWales portal: https://etenderwales.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.shtml?_ncp=1784640423438.572434-1 2) Once logged in follow the link below to express an interest to access the questionnaire directly: https://etenderwales.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/go/03140007019F84DD9E0F If you encounter issues accessing the system please contact the Bravo helpdesk at help@bravosolution.co.uk, or contact the Procurement Lead sarah.ryan@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk Suppliers are encouraged to review the document and submit responses to the PME Questionnaire by 7th August 2026 - 10:00 hrs

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d016
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068797-2026
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, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71900000 - Laboratory services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£600,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
19 Oct 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2031 Over 5 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
Natural Resources Wales
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CARDIFF
Postcode
CF10 3NQ
Postcode Area
Cardiff
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Delivery Location
TLL Wales
Local Authority
Cardiff
Electoral Ward
Cathays
Westminster Constituency
Cardiff South and Penarth

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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