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HDS Treatment Trails

Mining Remediation Authority

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

22 Jul 2026 at 10:41

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Mining Remediation Authority intends to procure specialist field-based, containerised High Density Sludge (HDS) pilot treatment trials for contaminated mine water. The supplier would design, provide, mobilise, operate, monitor and report on pilot plant at the former Threlkeld Lead Mines in Westmorland and Furness, Abbey Consols Mine in Ceredigion, Mid Wales, and a site in the Minsterley catchment, Shropshire. The trials will address zinc-rich water with differing chemistry, including net-acidic and circum-neutral conditions, and secondary contaminants such as iron, aluminium, manganese, lead, cadmium, arsenic and nickel. The work covers chemical dosing, precipitation, sludge recirculation, clarification, flow management, sampling, analysis, solids handling, data interpretation and technical reporting. Outputs will support validation and potential full-scale mine water treatment schemes. This is a specialist environmental services and research assignment.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is currently preliminary market engagement, not an invitation to tender. The Authority expects to use the information gathered to shape its procurement strategy and may procure one or more site-specific trials, with scope for additional sites in future. Suppliers are invited to submit an Expression of Interest by 19 August 2026. The expected contract period is 28 September 2026 to 31 March 2027, with each trial anticipated to last about six weeks. The estimated value is £150,000 to £200,000 excluding VAT per trial. The opportunity is above the relevant threshold and is planned as a services procurement. The Authority may seek further evidence after expressions of interest, including references, case studies, insurance details, health and safety information and accreditation certificates.

This will suit suppliers with proven experience delivering HDS treatment trials or comparable mine water treatment pilots in the field. Relevant capability includes treating zinc-bearing, net-acidic and circumneutral mine waters; selecting and dosing reagents; controlling pH, flow and process conditions; operating containerised pilot plant; and optimising precipitation, sludge recirculation and clarification. Suppliers should be able to provide the full operational resource, including plant, chemicals, consumables, monitoring, sampling, laboratory analysis, solids handling, data management and technical interpretation. Strong candidates will have experience producing reliable performance data, optimised operating parameters, sludge characterisation information and recommendations suitable for full-scale design and cost estimation. The work also requires robust health, safety and environmental management, including method statements, risk and CoSHH assessments, safe systems of work, emergency procedures, PPE arrangements and environmental controls. Consortium, partnering and subcontracting models may be considered.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

HDS Treatment Trails

Notice Description

The Mining Remediation Authority (MRA) is undertaking this preliminary market engagement to better understand the availability of suppliers capable of delivering field-based High Density Sludge (HDS) pilot treatment trials for zinc bearing mine waters and to inform its procurement approach. In particular, the MRA wishes to understand the extent of supplier capability and capacity within the market for these specialist services. The MRA is seeking to procure a specialist supplier to design, provide, mobilise, operate and report on containerised pilot-scale HDS treatment trials for metal-contaminated mine water at three sites: the former Threlkeld Lead Mines in Westmorland and Furness; Abbey Consols Mine in Ceredigion, Mid Wales; and a site within the Minsterley catchment, Shropshire. The trials are required to validate HDS treatment performance, establish optimised operating conditions and generate robust design, cost and operational data to inform potential full-scale mine water treatment schemes. The requirement is for field-based HDS pilot trials suitable for zinc-rich mine waters with differing water chemistry. The Threlkeld trial will address net-acidic mine water with zinc as the primary contaminant and secondary metals including iron, aluminium, manganese, lead, cadmium, arsenic and nickel. The Abbey Consols trial will address circum-neutral pH mine water with zinc as the primary contaminant and secondary metals including iron, aluminium, manganese, lead, cadmium and nickel. The Minsterley trial will address zinc-rich circum-neutral mine water with lead and cadmium as key secondary contaminants. Flow conditions vary by site and the supplier will be expected to propose and operate an appropriate pilot configuration for each location, including suitable flow management, chemical dosing, monitoring and control arrangements. The supplier will be required to provide and operate containerised HDS pilot plant and equipment capable of demonstrating removal of zinc and relevant secondary metals through appropriate precipitation, sludge recirculation and clarification processes. The trials shall determine optimum treatment conditions, including target operating pH, reagent selection and dosing approach, and may include aeration and/or carbon dioxide stripping capability where appropriate. The scope includes all activities necessary to plan, mobilise, operate, monitor, demobilise and report on the trials. This includes, but is not limited to, pilot plant design and configuration; supply of plant, equipment, chemicals and consumables; mobilisation and set-up; commissioning; operation of the pilot trials; sampling and analysis; process monitoring; solids handling; retention of representative sludge samples; provision of sludge material for WM3 classification and characterisation; data management; interpretation of results; and preparation of final technical reports. The supplier must provide all necessary health, safety and environmental documentation and controls, including method statements, task and site-specific risk assessments, CoSHH assessments, safe systems of work, emergency procedures, PPE requirements and an environmental management plan. Elements of site security (CCTV, fencing) may also be required by the MRA. The trials are expected to be delivered under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The supplier will be required to comply with all applicable UK health, safety and environmental legislation and to work in accordance with the MRA's site access, stakeholder, environmental and operational requirements. Participation requirements are expected to include proven experience delivering HDS trials for metal-contaminated mine water, demonstrated experience in the treatment of zinc-bearing, net-acidic and/or circumneutral mine waters as applicable to the sites, and evidence of operating and optimising field-based pilot HDS trials. Suppliers must be able to demonstrate relevant technical capability, suitable field delivery experience, robust health and safety management, and the ability to produce high-quality trial data and recommendations for full-scale treatment design. The key deliverables will include trial operation records and datasets; detailed testing methodology; performance assessments; optimised operating parameters; sludge characterisation samples and supporting information; and final reports containing conclusions and recommendations for full-scale treatment. The final outputs must provide sufficient evidence to support treatment process validation, full-scale design development, capital and operating cost estimation and future decision-making by the MRA. The estimated value for each trial is expected to be in the range of PS150,000 to PS200,000 ex VAT. The anticipated duration of each trial is approximately six weeks, requirements currently expected to be delivered by 31 March 2027. The MRA may procure one or more of the site-specific trials under the same opportunity. The MRA may also procure more sites in the future under this notice.

Planning Information

Organisations wishing to express an interest in this opportunity should submit an Expression of Interest by email to Emma.Hutchinson@Miningremediation.gov.uk and Natalie.Earnshaw@Miningremediation.gov.uk The Expression of Interest should include: • Organisation name, registered address and company registration number (where applicable). • Primary contact name, job title, email address and telephone number. • A brief summary of the organisation's experience in delivering Containerised High Density Sludge (HDS) treatment trials or comparable mine water treatment pilot projects. • A summary of relevant experience working with metal-contaminated mine waters, including zinc-rich, net-acidic and/or circumneutral mine waters. • Details of any relevant field-based pilot treatment trials delivered within the last five years. • Confirmation of the organisation's ability to provide the required technical, operational, health and safety and environmental management resources. • Any consortium, subcontracting or partnering arrangements proposed. Following receipt of Expressions of Interest, the Mining Remediation Authority (MRA) may request additional information, clarifications and supporting evidence to verify the experience, technical capability and capacity stated within the submission. This may include, but is not limited to, project references, case studies, client testimonials, health and safety information, insurance details, accreditation certificates and examples of comparable work. The MRA may use information obtained through this engagement to assess the availability of suitably qualified suppliers in the market and to inform the design of any subsequent procurement strategy. Submission of an Expression of Interest does not create any contractual obligation on the part of the MRA.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d085
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069018-2026
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

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
28 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
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
Mining Remediation Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Postcode
NG18 4RG
Postcode Area
Nottingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF15 North Nottinghamshire
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England), TLL Wales
Local Authority
Mansfield
Electoral Ward
Berry Hill
Westminster Constituency
Mansfield

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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