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Metabarcoding validation framework 2026/2027

Natural England

This public procurement record has 8 releases in its history.

Award

05 Oct 2026 at 14:56

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
TenderUpdate

11 Aug 2026 at 11:54

UK4 - Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

06 Aug 2026 at 15:42

UK4 - Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

04 Aug 2026 at 15:28

UK4 - Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

30 Jul 2026 at 14:20

UK4 - Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

29 Jul 2026 at 14:24

UK4 - Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

27 Jul 2026 at 14:26

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

24 Jul 2026 at 15:51

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Natural England commissioned research and development to advance its framework for validating DNA metabarcoding assays used in environmental monitoring. The work covers a further literature review and meta-analysis across more assays, purposes and contexts; beta testing the framework and user guide; and producing and delivering training materials and a course. The framework is intended to help users assess confidence in assay results, understand their limitations and choose appropriate applications. It also supports standards for validating and reporting new assays. The work sits within Natural England’s use of environmental DNA to detect ecological communities, including targeted species groups such as fish and mammals and broader groups such as vertebrates, invertebrates and bacteria. Delivery is in the United Kingdom. The service combines scientific research and analysis with environmental training.

The procurement is complete and the contract is active. Natural England ran an open competition below the applicable threshold, with one lot. UHI Inverness was selected as supplier. The contract was signed on 7 September 2026 and runs from 11 September 2026 to 25 February 2027. Its value is £41,896 excluding VAT (£50,275 including VAT). The original estimated value for the lot was £41,666 excluding VAT (£50,000 including VAT). Bids were assessed against criteria set out in the request for quotation; the published procurement information does not describe those criteria further. The tender deadline was 17 August 2026, and clarification questions were due by 10 August 2026.

For suppliers considering comparable work for Natural England, this award demonstrates demand for applied environmental DNA research that can turn scientific evidence into practical monitoring guidance. Credible providers would need expertise in metabarcoding assay validation, environmental monitoring and the interpretation of DNA-derived results, alongside the ability to review and synthesise literature across different assays and use contexts. The requirement also favoured capability in testing a framework and user guide with intended users, then translating the findings into clear training materials and delivering a course. A strong offer would connect methodological rigour with usable recommendations, helping Natural England staff judge confidence in results and select suitable applications. The work is a focused research-and-training commission rather than a broad environmental services programme.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Metabarcoding validation framework 2026/2027

Notice Description

DNA-based methods have the potential to significantly change how we monitor and assess ecosystems. Natural England has been exploring the use of these methods for environmental monitoring for several years, delivering a series of reports which focus on the development of DNA-based methods with potential in a particular area. These methods are now being used more widely within Natural England, particularly the detection of ecological communities using environmental DNA (eDNA). This is often conducted by employing metabarcoding assays which target specific species assemblages (e.g. fish, mammals) or broader taxonomic groups (e.g. vertebrates, invertebrates, bacteria). The DNA Team aims to operationalise DNA-based methods and produces guidance for using them in monitoring projects. In order to provide sound recommendations, it is important that we understand the limitations of, and uncertainties with, DNA-based methods. Natural England staff need to be able to understand how DNA-derived data can be used, and the confidence they can have in data derived using different DNA-based methods which have been validated to different stages. Natural England previously commissioned the development of a framework to enable end users to assess confidence in metabarcoding assays and results (Pagaling and others, under review; a copy of the framework can be provided by Natural England upon request by emailing monitoring.innovation@naturalengland.org.uk). By using the checklist and levelled scale, end users can appropriately interpret results. It also provides validation and reporting standards for the development of new metabarcoding assays. The framework will enable end-users to determine the recommended scenarios for application of a given assay and improve assay performance with further validation. This project will advance the metabarcoding assay validation framework by expanding upon previous work to conduct a further literature review and meta-analysis, covering more assays being used for different purposes and in different contexts. In addition beta testing of the framework and user guide will be required, as well as the creation and delivery of training materials and course .

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d396
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093904-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

80540000 - Environmental training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£41,666 Under £100K
Lots Value
£41,666 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£41,896 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Oct 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
17 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
11 Sep 2026 - 25 Feb 2027 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Natural England
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

UHI Inverness

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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