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NI Water - Laboratory Analysis Resilience Services - Request for Information (RFI)

NI Water and its subsidiaries

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

17 Sep 2026 at 11:57

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Northern Ireland Water Limited is preparing a utilities procurement for laboratory analysis resilience services. The requirement concerns contingency sample analysis, including analysis of water and waste samples and bacteriological, composition, purity and other technical testing. The buyer is seeking market information on suppliers’ current and future capability, including the sample types, suites and parameters they can support. The services will support Northern Ireland Water’s water and environmental operations in Northern Ireland. The procurement is for services and is being considered as a single lot. The buyer’s published material refers to an existing contingency sample analysis arrangement and uses the broad category of water-pollution-related services, alongside laboratory and technical analysis services. Small and medium-sized enterprises are identified as suitable potential suppliers for the planned requirement.

This procurement is at the planning stage: Northern Ireland Water Limited is conducting preliminary market engagement and has not invited tenders. It expects to use the responses to develop the structure of a future tender competition. The Request for Information asks interested suppliers to complete Annex 1 and the list of analysis suites and parameters, returning them through the stated electronic messaging route or by email by 2pm on 25 September 2026; the engagement milestone is recorded for 14 October 2026. A future notice is expected on 28 October 2026. The planned contract is expected to run from 4 February 2027 to 3 February 2030, with renewal possible up to 3 February 2034. The recorded estimated value is £1 including gross value, and the procurement is below threshold.

The engagement will suit laboratories and specialist testing providers that can deliver resilient contingency sample analysis for a water utility. Suppliers should be able to demonstrate current and future capacity across the buyer’s required suites and parameters, including bacteriological testing, water-pollution analysis, waste analysis, composition and purity testing, and wider technical analysis. Organisations with flexible laboratory resources, robust sample-handling arrangements and the ability to maintain service continuity are likely to be well placed to contribute. The buyer is specifically seeking market evidence rather than bids, so suppliers can use the RFI to explain their analytical scope, available capability and likely service model. Smaller businesses are expressly considered suitable, including those able to provide specialist analysis or support as part of a resilient supply arrangement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

NI Water - Laboratory Analysis Resilience Services - Request for Information (RFI)

Notice Description

NI Water's current contract for provision of contingency sample analysis services will end 3 February 2027. NI Water are seeking to understand the current market capability and gauge interest in participation in a tender process for this requirement. NI Water have published a Request for Information (RFI) on eTendersNI, this included a list of the current suites/parameters of sample types in 'Appendix 2 - List of Analysis Suites and Parameters'. NI Water would ask interested suppliers to complete both Annex 1 of the Request for Information (RFI) document and the 'Appendix 2 List of Analysis Suites and Parameters' and return these via eTenders NI (using the Messaging function) or send to sourcing@niwater.com (FAO Paul Clements) by 2pm on 25th September 2026.

Planning Information

NI Water have issued a Request for Information (RFI) Questionnaire and associated documents on eTendersNI. They wish for interested suppliers to complete the RFI and provide details on their current/future capability of providing laboratory analysis services, the details provided by all interested parties will assist NI Water in developing a tender structure for an upcoming procurement competition.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077439
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088138-2026
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

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

85 - Health and social work services

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

71600000 - Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services

71610000 - Composition and purity testing and analysis services

71620000 - Analysis services

79723000 - Waste analysis services

85111820 - Bacteriological analysis services

90733000 - Services related to water pollution

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Sep 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
28 Oct 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Feb 2027 - 3 Feb 2030 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
NI Water and its subsidiaries
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT14 6TE
Postcode Area
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Chichester Park
Westminster Constituency
Belfast North

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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