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Certification for Fuel and Appliance Emissions Testing

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

18 Sep 2026 at 17:03

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is planning a national service for certification, testing, verification and auditing of wood fuel, manufactured solid fuels and solid fuel appliances. The appointed supplier would act as the approved certification body, assess applications and evidence, undertake wood-fuel testing, review test results for other fuels and appliances, issue and manage certifications, and provide impartial technical advice on approvals. The service would include planned and risk-based audits, compliance investigations, digital systems, public registers of authorised fuels and appliances, scheme administration and statutory reporting. It supports Defra’s duties under the Clean Air Act 1993 and the Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020. This is a technical inspection, testing, certification, laboratory and air-quality service, delivered for Defra and the Environment Agency across England.

This procurement is at the planning and preliminary market-engagement stage; it is not an invitation to tender. The buyer expects a single concession contract, above the relevant threshold, with one lot. The structured contract period is 1 May 2027 to 30 April 2037, while the description refers to an expected run from early 2027 to 2035. The buyer’s stated estimated annual turnover is £300,000. The recorded procurement value is £0, consistent with a concession model rather than a conventional purchase. It will operate on a not-for-profit basis, with charges limited to the cost of delivering the service. Expressions of interest for engagement are requested by 12 October 2026, and a further notice is expected on 2 November 2026.

The work is suited to specialist certification bodies, laboratories, technical inspection organisations and air-quality or emissions-testing providers. Strong candidates will need capability to test wood fuel directly, evaluate test evidence for manufactured solid fuels and appliances, manage certification schemes and maintain impartial approval processes. Experience of planned and risk-based auditing, incident-led compliance investigations, technical advice, public registers, digital administration and statutory reporting will be relevant. The service is likely to require robust quality assurance, defensible verification methods and the ability to work across both fuel and appliance standards. The lot is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises. Businesses should prepare for a future competition rather than treat this planning notice as a current bidding opportunity.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Certification for Fuel and Appliance Emissions Testing

Notice Description

The Authority is looking for a supplier that will deliver a comprehensive certification, testing, verification of test results, and audit service to enable Defra to fulfil statutory requirements under the Clean Air Act 1993 and the Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020. This includes the supplier acting as the approved certification body for both wood fuel, manufactured solid fuels and solid fuel appliances, where the supplier will assess applications and evidence including test results from an appropriate test facility. The supplier will directly undertake the required testing of wood fuel, review the test results for manufactured solid fuels and appliances, issue and manage certifications, and provide impartial technical advice and recommendations on fuels and appliance approvals. The service will include regular planned and risk-based auditing, along with routine and incident-driven compliance investigations. The supplier will also be responsible for maintaining effective digital systems, public-facing registers of authorised fuels and appliances, supporting transparent scheme administration and statutory reporting. The contract is expected to run from early 2027 to 2035. Please Note: This contract will be a concession type Contract and will be run on a not-for-profit basis, meaning any charges made must only cover the cost of the service delivered. Estimated annual turnover PS300,000.00 To register your interest only, please email: DGC-LAWW-Buyer@defra.gov.uk Engagement deadline: 12/10/2026

Planning Information

If you are interested in bidding for the Authority's requirement, please register your interest to: DGC-LAWW-Buyer@defra.gov.uk

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0775e2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088899-2026
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

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

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

71630000 - Technical inspection and testing services

71900000 - Laboratory services

79132000 - Certification services

90731000 - Services related to air pollution

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Nov 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 May 2027 - 30 Apr 2037 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
DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS
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)

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