This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

05 Oct 2026 at 10:17

Planning

29 Sep 2026 at 14:59

Summary of the contracting process

The Environment Agency intends to establish a framework for geological consultancy and related products and services. The potential scope includes access to geological expertise and datasets, interpretation, modelling and specialist advice. These services may support flood risk management, groundwater investigations, environmental protection, place-based planning, environmental monitoring and related technical programmes. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is managing the project on the Agency’s behalf. The work is expected to support the Agency’s activities, but no specific delivery location is stated. The buyer is seeking input from the geological services market on its capability, capacity, delivery models and potential innovations to shape the eventual procurement.

This is at the planning stage: the Environment Agency is conducting voluntary preliminary market engagement, not inviting tenders. Suppliers are being asked to submit one coordinated response per organisation by 23 October 2026 at 2pm; the buyer expects to review responses in the week commencing 26 October 2026. The new arrangement is expected to start on 1 March 2027, with a proposed four-year term ending 31 March 2031. The indicative estimated value is up to £5.9 million. The buyer has not settled the final procurement route, framework structure, supplier numbers, lots, award method or call-off approach; these are among the matters on which it seeks market feedback. The eventual procurement is expected to use an open procedure, but no tender invitation is in place.

This engagement is relevant to geological consultancies and providers of geological data, interpretation, modelling and specialist technical advice, including suppliers able to support environmental and flood risk programmes. The buyer is specifically testing market capability and capacity to deliver all or part of the potential requirement, and welcomes views on innovation, digital tools, data products and emerging technologies. Suppliers with experience in different delivery models, commercial arrangements and framework approaches can help shape the future structure, including potential lots and call-off methods. The buyer also wants feedback on social value, sustainability, market risks and barriers to participation. Small and medium-sized enterprises are identified as suitable for the planned requirement. Engagement is voluntary and does not confer an advantage or disadvantage in any later competition.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Geological Products and Services Framework

Notice Description

1. Description The Environment Agency is undertaking preliminary market engagement to inform the future procurement strategy for the provision of geological products and services. The proposed arrangement is intended to provide access to geological expertise, datasets, interpretation, modelling and specialist advisory services. These services may support Environment Agency activities, including flood risk management, groundwater investigations, environmental protection, place-based planning, environmental monitoring and related technical programmes. The Environment Agency wishes to understand market capability and capacity, potential innovations, commercial models and delivery approaches within the geological services sector. Feedback will help inform the future procurement strategy and any subsequent procurement activity. The potential future arrangement may have an estimated value of up to PS5.9 million over four years. This estimate is indicative and is provided for market engagement purposes only. No decision has been made on the final procurement route, framework structure, number of suppliers, lotting approach, award methodology, call-off arrangements or final value. This preliminary market engagement does not form part of a competitive tender process and does not commit the Environment Agency to undertake a subsequent procurement. 2. Purpose of the engagement * Supplier capability and capacity to deliver all or part of the potential requirement. * Delivery models and the structure of the market. * Whether a single-supplier or multiple-supplier framework would be most effective. * Potential lotting arrangements. * Direct award, further competition or a combination of both for future call-off contracts. * Innovation, digital tools, data products and emerging technologies. * Commercial and contractual considerations. * Social value and sustainability opportunities. * Market risks, constraints and barriers to participation. 3. How to participate Interested suppliers should register on the Defra eCommercial System through Atamis. Once registered, suppliers will be able to access the market engagement opportunity and submit one coordinated response per organisation by the published deadline. Participation is voluntary. Suppliers will not be disadvantaged in any subsequent procurement if they do not participate, and participation will not give any supplier an advantage. Atamis supplier registration: Register on the Defra eCommercial System https://atamis-9529.my.site.com/s/Welcome The market engagement pack includes: * Market Engagement Specification. * Market Engagement Questionnaire. 5. Indicative timetable Deadline for supplier responses Friday 23 October 2026 at 2pm 6. Review of responses Week commencing Monday 26 October 2026 7. Expected commencement of the new arrangement: 1 March 2027 The dates above are indicative and may change following market engagement and internal approvals.

Planning Information

3. How to participate Interested suppliers should register on the Defra eCommercial System through Atamis. Once registered, suppliers will be able to access the market engagement opportunity and submit one coordinated response per organisation by the published deadline. Participation is voluntary. Suppliers will not be disadvantaged in any subsequent procurement if they do not participate, and participation will not give any supplier an advantage. Atamis supplier registration: Register on the Defra eCommercial System https://atamis-9529.my.site.com/s/Welcome The market engagement pack includes: • Market Engagement Specification. • Market Engagement Questionnaire. 5. Indicative timetable Deadline for supplier responses Friday 23 October 2026 at 2pm

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077cb3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093661-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services


CPV Codes

71351220 - Geological consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£5,900,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Oct 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
23 Nov 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2031 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Environment Agency
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

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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