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Identifying and Mapping Priority Freshwater Habitats

Natural England

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

06 Oct 2026 at 14:20

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

06 Oct 2026 at 13:54

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Natural England commissioned a programme to identify, map and verify priority freshwater habitats across England, especially ponds and headwater streams that are underrepresented in existing habitat inventories. The work combines habitat modelling, remote sensing, field surveys, citizen science and specialist ecological expertise to improve the quality, coverage and accessibility of freshwater habitat data. The resulting evidence is intended to inform conservation priorities and support the protection and restoration of these habitats. Natural England is the buyer; the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs managed the procurement.

The procurement is complete and Freshwater Habitats Trust was selected through a direct award for the single lot. The award is recorded as pending. The award date was 6 October 2026, with a contract period from 16 October 2026 to 31 March 2027 and an option to extend by agreement, subject to funding, approvals, business need and satisfactory performance, up to 31 March 2029. The award value is £331,500 excluding VAT (£397,800 including VAT). The direct award rationale was that technical reasons meant only this supplier could provide the services and there were no reasonable alternatives. The contract was evaluated and awarded on that basis.

For suppliers competing when this requirement returns, credibility will depend on combining freshwater ecology expertise with practical habitat mapping and verification capability. Relevant strengths include modelling, remote sensing, field survey delivery, citizen-science methods and access to suitable specialist datasets. The work focuses on ponds and headwater streams, so experience improving habitat inventories for these less represented habitats would be particularly pertinent. Suppliers would also need to demonstrate that their methods and data can support Natural England’s conservation evidence and are compatible with existing approaches. Delivery planning must account for seasonal survey windows, as delays can affect the survey programme and outcomes. The direct award rationale highlights the value placed on specialist methodologies, datasets and expertise, alongside reliable delivery and control of additional costs and compatibility risks.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Identifying and Mapping Priority Freshwater Habitats

Notice Description

Natural England is commissioning the Freshwater Habitats Trust (FHT) to deliver a programme of work to identify, map and verify priority freshwater habitats, with a particular focus on ponds and headwater streams that are currently underrepresented within existing habitat inventories. The project will utilise a combination of habitat modelling, remote sensing, field survey techniques, citizen science and specialist ecological expertise to improve the quality, coverage and accessibility of freshwater habitat data. The outputs will support Natural England's evidence base, inform conservation priorities, and contribute to the protection and restoration of priority freshwater habitats across England.

Procurement Information

Schedule 5, paragraph 6 of PA2023 - Absence of competition dueto technical reason, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required and there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0781b5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094309-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

90712400 - Natural resources management or conservation strategy planning services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£331,500 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Oct 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
6 Oct 2026Yesterday
Contract Period
16 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

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

Freshwater Habitats Trust

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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