---
title: "RPF-Heat Network Zone Project"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-6c356516-d58b-4f53-a606-05a1029b999d"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-6c356516-d58b-4f53-a606-05a1029b999d"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6c356516-d58b-4f53-a606-05a1029b999d.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6c356516-d58b-4f53-a606-05a1029b999d.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "ENVIRONMENT AGENCY"
published: "2026-02-04"
---

# RPF-Heat Network Zone Project

Buyer: ENVIRONMENT AGENCY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-6c356516-d58b-4f53-a606-05a1029b999d

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## Summary

The procurement process titled "RPF-Heat Network Zone Project" was commissioned by the Environment Agency's Climate Change & Energy (Decarbonisation and Net Zero Team). This initiative falls under the Environment & Business Directorate and aligns with the Regulator's Pioneer Fund 4th Round project. The procurement, focusing on research and development consultancy services, aims to explore regulatory opportunities for low carbon heat networks in England. The project, which involves stakeholders and an in-depth review of regulatory mechanisms both in the UK and internationally, was assigned through a selective procurement method using a call-off from a framework agreement. The tender period concluded on 9th January 2026, with the contract starting on 12th January 2026 and ending on 31st March 2026. The procurement is valued at £37,430 and encompasses delivery across the UK and internationally.

This tender offers substantial business growth opportunities for enterprises specialising in environmental consultancy, energy regulations, and geospatial AI technologies. Firms with expertise in regulatory mechanisms, especially those focusing on zoning and risk assessment in environmental contexts, would find this contract particularly suitable. Given the advanced nature of the project, larger firms or partnerships with international experience in managing complex environmental data and regulatory frameworks are well-positioned to compete and deliver impactful insights, aiding the Environment Agency in shaping a modern environmental permitting system.

## Notice

This contract is being commissioned by the Environment Agency's Climate Change & Energy (Decarbonisation and Net Zero Team), part of the Environment & Business (E&B) Directorate. This project will contribute to a broader Regulator's Pioneer Fund 4th Round (RPF) project, led by the Environment Agency in collaboration with Local Authorities in the Advanced Zoning Programme. The RPF project will explore new regulatory opportunities for heat network zones in England, due to be designated from 2026, and development of a proof-of-concept geospatial AI platform to assess environmental risk at zonal scale. This commission is the first step in the project and will provide foundational information to inform the next stages of the RPF project. The EA is commissioning a regulatory review to undertake an in-depth, detailed review of the current environmental regulatory mechanisms in the UK and internationally, as well as current best practice, for the regulation of low carbon heat networks and assessment of environmental risk at scale. Specifically identifying where and how zonal-based regulation is used and how countries undertake environmental place-based risk assessments for permitting and consenting. It will involve expert stakeholder engagement and will recommend approaches that could be incorporated in England for Heat Network Zones. The project will present feasible options to inform a modern environmental permitting system that mitigates environmental risk for areas and facilitates the growth of low carbon heat technologies in Heat Network Zones.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1d2c51c4-c090-4b4b-906d-46f7827bf4ec |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a framework agreement |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 4 Feb 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 9 Jan 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 3 Feb 2026 |
| Contract period | 12 Jan 2026 - 31 Mar 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £37,430 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £37,430 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | ENVIRONMENT AGENCY |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 4DF |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | OVE ARUP & PARTNERS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

## Release History

- 4 Feb 2026 at 09:53 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1d2c51c4-c090-4b4b-906d-46f7827bf4ec

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1d2c51c4-c090-4b4b-906d-46f7827bf4ec
  4th February 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-6c356516-d58b-4f53-a606-05a1029b999d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6c356516-d58b-4f53-a606-05a1029b999d.json.