---
title: "Evidence review of water quality for NVZ assessment"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-a961116f-5aa4-4a7d-914b-bed9b63ed8e0"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-a961116f-5aa4-4a7d-914b-bed9b63ed8e0"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a961116f-5aa4-4a7d-914b-bed9b63ed8e0.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a961116f-5aa4-4a7d-914b-bed9b63ed8e0.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEFRA"
published: "2023-04-25"
---

# Evidence review of water quality for NVZ assessment

Buyer: DEFRA  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-a961116f-5aa4-4a7d-914b-bed9b63ed8e0

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## Summary

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has awarded a contract for the "Evidence review of water quality for NVZ assessment" project. The contract falls under the industry category of Research and development consultancy services. It involves assessing water quality monitoring data for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) in English surface waters and groundwater. The procurement stage was selective, with a tender period ending on 7th February 2023. The contract period started on 17th February 2023 and ended on 31st March 2023.

This tender awarded by Defra offers opportunities for businesses specialising in research and development consultancy services related to water quality. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations are particularly well-suited to compete for this tender. The project aims to support environmental protection efforts by analysing data to inform the next NVZ review and identifying potential changes in nitrate pollution risk levels.

## Notice

Background The Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) aims to protect water quality by preventing nitrogenous compounds from agricultural sources polluting ground and surface waters and by promoting the use of good farming practices. The EA is required under the terms of this Directive to identify waters which are or could become polluted by nitrogenous compounds and to designate these waters and all land draining to them as Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs). Farmers in designated areas must follow an Action Programme to reduce pollution from agricultural sources of nitrogenous compounds. The regulations require the EA to undertake a review every 4 years and make a recommendation on the NVZ designations for England. The next NVZ period is 1st January 2025 to 31 December 2028, the recommendation is due in 2024. There are 3 elements to this project, this contract is for parts 1) and 2) below; 1. determine what water quality monitoring data is available to inform the next NVZ Review and provide a high-level summary of that data (as well as key contextual data on water quality risks) 2. undertake a high-level assessment of whether the risk from nitrate pollution has changed (in scale and/or extent) between the previous and current Review Periods For information only, potential for part (3) to be commissioned at a later date when results from (1) and (2) above have been assessed: 3. critically assess whether the available data are adequate to apply the existing NVZ Review methodology robustly for the current NVZ Review period (2021-2024) and make detailed recommendations for any changes required to the methodology or for developing and implementing an alternative approach, if necessary. The contract scope is limited to English 'surface waters' (i.e. rivers) and groundwater.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c65946b9-8164-44e7-bb3d-297ee366ccde |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Not specified |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a framework agreement |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 25 Apr 2023 |
| Submission deadline | 7 Feb 2023 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 10 Feb 2023 |
| Contract period | 17 Feb 2023 - 31 Mar 2023 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £31,520 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £31,520 |
| 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 | DEFRA |
| Locality | BRISTOL |
| Post town | Bristol |
| Postcode | BS1 5AH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England |
| ITL 3 | TLK51 Bristol, City of |
| Local authority | Bristol, City of |
| Electoral ward | Hotwells and Harbourside |
| Westminster constituency | Bristol Central |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | WSP ENVIRONMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

## Release History

- 25 Apr 2023 at 14:30 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c65946b9-8164-44e7-bb3d-297ee366ccde
- 29 Mar 2023 at 15:57 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e4d102f2-2d3f-492d-b168-50765b4e2946

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c65946b9-8164-44e7-bb3d-297ee366ccde
  25th April 2023 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e4d102f2-2d3f-492d-b168-50765b4e2946
  29th March 2023 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Provenance

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