--- title: "Incident Management Forecasting System (IMFS) software support, maintenance and development services" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05189c" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05189c" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05189c.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05189c.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "ENVIRONMENT AGENCY" published: "2025-05-20" --- # Incident Management Forecasting System (IMFS) software support, maintenance and development services Buyer: ENVIRONMENT AGENCY Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05189c [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05189c) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05189c.json) ## Summary The Environment Agency has concluded the contracting process for the procurement of software support, maintenance, and development services for its Incident Management Forecasting System (IMFS), which utilises the Delft-FEWS software. This direct award contract has been given to Stichting Deltares, the sole owner and licensor of Delft-FEWS, due to the technical nature that prohibits competition, as changing systems would require rewriting all forecasting models. The procurement falls under the category of weather-forecasting services and is valued at up to £14.9 million (net of VAT). The contract covers a period from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2030, with options to extend for an additional five years. The main location for the contract activities is London, and the procurement complies with the legal framework outlined in the UK's Procurement Act 2023. This contract presents opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) interested in providing ancillary or complementary services in support of the software platform. Businesses specialising in software engineering, cybersecurity, and environmental technology are particularly well-placed to benefit from partnering with Stichting Deltares or the Environment Agency. The ongoing demand for enhancements and updates due to cyber security and climate change considerations underscores the need for innovative solutions and services that help bolster the Environment Agency's operational capacity in managing flood and water quality events across the UK. ## Notice The Incident Management Forecasting System (IMFS) is the Environment Agency's primary flood forecasting system and uses Deltares owned Delft-FEWS software as a platform to run models for flood forecasting, groundwater modelling, bathing water quality forecasting, and other services. The National Groundwater Modelling Service (NGMS) also uses Delft-FEWS software. The purpose of this Transparency Notice is to announce the Environment Agency's intention to enter into a contract for software support and maintenance (and the provision of new software enhancements and improvements) with Stichting Deltares for 5 years with the option to extend by a further 3 years and a further 2 years (i.e. 5+3+2) at a total maximum cost of PS14.9m (net of VAT). ### Procurement Information Stichting Deltares are the sole owners and licensor of Delft-FEWS and there are no alternatives available to the Environment Agency without rewriting all forecasting models. It is the view of the Environment Agency that this contract is justifiable under Paragraph 5 in Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 to award the contract for the supply and support of the Delft-FEWS software because, as Stichting Deltares own the intellectual property for the software, and develop and support the specialist Delft-FEWS software, therefore no reasonable alternative exists, nor can another organisation supply and support the product. Additionally, it is the view of the Environment Agency that this contract is also justifiable under Paragraph 6 in Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 to award the contract for the supply and support of the Delft-FEWS software because, at this time, no alternative solution is available because any decision to deviate from Delft-FEWS would require a redevelopment of all Environment Agency models, therefore competition is absent for technical reasons. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023199-2025 | | Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Direct | | Procurement method details | Direct award | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 20 May 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 20 May 2025 | | Contract period | 30 Jun 2025 - 30 Jun 2030 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | £14,925,560 | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Complete | | Awards status | Pending | | 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 | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services ### Codes - 71351600 - Weather-forecasting services ## Release History - 20 May 2025 at 11:47 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023199-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023199-2025 20th May 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-h6vhtk-05189c. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05189c.json.