--- title: "Local Resource Option Screening Study near Margate" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-058d02" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-058d02" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-058d02.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-058d02.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "ENVIRONMENT AGENCY" published: "2025-08-22" --- # Local Resource Option Screening Study near Margate Buyer: ENVIRONMENT AGENCY Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-058d02 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-058d02) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-058d02.json) ## Summary The Environment Agency is seeking to procure a supplier for a "Local Resource Option Screening Study" near Margate. This project involves evaluating water resource options for ten farms specialising in high-value irrigated crops within the River Stour catchment area, a location notable for its environmentally sensitive sites. The procurement falls under the "Systems and technical consultancy services" category and is currently in the tender update stage. Interested parties should note the procurement method is an open competition, below threshold, with a submission deadline by 17:00 BST on 9th September 2025. The contract is expected to commence on 22nd September 2025 and conclude by 23rd January 2026, with an allocated budget between £25,000 and £30,000 excluding VAT. This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses involved in systems and technical consultancy, particularly those with experience in farm management and water resource assessments. Given the emphasis on high-value irrigated crops, companies skilled in agricultural consultancy and environmental impact assessments would find this an ideal fit. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary community and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to participate due to the tender's suitability criteria. Winning this contract could enhance a business's portfolio, granting experience in working with a central government agency and the chance to influence water sustainability practices in a critical agricultural region. ## Notice The Environment Agency seeks a supplier to deliver a Local Resource Option (LRO) Screening Study for a group of ten farms located near Margate, covering 3,744 ha (with 2,414 ha currently irrigated). These farms specialise in high-value irrigated crops (e.g., potatoes, onions, cereals some livestock farming and stewardship, with water abstraction being critical for production. The farms lie within the River Stour catchment, near environmentally sensitive sites (SSSI, SAC, SPA, Ramsar) and already hold abstraction licences, with voluntary restrictions applied during dry years to prevent regulatory action. The study aims to identify, screen, rank, and evaluate local water resource options to improve resilience of supply and security for these farms. One pre-selected option is water sharing among participating farms. The methodology and tools for screening and ranking (provided in the appendices) must be applied. Scope of Work * Engage with farmers, the Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Boards, regional water groups and other stakeholders. * Collect and review baseline data on farming practices, abstraction licences, water availability and projected demand. * Undertake a water balance assessment, identify potential local water resource options and screen/rank them using the provided methodology and spreadsheet tools. * Select the top three preferred LROs, including the pre-selected water-sharing option, for detailed evaluation covering yield, cost, security of supply modelling, and environmental and social impacts. * Identify barriers, risks, and next steps for scheme development. * Deliver an executive summary, technical report, screening spreadsheet, presentation slides and summary findings for participating farmers. Key Deliverables 1. Screening and ranking spreadsheet (Environment Agency template). 2. Draft and final technical report covering methodology, baseline conditions, stakeholder engagement outcomes, ranking results, detailed evaluation of top three LROs, barriers, and next steps. 3. Summary slides for farmer engagement. 4. Weekly progress updates and biweekly virtual meetings with the Environment Agency. 5. Final presentation to study participants. Project Management & Timescale * Duration: 3.5 months, including stakeholder workshops, screening and ranking, and two report review stages. * Weekly progress reports (via email) and fortnightly review meetings required. * Contract budget: PS25,000 - PS30,000 (excl. VAT). Evaluation Tenders will be assessed 60% on technical quality (understanding of project and local area, methodology, project management, Gantt chart, team experience) and 40% on cost. AI use must be declared but is not scored. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050967-2025 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 22 Aug 2025 | | Submission deadline | 9 Sep 2025 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 21 Sep 2025 - 23 Jan 2026 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £30,000 | | Lots value | £30,000 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | 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 | TLH East (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ### Codes - 72220000 - Systems and technical consultancy services ## Release History - 22 Aug 2025 at 14:30 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050967-2025 - 22 Aug 2025 at 14:12 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050944-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050967-2025 22nd August 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050944-2025 22nd August 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-4544 - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-4545 - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-4546 - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-4547 - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-4548 - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-4549 - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-4550 ## Notice URLs - 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-058d02. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-058d02.json.