---
title: "EA Robotic Automated Sample Preparation"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05ae26"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05ae26"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05ae26.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05ae26.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "ENVIRONMENT AGENCY"
published: "2026-03-30"
---

# EA Robotic Automated Sample Preparation

Buyer: ENVIRONMENT AGENCY  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05ae26

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## Summary

The Environment Agency, in collaboration with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, is preparing a tender for a robotic automated sample preparation system. This procurement falls under the industry category “Laboratory, optical and precision equipment” and is valued at £400,000 (gross value £480,000). Located in London, UK, the procurement stage is currently in planning, with the publication of a planned procurement notice on 30th March 2026. Key dates include a tender submission deadline on 12th June 2026, with an award period concluding by 9th October 2026. This tender is part of an open procurement process using a competitive flexible procedure, involving both a technical questionnaire and a demonstration stage.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in the manufacture and supply of laboratory and precision equipment, particularly those specialising in automated systems for environmental analysis. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) equipped to provide innovative solutions in robotic systems for the trace analysis of semi-volatile organic substances, including PFAS, will find this tender particularly relevant. As the contract could span from October 2026 to October 2029, it offers a substantial opportunity for businesses capable of delivering a fully automated, computer-controlled standalone benchtop robotic system adhering to specific environmental criteria.

## Notice

Provision of a robotic system(s) suitable for the trace analysis or semi volatile organic substances including but not limited to of Poly Fluro Alkyl Substances (PFAS) in a range of environmental waters and associated materials. All critical parts of the system must therefore be free of PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) and other PFAS containing materials. The system will be used in the development of up to 7 existing methodologies for which the modules described have been determined as being required to cover the range of analytes. Fully automated, computer controlled standalone* benchtop robotic system with the ability to house and control multiple modules as described for the automation of liquid-liquid extraction for a minimum of 45 samples per single workflow. * Not connected to an analytical instrument.

### Planning Information

Testing the market to assist in the determination of the procurement strategy for a robotic system(s) suitable for the trace analysis or semi volatile organic substances including but not limited to of Poly Fluro Alkyl Substances (PFAS) in a range of environmental waters and associated materials.
If you are able to provide this requirement please get in touch with the procurement team, no later than close on Friday 31st October 2025, at: mandy.worsnop@defra.gov.uk, providing details of potential solutions. 
Please use the subject title “EA Robotic System(s) Market Engagement” in your request.
Any future tender exercise will be conducted through the Defra eSourcing portal. If your organisation is not already registered, you can create an account at https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome. 
This engagement does not constitute a formal notice to tender and there is no guarantee the Environment Agency will proceed with an external tendering exercise to create a form of contract.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029143-2026 |
| Notice type | UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 30 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 12 Jun 2026 |
| Future notice date | 14 May 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 21 Oct 2026 - 21 Oct 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £400,000 |
| Lots value | £400,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | ENVIRONMENT AGENCY |
| Additional buyers | DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS |
| 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

- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

### Codes

- 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

## Release History

- 30 Mar 2026 at 13:26 - Planning - UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029143-2026
- 13 Oct 2025 at 11:15 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064702-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029143-2026
  30th March 2026 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064702-2025
  13th October 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://atamis-9529.my.site.com/s/Welcome
- 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-05ae26. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05ae26.json.