---
title: "T123 - Provision of External Proficiency Testing Schemes"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05d884"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05d884"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d884.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d884.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NORTHERN IRELAND WATER LIMITED"
published: "2026-01-07"
---

# T123 - Provision of External Proficiency Testing Schemes

Buyer: NORTHERN IRELAND WATER LIMITED  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05d884

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## Summary

The procurement process, led by Northern Ireland Water Limited, concerns the provision of External Proficiency Testing Schemes, specifically in laboratory services. The procurement operates under an open procedure and adheres to the UK utilities special regime. The process, identified by procurement ID T123, involves a series of laboratory testing services spread across nine lots. Critical dates include the award notice published on 17 December 2025 and the contract initiation on 1 January 2026, running until 31 December 2027 with options for extension. The locations involved are primarily in Belfast, United Kingdom, with testing conducted at Gelvin Grange and Westland House Laboratories.

This contract presents ample opportunities for business growth, particularly for companies specialising in laboratory services and proficiency testing, such as LGC (Teddington) Limited, the contract's awarded supplier. Businesses focusing on testing methods and statistical analysis of laboratory results would find this contract highly suitable. The multi-lot structure allows for participation across several testing disciplines, making it ideal for large firms equipped to handle comprehensive laboratory initiatives as well as SMEs that can competitively offer specialised testing services within these categories.

## Notice

This contract shall provide a comprehensive External Proficiency Testing Scheme (EPTS) services across a range of specific testing disciplines UKAS schedules of accreditation and including the onboarding of new laboratory methodologies. This will include the design, coordination, and delivery of interlaboratory comparisons, as well as the provision of detailed statistical analysis and reporting on the outcomes.

### Lot Information

Clean Water Microbiology (Gelvin Grange Laboratory)

Lot 1: Clean Water Microbiology (Gelvin Grange Laboratory): covers drinking/potable and recreational/surface water microbiology testing.

Options: Options to procure additional tests of similar nature

Renewal: Initial period, of two (2) years with three (3) extensions of up to twelve months each

Clean Water Microbiology (Westland House Laboratory)

Lot 2: Clean Water Microbiology (Westland House Laboratory): covers drinking/potable and recreational/surface water microbiology testing.

Options: Options to procure additional tests of similar nature

Renewal: Initial period, of two (2) years with three (3) extensions of up to twelve months each

Waste Water Microbiology Laboratory (Gelvin Grange Laboratory)

Lot 3: Waste Water Microbiology Laboratory (Gelvin Grange Laboratory) covers Recreational & Surface Water Microbiology testing).

Options: Options to procure additional tests of similar nature

Renewal: Initial period, of two (2) years with three (3) extensions of up to twelve months each

Waste Water Microbiology (Gelvin Grange Laboratory):

Lot 4: Waste Water Microbiology (Gelvin Grange Laboratory): Surface Waste/Bathing Water microbiological testing..

Options: Options to procure additional tests of similar nature

Renewal: Initial period, of two (2) years with three (3) extensions of up to twelve months each

Cryptosporidium Testing (Gelvin Grange Laboratory)

Lot 5: Cryptosporidium Testing (Gelvin Grange Laboratory) - The supplier shall provide proficiency testing for Cryptosporidium in potable, surface, ground, and raw water at Gelvin Grange Laboratory.

Options: Options to procure additional tests of similar nature

Renewal: Initial period, of two (2) years with three (3) extensions of up to twelve months each

Cryptosporidium Testing 2 (Gelvin Grange Laboratory)

Lot 6: Cryptosporidium Testing (Gelvin Grange Laboratory)- The supplier shall provide proficiency testing for Cryptosporidium in potable, surface, ground, and raw waters at Gelvin Grange Laboratory.

Options: Options to procure additional tests of similar nature

Renewal: Initial period, of two (2) years with three (3) extensions of up to twelve months each

Cryptosporidium laboratory (Gelvin Grange)

Lot 7: Cryptosporidium laboratory (Gelvin Grange); The supplier shall provide proficiency testing for the detection and enumeration of coliphages and Legionella in drinking/potable water at Gelvin Grange Laboratory.

Options: Options to procure additional tests of similar nature

Renewal: Initial period, of two (2) years with three (3) extensions of up to twelve months each

Waste Water Chemistry (Gelvin Grange Laboratory).

Lot 8: Waste Water Chemistry (Gelvin Grange Laboratory). - The supplier shall provide proficiency testing for chemical analysis of wastewater, surface waters, groundwaters, and industrial effluents at Gelvin Grange Laboratory.

Options: Options to procure additional tests of similar nature

Renewal: Initial period, of two (2) years with three (3) extensions of up to twelve months each

Clean Water Chemistry (Westland House Laboratory)

Lot 9: Clean Water Chemistry (Westland House Laboratory) - The supplier shall provide proficiency testing for chemical analysis of potable, surface, and groundwaters at Westland House Laboratory.

Options: Options to procure additional tests of similar nature

Renewal: Initial period, of two (2) years with three (3) extensions of up to twelve months each

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001146-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 7 Jan 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 25 Nov 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 17 Dec 2025 |
| Contract period | 1 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2027 |
| Recurrence | 2030-07-22 |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £434,000 |
| Lots value | £434,000 |
| Awards value | £357,280 |
| Contracts value | £428,736 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NORTHERN IRELAND WATER LIMITED |
| Additional buyers | NI WATER AND ITS' SUBSIDIARIES; NORTHERN IRELAND WATER LTD |
| Locality | BELFAST |
| Post town | Northern Ireland |
| Postcode | BT14 6TE |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland |
| ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland |
| ITL 3 | TLN06 Belfast |
| Local authority | Belfast |
| Electoral ward | Chichester Park |
| Westminster constituency | Belfast North |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | LGC (TEDDINGTON |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 71900000 - Laboratory services

## Release History

- 7 Jan 2026 at 15:11 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001146-2026
- 17 Dec 2025 at 21:57 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084087-2025
- 31 Oct 2025 at 20:53 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070275-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001146-2026
  7th January 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084087-2025
  17th December 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070275-2025
  31st October 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
- 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-05d884. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d884.json.