---
title: "Lithium Trace Testing"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05e500"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05e500"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05e500.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05e500.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UNITED UTILITIES WATER LIMITED"
published: "2026-07-20"
---

# Lithium Trace Testing

Buyer: UNITED UTILITIES WATER LIMITED  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05e500

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## Summary

United Utilities Water Limited has concluded a procurement process for their "Lithium Trace Testing" contract, focusing on the non-intrusive assessment of tank capacity and sediment in Anaerobic Digesters. This contract falls under the industry category of Laboratory Services and is based in Warrington, United Kingdom, with a contract period extending from 1st September 2026 to 31st August 2030, with potential renewals up to 2035. The completed procurement, awarded to NSI Water and Wastewater Solutions Ltd, involves a framework agreement with a competitive flexible procedure under a special regime for utilities. The associated contract is valued at £1.2 million for services rendered, with the award date noted as 20th July 2026. Key dates included a standstill period ending on 29th July 2026 and a future contract signature scheduled for 17th August 2026.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in laboratory services and the utilities sector, particularly those adept at managing complex environmental compliance and industrial emissions directives. Companies equipped with innovative methodologies for rapid and accurate lithium trace testing can leverage such contracts to expand their market presence and demonstrate their capability in addressing stringent environmental and pollution control standards. The framework duration of up to 9 years provides long-term engagement potential, making it particularly suitable for established enterprises looking to secure a stable income stream and build strong collaborative relationships with prominent private utility buyers like United Utilities.

## Notice

The Bioresource and Energy Services team require non-intrusive tank capacity and sediment assessments of Anaerobic Digesters using Lithium chloride as a trace element to comply with Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016 implementing the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) every 5 years, which takes an integrated approach to controlling pollution to air, water, and land from industrial activities. We require the supplier to develop methodology to determine the effective volume of an anaerobic digester over a short period of testing time. The effective volume should be calculated from the lithium concentration once it reaches a steady and consistent level. The calculation for effective volume should be based on the dose of lithium chloride added, the concentration of lithium, and the background concentration established before the test is initiated. The results of the data should establish the following, and be presented within a report: Mixing efficiency Hydraulic retention time (HRT) Short-circuiting or dead zones Sediment/grit accumulation The lithium chloride is to be dosed into each digester's feed line, or other suitable position. Prior to the dosing of lithium chloride, initial samples should be taken from each digester in order to establish the background lithium concentrations. Samples should be taken from designated sampling points, identified during a pre-test site visit.

### Lot Information

Lot LOT-0000

Renewal: Extension of up to a further 5 years.

### Planning Information

If you have experience in this area please could you provide at a minimum the following information and submit to the United Utilities AMP8Procurements@uuplc.co.uk Mailbox - • Company Name • Contact details, including location telephone and e-mail address, main point of contact and position in Company

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068170-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 20 Jul 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 22 Jun 2026 |
| Future notice date | 6 Jan 2026 |
| Award date | 20 Jul 2026 |
| Contract period | 1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,250,000 |
| Lots value | £1,250,000 |
| Awards value | £1,200,000 |
| 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 | UNITED UTILITIES WATER LIMITED |
| Locality | WARRINGTON |
| Post town | Warrington |
| Postcode | WA5 3LP |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD6 Cheshire |
| ITL 3 | TLD61 Warrington |
| Local authority | Warrington |
| Electoral ward | Great Sankey North and Whittle Hall |
| Westminster constituency | Warrington South |
| Delivery location | TLD North West (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | NSI WATER AND WASTEWATER SOLUTIONS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 71900000 - Laboratory services

## Release History

- 20 Jul 2026 at 11:01 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068170-2026
- 8 Apr 2026 at 14:02 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032023-2026
- 20 Nov 2025 at 09:51 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075490-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068170-2026
  20th July 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032023-2026
  8th April 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075490-2025
  20th November 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=104408&TID100109578&B=
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.unitedutilities.com

## 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-05e500. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05e500.json.