--- title: "Services-Framework-Provision of Sample Courier Services for Laboratory Services" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06138a" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06138a" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06138a.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06138a.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "UNITED UTILITIES WATER LIMITED" published: "2026-02-13" --- # Services-Framework-Provision of Sample Courier Services for Laboratory Services Buyer: UNITED UTILITIES WATER LIMITED Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06138a [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06138a) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06138a.json) ## Summary United Utilities Water Limited is seeking to procure a courier service for transporting samples to their central laboratory in Warrington. The tender process, which falls under the procurement category of services, uses a competitive flexible procedure aimed at selecting a sole supplier. The sample courier service is necessary for compliance with OFWAT's regulations, requiring daily collection and transportation under specified refrigerated conditions. The procurement is currently in the tender stage with a deadline for expressions of interest on 20th February 2026, and the award period set to end on 30th June 2026. The contract is valued at £11,520,000 gross, covering services throughout the North-West region under the CPV code 64120000 for courier services. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in logistic and transport services, particularly those experienced in handling goods under controlled temperature conditions. Companies proficient in route optimisation and electronic reporting can benefit, providing a managed service model that includes supplier-provided refrigerated vehicles and route management. The successful supplier will gain access to a long-term contract, starting from 6th July 2026 and ending on 6th July 2034, providing stability and growth potential across a broad geographic area in the UK. Both large enterprises and SME logistics companies with the technical capacity to meet regulatory requirements, can find this procurement contract strategically advantageous for expanding their market presence in the utilities sector. ## Notice United Utilities Laboratory Services require a courier service for the transportation of samples from sites across the Company to the central Laboratory at Lingley Mere (Warrington) on a daily basis. It is a requirement of OFWAT (The Water Services Regulation Authority) that the Company constantly undertakes analysis of water/waste water samples from various sample points throughout the North-West Region. Water Quality Officers, Network Owners, Wastewater Operatives, Trade Effluent Officers, Agricultural Advisors and Project Staff obtain the samples requiring analysis. Samples are left at drop off points for collection by the dedicated courier in a refrigerated van. Samples need to be transported under refrigerated conditions to ensure that they are maintained at a temperature of between 2 and 7 degrees centigrade. It is a requirement to maintain evidence that this has been achieved to enable United Utilities to adhere to regulatory requirements with respect to the transportation of accredited samples under the Environment Agency's Monitoring Certification Scheme (MCERTs), Drinking Water Test Specifications (DWTS) and ISO 17025. On collection, the courier takes the samples to a Sample Registration Centre (SRC) or directly to Lingley Mere Laboratories Sample Reception. An additional dedicated courier service is then required to operate between the SRC's and the Laboratories at Lingley Mere, where required. Consignment Notes or Delivery Notes detailing the sample load carried and all other required information to the Laboratory at Lingley Mere are part of the hand-over procedure at the SRCs and the Laboratory. These are currently in paper form, the Company would like to move this to an electronic format, where reports should consist of (minimum requirement): * Sample bottle barcode number * crate barcode number * vehicle registration * collection date and time * collection location * time samples dropped off * location of sample drop off Route optimisation will also be a requirement of the tender, with bidders expected to demonstrate how routes will be optimised to ensure efficiency, reliability, and timely delivery of samples while maintaining required temperature controls. Detailed dates and milestones will be share in the tender documentation. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013638-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 13 Feb 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 5 Jul 2026 - 6 Jul 2034 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £9,600,000 | | Lots value | £9,600,000 | | 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 | UNITED UTILITIES WATER LIMITED | | Locality | GREAT SANKEY | | 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) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 64 - Postal and telecommunications services ### Codes - 64120000 - Courier services ## Release History - 13 Feb 2026 at 17:26 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013638-2026 - 2 Feb 2026 at 17:15 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009182-2026 - 30 Jan 2026 at 17:44 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008675-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013638-2026 13th February 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009182-2026 2nd February 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008675-2026 30th January 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=102321&TID100107540&B= - https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=102321&TID100107540&B=Noticeidentifier:2026/S000-013630Procurementidentifier(OCID):ocds-h6vhtk-06545f - 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-06138a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06138a.json.