---
title: "Aquatic Water Quality Award Scheme"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06493c"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06493c"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06493c.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06493c.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY"
published: "2026-02-05"
---

# Aquatic Water Quality Award Scheme

Buyer: ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06493c

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## Summary

The procurement process titled "Aquatic Water Quality Award Scheme" was conducted by the Animal and Plant Health Agency, a central government public authority based in London, United Kingdom. This contract was awarded on 5th February 2026 and commenced on 6th February 2026. The project focuses on certification services within the environmental sector across England, Wales, and Scotland. The tender was completed using a direct procurement method, specifically below the threshold and without competition. The contract is set to continue until 31st March 2027, with the option for renewal, aiming to maintain and expand the Aquatic Quality Award accreditation scheme to address biosecurity accreditation in freshwater, riparian, and coastal environments.

This procurement offers growth opportunities for businesses specialising in ecological services, particularly those involved with environmental conservation, biosecurity, and certification. Enterprises with expertise in managing invasive species and capable of expanding schemes like the AQUA project will find this tender relevant. Although this contract has been awarded to the Bristol Zoological Society, companies looking to collaborate or support such initiatives could benefit. Businesses with a focus on enhancing environmental sustainability and biosecurity are well-suited to engage in similar future projects, fostering growth opportunities in the environmental services sector.

## Notice

This Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) has been developed to define how the APHA and Bristol Zoological Society shall work together for the continuation and expansion of the Aquatic Quality Award (AQUA) biosecurity accreditation and certification scheme across England and into Wales. The AQUA scheme - as a biosecurity accreditation/certification scheme to reduce the impact and spread of Invasive Alien Species in freshwater aquatic, riparian and coastal environments - was originally a regional pilot in the South-West of England, run by the Partner, in conjunction with the Authority, Southwest Water, and the Southwest Lakes Trust. This was through the RAPID (Reducing and Preventing Invasive Alien Species Dispersal) LIFE Project. The continuation and expansion of the AQUA Scheme across England and into Wales and Scotland shall maintain and develop the benefits from the regional pilot and support the legacy of the RAPID LIFE Project. This MoA shall commence on 01 April 2025 and (subject to earlier termination on the terms of this MoA) shall continue until 31 March 2027 which period may be extended by the written agreement of the Parties. The MoA was signed on 05 February 2026.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010606-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - without competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 5 Feb 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 5 Feb 2026 |
| Contract period | 6 Feb 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £20,000 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH 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 | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | BRISTOL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 79132000 - Certification services

## Release History

- 5 Feb 2026 at 15:41 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010606-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010606-2026
  5th February 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://bristolzoo.org.uk/bristol-zoological-society
- 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-06493c. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06493c.json.