--- title: "Services-Framework-Lab Sample Couriers Service" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06545f" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06545f" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06545f.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06545f.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "UNITED UTILITIES WATER LIMITED" published: "2026-02-17" --- # Services-Framework-Lab Sample Couriers Service Buyer: UNITED UTILITIES WATER LIMITED Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06545f [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06545f) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06545f.json) ## Summary United Utilities Water Limited, located in Warrington, UK, is seeking bids for a framework agreement, titled "Services-Framework-Lab Sample Couriers Service," within the courier services industry. This tender is currently at the procurement stage, with updates made on 17th February 2026 and an initial notice dated 13th February 2026. The tender involves the transportation of samples under refrigerated conditions from various sites across the North-West Region to a central laboratory. The deadline for submission of the Certificate of Professional Qualifications (CoPQ) is set for 10th March 2026, while the enquiry period ends on 27th February 2026. The tender process is described as open and follows a competitive flexible procedure, aiming to award the contract to a single supplier by 30th June 2026, with the new contract to commence on 6th July 2026 and end on 6th July 2034. This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses specialising in refrigerated courier services, particularly those that can demonstrate efficiency in route optimisation and temperature control compliance. The procurement is above the financial threshold, with a contract value reaching up to £11,520,000. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may find this tender particularly appealing as the procurement process accommodates such businesses, and the award criteria balance both technical quality and commercial pricing, with a weight of 60% on quality and 40% on price. Companies capable of transitioning from paper to electronic reporting formats and offering a managed service model will likely be well-positioned to meet the requirements outlined by United Utilities, thereby fostering potential business growth 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. Deadline for CoPQ submission: 10/03/2026 ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014158-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 17 Feb 2026 | | Submission deadline | 12 Jun 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 6 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 | 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) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 64 - Postal and telecommunications services ### Codes - 64120000 - Courier services ## Release History - 17 Feb 2026 at 10:24 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014158-2026 - 13 Feb 2026 at 17:00 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013630-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014158-2026 17th February 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013630-2026 13th February 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=102321&TID100107540&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-06545f. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06545f.json.