---
title: "Modules from and membership to the NE Atlantic Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control Scheme (NMBAQC)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-065e60"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-065e60"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065e60.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065e60.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NATURAL RESOURCES WALES"
published: "2026-02-27"
---

# Modules from and membership to the NE Atlantic Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control Scheme (NMBAQC)

Buyer: NATURAL RESOURCES WALES  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-065e60

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## Summary

Natural Resources Wales, located in Cardiff, is responsible for procuring services related to the North-East Atlantic Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control Scheme (NMBAQC). This procurement process falls under the public authority - sub-central government category and adheres to Welsh devolved regulations. As part of the procurement process, the Environment Agency based in Peterborough acts as the supplier. The procurement method is direct and took place below the threshold without competition. The contract started on 22nd December 2025 and is scheduled to end on 31st March 2026. The NMBAQC provides quality assurance for marine biological data, which is crucial for statutory marine monitoring programmes across the UK.

This tender offers potential growth opportunities for businesses providing environmental services, particularly those specialising in marine services and quality assurance. Companies with expertise in marine biological data analysis and quality control procedures could benefit from this tender. The involvement of Natural Resources Wales and the Environment Agency underscores the significance of external quality assurance schemes in maintaining high national standards for marine data. Businesses that align with these standards and have capacities to contribute through services like sediment particle size analysis and benthic invertebrate testing are well-positioned to compete.

## Notice

All UK Competent Monitoring Authority laboratories and their contractors undertaking sample analysis for statutory marine monitoring programmes are required to participate within an externally run analytical quality control scheme. The NMBAQC fulfils this role. The NMBAQC scheme is a quality assurance scheme developed on behalf of the UK competent monitoring authorities (CMAs). Its principal aim is to provide assessment of marine biological data contributing to UK national or European monitoring programmes. The NMBAQC scheme provides a source of external Quality Assurance (QA) for laboratories engaged in the production of marine biological data and supporting data (e.g. sediment particle size analysis). NRW participates in the following modules; Fish Ring Tests (inc. reverse ring test), Rockyshore Macroalgae Ring Test, Opportunistic Macroalgae Ring Tests, Particle Size Analysis Ring Tests, Particle Size Own Sample Test, Benthic Invertebrate Own Sample and Benthic Invertebrate Laboratory Ring Test in order to participate in these modules and access additional resources on the NMBAQC website, NRW must also become a member of NMBAQC. NRW participates in these modules to provide quality assurance of our marine and coastal data, collected by carrying out surveys and analysis. These survey and analysis methodologies are assessed to a high national standard by participating in the NMBAQC scheme and provide NRW, and our customers with a high degree of confidence of our data.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017949-2026 |
| 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 | 27 Feb 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 3 Dec 2025 |
| Contract period | 22 Dec 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £95,775 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NATURAL RESOURCES WALES |
| Locality | CARDIFF |
| Post town | Cardiff |
| Postcode | CF10 3NQ |
| Country | Wales |
| ITL 1 | TLL Wales |
| ITL 2 | TLL5 South East Wales |
| ITL 3 | TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan |
| Local authority | Cardiff |
| Electoral ward | Cathays |
| Westminster constituency | Cardiff South and Penarth |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | ENVIRONMENT AGENCY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services
- 98 - Other community, social and personal services

### Codes

- 90700000 - Environmental services
- 98360000 - Marine services

## Release History

- 27 Feb 2026 at 13:58 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017949-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017949-2026
  27th February 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk
- 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-065e60. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065e60.json.