---
title: "International Specialist Courier for APHA (2026)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0699e6"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0699e6"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0699e6.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0699e6.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY"
published: "2026-05-15"
---

# International Specialist Courier for APHA (2026)

Buyer: ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0699e6

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## Summary

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is in the planning stage of initiating a procurement process for an International Specialist Courier service. This service is intended to facilitate the transportation of Category B (UN3373) consignments both within the UK and internationally, including destinations such as Northern Ireland, Europe, non-EU countries, and worldwide. The procurement is being managed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) from their offices in London, with the milestone for supplier interest and engagement set for completion by 29th May 2026. This contract opportunity, anticipated to commence on 1st October 2026, specialises in courier, post, and air transport services, and will operate until 30th September 2029, with a potential extension to 30th September 2031.

This procurement offers substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in courier and mail services, particularly those experienced in handling sensitive biological materials and navigating complex customs procedures. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the requisite licences for transporting biological substances using chilled conditions and dry ice, as well as those adept in international delivery logistics, are particularly well-suited to compete. Building relationships with government agencies like DEFRA by securing this contract could significantly bolster business credentials and market presence in the public sector courier service domain.

## Notice

Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is seeking early expressions of interest and pre-market engagement from suppliers for the transportation of Category B (UN3373) samples internationally by a Courier Specialist.

### Planning Information

Defra Group Commercial, on behalf of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), intends to publish a tender opportunity for the provision of an International Specialist Courier service.
The successful supplier(s) will be required to collect and deliver Category B (UN3373) consignments within the UK and internationally, including to and from Northern Ireland, Europe, Non-EU countries, and worldwide destinations.
Given the specialist nature of these consignments, suppliers must hold the appropriate licenses for transporting biological substances under chilled conditions using dry ice. In addition, suppliers will be required to provide import services and manage complex customs clearance process.
If your organisation is interested in this forthcoming opportunity, please register your interest by emailing angelica.ho@defra.gov.uk.
In your response, kindly confirm the following:
1) Whether your organisation would be interested in the opportunity.
2) Your standard rates and an explanation to your approach to pricing for sending consignments to and from Northern Ireland, Europe, Non-EU countries, and Rest of the World.
We would appreciate receiving all responses by 12pm on 29th May 2026.
Thank you for your time and interest. We look forward to hearing from you.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044867-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 15 May 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 29 Jun 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 30 Sep 2026 - 30 Sep 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY |
| Additional buyers | DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS |
| 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 |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
- 64 - Postal and telecommunications services

### Codes

- 60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
- 60161000 - Parcel transport services
- 60400000 - Air transport services
- 60411000 - Scheduled airmail transport services
- 60421000 - Non-scheduled airmail transport services
- 64100000 - Post and courier services
- 64110000 - Postal services
- 64113000 - Postal services related to parcels
- 64120000 - Courier services
- 64121000 - Multi-modal courier services
- 64121100 - Mail delivery services
- 64121200 - Parcel delivery services

## Release History

- 15 May 2026 at 11:18 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044867-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044867-2026
  15th May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- 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-0699e6. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0699e6.json.