--- title: "HDS Treatment Trails" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06d085" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06d085" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06d085.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06d085.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "MINING REMEDIATION AUTHORITY" published: "2026-07-22" --- # HDS Treatment Trails Buyer: MINING REMEDIATION AUTHORITY Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06d085 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06d085) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06d085.json) ## Summary The Mining Remediation Authority (MRA) is conducting a preliminary market engagement to identify suppliers for delivering High Density Sludge (HDS) pilot treatment trials focused on zinc-rich mine waters, scheduled within the planning stage. The initiative specifically targets three UK locations: Threlkeld Lead Mines in Westmorland and Furness, Abbey Consols Mine in Ceredigion, and Minsterley catchment in Shropshire. Interested parties are required to submit their Expressions of Interest by 19th August 2026 to proceed further in this bidding. The procurement process, falling under the services category and expected to exceed threshold values, includes understanding supplier capabilities for field-based trials, with full trial completion anticipated by 31st March 2027. This tender represents a substantial opportunity for businesses experienced in providing specialised environmental and remediation services, including HDS trials for metal contaminants. Companies with a background in designing and managing complex pilot trials and familiarity with health, safety, and environmental compliance will be well-positioned to benefit. The contracts, expected to be valued between £150,000 and £200,000 per trial, cater to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and allow for engagement in significant environmental projects that can validate their expertise and expand their portfolio within the UK. Organisations capable of offering advanced field trial methodologies, data management, and comprehensive reporting will find this opportunity conducive to business growth. ## Notice The Mining Remediation Authority (MRA) is undertaking this preliminary market engagement to better understand the availability of suppliers capable of delivering field-based High Density Sludge (HDS) pilot treatment trials for zinc bearing mine waters and to inform its procurement approach. In particular, the MRA wishes to understand the extent of supplier capability and capacity within the market for these specialist services. The MRA is seeking to procure a specialist supplier to design, provide, mobilise, operate and report on containerised pilot-scale HDS treatment trials for metal-contaminated mine water at three sites: the former Threlkeld Lead Mines in Westmorland and Furness; Abbey Consols Mine in Ceredigion, Mid Wales; and a site within the Minsterley catchment, Shropshire. The trials are required to validate HDS treatment performance, establish optimised operating conditions and generate robust design, cost and operational data to inform potential full-scale mine water treatment schemes. The requirement is for field-based HDS pilot trials suitable for zinc-rich mine waters with differing water chemistry. The Threlkeld trial will address net-acidic mine water with zinc as the primary contaminant and secondary metals including iron, aluminium, manganese, lead, cadmium, arsenic and nickel. The Abbey Consols trial will address circum-neutral pH mine water with zinc as the primary contaminant and secondary metals including iron, aluminium, manganese, lead, cadmium and nickel. The Minsterley trial will address zinc-rich circum-neutral mine water with lead and cadmium as key secondary contaminants. Flow conditions vary by site and the supplier will be expected to propose and operate an appropriate pilot configuration for each location, including suitable flow management, chemical dosing, monitoring and control arrangements. The supplier will be required to provide and operate containerised HDS pilot plant and equipment capable of demonstrating removal of zinc and relevant secondary metals through appropriate precipitation, sludge recirculation and clarification processes. The trials shall determine optimum treatment conditions, including target operating pH, reagent selection and dosing approach, and may include aeration and/or carbon dioxide stripping capability where appropriate. The scope includes all activities necessary to plan, mobilise, operate, monitor, demobilise and report on the trials. This includes, but is not limited to, pilot plant design and configuration; supply of plant, equipment, chemicals and consumables; mobilisation and set-up; commissioning; operation of the pilot trials; sampling and analysis; process monitoring; solids handling; retention of representative sludge samples; provision of sludge material for WM3 classification and characterisation; data management; interpretation of results; and preparation of final technical reports. The supplier must provide all necessary health, safety and environmental documentation and controls, including method statements, task and site-specific risk assessments, CoSHH assessments, safe systems of work, emergency procedures, PPE requirements and an environmental management plan. Elements of site security (CCTV, fencing) may also be required by the MRA. The trials are expected to be delivered under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The supplier will be required to comply with all applicable UK health, safety and environmental legislation and to work in accordance with the MRA's site access, stakeholder, environmental and operational requirements. Participation requirements are expected to include proven experience delivering HDS trials for metal-contaminated mine water, demonstrated experience in the treatment of zinc-bearing, net-acidic and/or circumneutral mine waters as applicable to the sites, and evidence of operating and optimising field-based pilot HDS trials. Suppliers must be able to demonstrate relevant technical capability, suitable field delivery experience, robust health and safety management, and the ability to produce high-quality trial data and recommendations for full-scale treatment design. The key deliverables will include trial operation records and datasets; detailed testing methodology; performance assessments; optimised operating parameters; sludge characterisation samples and supporting information; and final reports containing conclusions and recommendations for full-scale treatment. The final outputs must provide sufficient evidence to support treatment process validation, full-scale design development, capital and operating cost estimation and future decision-making by the MRA. The estimated value for each trial is expected to be in the range of PS150,000 to PS200,000 ex VAT. The anticipated duration of each trial is approximately six weeks, requirements currently expected to be delivered by 31 March 2027. The MRA may procure one or more of the site-specific trials under the same opportunity. The MRA may also procure more sites in the future under this notice. ### Planning Information Organisations wishing to express an interest in this opportunity should submit an Expression of Interest by email to Emma.Hutchinson@Miningremediation.gov.uk and Natalie.Earnshaw@Miningremediation.gov.uk The Expression of Interest should include: • Organisation name, registered address and company registration number (where applicable). • Primary contact name, job title, email address and telephone number. • A brief summary of the organisation's experience in delivering Containerised High Density Sludge (HDS) treatment trials or comparable mine water treatment pilot projects. • A summary of relevant experience working with metal-contaminated mine waters, including zinc-rich, net-acidic and/or circumneutral mine waters. • Details of any relevant field-based pilot treatment trials delivered within the last five years. • Confirmation of the organisation's ability to provide the required technical, operational, health and safety and environmental management resources. • Any consortium, subcontracting or partnering arrangements proposed. Following receipt of Expressions of Interest, the Mining Remediation Authority (MRA) may request additional information, clarifications and supporting evidence to verify the experience, technical capability and capacity stated within the submission. This may include, but is not limited to, project references, case studies, client testimonials, health and safety information, insurance details, accreditation certificates and examples of comparable work. The MRA may use information obtained through this engagement to assess the availability of suitably qualified suppliers in the market and to inform the design of any subsequent procurement strategy. Submission of an Expression of Interest does not create any contractual obligation on the part of the MRA. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069018-2026 | | 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 | 22 Jul 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 19 Aug 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 27 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 | | 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 | MINING REMEDIATION AUTHORITY | | Locality | NOTTINGHAMSHIRE | | Post town | Nottingham | | Postcode | NG18 4RG | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLF East Midlands (England) | | ITL 2 | TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire | | ITL 3 | TLF15 North Nottinghamshire | | Local authority | Mansfield | | Electoral ward | Berry Hill | | Westminster constituency | Mansfield | | Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England), TLL Wales | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ## Release History - 22 Jul 2026 at 09:41 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069018-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069018-2026 22nd July 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - 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-06d085. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06d085.json.