---
title: "ES RDE 072 - Otter tissue analysis for PFAS and other persistent chemicals"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f5e9"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f5e9"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f5e9.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f5e9.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Environment Agency"
published: "2026-09-09"
---

# ES RDE 072 - Otter tissue analysis for PFAS and other persistent chemicals

Buyer: Environment Agency  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f5e9

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## Summary

The Environment Agency commissioned specialist environmental research services to analyse otter liver tissue for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and other persistent chemicals. The work is intended to improve understanding of these pollutants in the environment. Otters are used as top predators in freshwater ecosystems and therefore as bioindicators of aquatic environmental health and pollution trends. The requirement falls within research and development services and related consultancy. Delivery is for the Environment Agency, with the contracting authority based in London and the supplier, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, based in Crownmarsh Gifford. The procurement comprised one lot covering the complete tissue-analysis requirement.

This procurement has been awarded and the tender is complete. The Environment Agency made a non-competitive, selective below-threshold award under a framework through its self-service direct-award route. The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology was selected as supplier, and the award is active. The contract was signed on 25 August 2026 and runs from 1 September 2026 to 30 March 2027. Its value is £53,799.36 excluding VAT, or £64,559.23 including VAT. The contract is below the applicable threshold. The recorded procurement basis is an award under a framework, with no reopening of competition indicated. The awarded service covers the single lot for otter tissue analysis for PFAS and other persistent chemicals.

For suppliers assessing this buyer’s future requirements, the award demonstrates demand for specialist analytical research on contaminants in wildlife tissue, particularly PFAS and other persistent chemicals. Credible competitors would need capability in environmental chemistry, contaminant analysis and the handling and processing of biological samples such as otter liver tissue. They would also need to produce robust scientific data that can support assessment of pollutant presence, environmental health and pollution trends in freshwater ecosystems. Relevant organisations are likely to combine laboratory analysis with ecological, freshwater or environmental monitoring expertise, and to understand the use of wildlife as bioindicators. Experience delivering research and development services for a public environmental authority would strengthen a future proposition, as would the capacity to work through a framework-based award route.

## Notice

Environment Agency Self-Service Direct Award. This project, to be delivered between August 2026 and March 2027, aims to enhance the Environment Agency's understanding of the presence of PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) in the environment by analysing otter liver tissue samples. As otters are the top predators in freshwater ecosystems, they are excellent bioindicators of aquatic environmental health and pollution trends.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085502-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - award under framework |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 9 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Sep 2026 - 30 Mar 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £53,799 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Environment Agency |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Postcode area | 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 | UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 9 Sep 2026 at 15:51 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085502-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085502-2026
  9th September 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/api/1.0/ocdsReleasePackages/ocds-h6vhtk-04ef64
- 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-06f5e9. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f5e9.json.