---
title: "NI Water - Laboratory Analysis Resilience Services"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0773f5"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0773f5"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0773f5.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0773f5.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "NI Water and its subsidiaries"
published: "2026-09-17"
---

# NI Water - Laboratory Analysis Resilience Services

Buyer: NI Water and its subsidiaries  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0773f5

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## Summary

Northern Ireland Water Limited is preparing to procure laboratory analysis resilience services. The requirement is for contingency analysis of water samples when required, supporting continuity of laboratory testing if normal arrangements are unavailable. The current list covers sample-analysis suites and parameters, with associated accreditation requirements; this list may change before the formal tender. The service is classified as analysis services (CPV 71620000) and will support delivery across Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Water is the buying organisation and the procurement is being run under the utilities regime. The requirement is structured as a single lot and is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. Suppliers able to provide accredited laboratory testing and resilient contingency capacity are likely to be relevant.

This procurement is at the planning and market-engagement stage; it is not yet an invitation to tender. Northern Ireland Water is using a request for information to assess market interest and capability and to develop the eventual specification. Interested suppliers are expected to return the RFI response and analysis suites and parameters information by 2pm on 23 September 2026. The buyer’s planning information says a formal tender is expected in early to mid-October 2026, with a future notice date of 27 October 2026 also recorded. The planned contract is expected to run from 4 February 2027 to 3 February 2030, with renewal potential to 4 February 2034. Estimated value is £10 net or £12 gross, in GBP.

The work is likely to suit laboratories and specialist analytical service providers with the technical capability to test the sample types, suites and parameters identified by Northern Ireland Water. Suppliers should review the stated accreditation requirements and be able to demonstrate that their laboratory methods, quality systems and reporting arrangements meet those standards. The requirement is specifically concerned with resilience and contingency provision, so relevant businesses are those able to provide dependable backup analysis capacity when required, rather than only routine scheduled testing. Established laboratories with suitable equipment, qualified analytical staff, robust continuity arrangements and experience supporting water-sector or comparable regulated testing will be well placed to prepare. The buyer has indicated that small and medium-sized enterprises are suitable, creating scope for capable specialist providers as well as larger laboratories.

## Notice

NI Water's current contract for provision of contingency sample analysis services will end 3 February 2027. NI Water are seeking to understand the current market capability and gauge interest in participation in a tender process for this requirement. NI Water have provided a list of the current suites/parameters of sample types in Appendix 2 - List of Analysis Suites and Parameters, this includes the accreditation requirements. Please note this list may be subject to change, any changes will be notified in the tender documentation. NI Water would ask interested suppliers to complete both Annex 1 of the Request for Information (RFI) document and the Appendix 2 List of Analysis Suites and Parameters' and return these via eTenders NI (using the Messaging function) or send to sourcing@niwater.com (FAO Paul Clements) by 2pm on 23rd September 2026.

### Planning Information

NI Water are engaging with the market to to assess interest and capability for the provision of Laboratory Resilience Services, as and when required.
NI Water request that interested suppliers complete both Annex 1 of the Request for Information (RFI) document and the Appendix 2 List of Analysis Suites and Parameters and return these via eTenders NI (using the Messaging function) or send to sourcing@niwater.com (FAO Paul Clements) by 2pm on 23rd September 2026.
RFI responses will enable Northern Ireland Water to develop a specification of requirements that will cover our needs, but also requirements that can be met and delivered by suppliers. A formal tender opportunity for Laboratory Analysis Resilience Services will be issued early/mid-October 2026.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087998-2026 |
| 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 | 17 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 27 Oct 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 4 Feb 2027 - 3 Feb 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £10 |
| 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 | NI Water and its subsidiaries |
| Locality | BELFAST |
| Postcode area | Northern Ireland |
| Postcode | BT14 6TE |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland |
| ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland |
| ITL 3 | TLN06 Belfast |
| Local authority | Belfast |
| Electoral ward | Chichester Park |
| Westminster constituency | Belfast North |
| Delivery location | TLN Northern Ireland |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 71620000 - Analysis services

## Release History

- 17 Sep 2026 at 08:38 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087998-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087998-2026
  17th September 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-0773f5. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0773f5.json.