---
title: "ES RDE 087 - Lowlands Peat Evidence Synthesis and knowledge gaps"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0775e6"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0775e6"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0775e6.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0775e6.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Environment Agency"
published: "2026-09-18"
---

# ES RDE 087 - Lowlands Peat Evidence Synthesis and knowledge gaps

Buyer: Environment Agency  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0775e6

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0775e6)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0775e6.json)

## Summary

The Environment Agency commissioned a research and consultancy service to synthesise evidence on lowland agricultural peat and identify knowledge gaps. The work brings together findings from projects funded by Defra and its delivery partners since the 2021 Lowland Agricultural Peat Task Force report. It covers higher water-table management, greenhouse-gas emissions reduction, hydrology, water management, paludiculture, and changes to land and water management practices. The purpose is to generate new insights, improve understanding of impacts on the water environment and set priorities for further research. The service is classified under CPV 73000000, research and development services and related consultancy services. Delivery is for the Environment Agency, based in London, with the work concerning lowland peat and agricultural landscapes.

The procurement has been awarded and the tender is complete. Moffatt and Nichol was selected for the single lot. It was a selective, non-competitive direct award under a framework, described as below threshold. The contract was signed and started on 2 September 2026, and runs until 8 March 2027. Its value is £98,168 excluding VAT, or £117,801.60 including VAT. The award route indicates that the buyer used an existing framework rather than running an open competition. The requirement was evaluated through that framework award process, with one supplier selected. The resulting contract is active and covers the full evidence-synthesis and knowledge-gap service described for the lot.

This procurement signals demand from the Environment Agency for specialist environmental research that can turn a broad body of technical studies into usable conclusions and research priorities. A credible competitor for similar work would need strong capability in evidence synthesis, interpretation of research findings and production of clear recommendations for public-sector decision-making. Relevant subject expertise includes lowland and agricultural peat, water-table management, hydrology, water-environment impacts, greenhouse-gas emissions, paludiculture, and land and water management. Experience of working across these connected issues would help a supplier assess evidence consistently rather than treating individual studies in isolation. The requirement also favours organisations able to work with Defra, delivery partners and other research stakeholders, and to translate complex environmental findings into a prioritised programme of further investigation.

## Notice

Environment Agency Self-Service Direct Award. Since the publication of the 2021 Lowland Agricultural Peat Task Force report, Defra and its delivery partners have funded a wide range of projects exploring the feasibility and implications of raising water tables and higher water table management in lowland peat, primarily within agricultural landscapes. These projects have examined different facets of higher water table management, including greenhouse gas emissions reduction, hydrology and water management, paludiculture, and changes to land & water management practices. This project is being commissioned to synthesise and interpret the collective findings from these studies to generate new insights, improve understanding of water environment impacts and identify priorities for further research.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088904-2026 |
| 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 | 18 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 2 Sep 2026 - 8 Mar 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £98,168 |

## 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 | Moffatt & Nichol Ltd |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 18 Sep 2026 at 17:10 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088904-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088904-2026
  18th 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-0775e6. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0775e6.json.