---
title: "ES RDE 077 - Particle Size Analysis of Centre for Seabed Mapping sediment sample"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0776c9"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0776c9"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0776c9.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0776c9.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS"
published: "2026-09-21"
---

# ES RDE 077 - Particle Size Analysis of Centre for Seabed Mapping sediment sample

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0776c9

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0776c9)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0776c9.json)

## Summary

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs commissioned particle size analysis of sediment samples from the Centre for Seabed Mapping. The work is a specialist environmental research and development service supporting biological assessment. It requires particle size analysis in accordance with NMBAQC guidelines, with 5% replication, following Mason (2016). The supplier must provide results in a MEDIN-compliant metadata spreadsheet and an accompanying analysis report describing the methods used. The requirement is being delivered by the British Geological Survey. The procurement concerns one completed service lot and is intended to generate analytical results and documented methods for seabed sediment assessment.

This procurement has been awarded and the tender is complete. Defra used a selective, non-competitive self-service direct award under a framework, below the applicable threshold. The contract was signed on 9 July 2026, runs from 13 July to 18 December 2026 and is active. The awarded supplier is the British Geological Survey. The contract value is £16,898.20 excluding VAT, or £20,277.84 including VAT. The award covers the single service lot. The evaluation route was a direct framework award rather than a competition, so the published process does not set out competing bids or a weighted evaluation basis. The work is financed through this individual contract rather than multiple awards.

This award shows demand from Defra for specialist seabed sediment particle size analysis linked to biological assessment. A credible future supplier would need practical capability in particle size analysis, experience handling and interpreting sediment samples, and the ability to apply NMBAQC guidance consistently. The requirement for 5% replication indicates a need for quality-controlled laboratory or analytical capacity, rather than a purely advisory service. Suppliers would also need to produce structured MEDIN metadata alongside a clear analysis report that explains the methods used. Experience delivering environmental research and development work for public bodies, and the capacity to manage a complete sample-to-report workflow, would strengthen a competitor’s position when this type of requirement returns.

## Notice

JNCC Self-Service Direct Award. Goals * Undertake PSA in accordance with NMBAQC guidelines for biological assessments, with 5 % replication (Mason, 2016); * Provide results in a MEDIN compliment metadata spreadsheet and accompanying analysis report to describe the methods used.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089315-2026 |
| 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 | 21 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 13 Jul 2026 - 18 Dec 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £16,898 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS |
| 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 | British Geological Survey |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 21 Sep 2026 at 16:15 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089315-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089315-2026
  21st 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-0776c9. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0776c9.json.