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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Specialist Analytical Service for NRW

Natural Resources Wales · compiled

Tender information last checkedLast checked 29 Sept 2026, 18:38.

Opportunity overview

NRW is seeking to award a contract for the supply of an analytical service to NRW. The purpose of the requirement is to outsource samples for environmental analysis required by WFD, EQSD and Habitats directives, the samples are collected in a range of matrices; including freshwater, trade, treated sewage, saline, biota and sediment. Reporting limits are often required in low, or very low ranges.

Awarded to

Amounts belong to published awards or contracts. Where several suppliers share one value, it is labelled as shared and is not a supplier-specific allocation.

RPS Environmental Management Limited

Match pending…
Contract value
£890.5k
Awarded
Not supplied
Contract signed
6 Sept 2021
Award ID
006407-2023-86123-1
Status
active
Location
Bedfordshire, UK, MK420LF, United Kingdom

RPS Environmental Management Limited

2 award entriesMatch pending…
Contract value
£800k
Awarded
Not supplied
Contract signed
6 Sept 2021
Status
active
Location
Bedfordshire, UK, MK420LF, United Kingdom
View 2 award IDs

022961-2021-86123-1, 037874-2023-86123-1

RPS Environmental Management Limited

Match pending…
Contract value
£1.1m
Awarded
Not supplied
Contract signed
6 Sept 2021
Award ID
040846-2024-86123-1
Status
active
Location
Bedfordshire, UK, MK420LF, United Kingdom

RPS Environmental Management Limited

Match pending…
Contract value
£1.5m
Awarded
Not supplied
Contract signed
6 Sept 2021
Award ID
084339-2025-86123-1
Status
active
Location
Bedfordshire, UK, MK420LF, United Kingdom

Classification

  • CPV71900000 — Laboratory services

Lots

  • NRWAS manage an outsourced analysis contract for the wider business, delivering samples from our laboratory to a third-party laboratory for analysis. The reasons for outsourcing are generally when specialised methods are yet to be developed by NRW or where setting up in-house capability is uneconomical due to low sample numbers. The samples are collected from a range of matrices; including freshwater, trade, treated sewage, saline, biota and sediment. Reporting limits are often required in low, or very low ranges. This Invitation to Tender is for a contract to provide NRW with water quality and environmental analysis and for providing results in a suitable format. The contract also includes the provision of a refrigerated courier service to collect samples from an agreed location.Value not stated

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
86123
Status
complete
Has Recurrence
Yes
Procurement Method
open
Main Procurement Category
services
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure

Covered By

GPA

Bid Opening

Date
11 Jun 2021, 14:00

Legal basis

Id
32014L0024
Scheme
CELEX

Recurrence

Description
On expiry of this contract.

Expected award period

Starts
11 Jun 2021, 14:00

Tender Period

Ends
11 Jun 2021, 14:00

Communication

Contract terms

Has Electronic Payment
Yes
Has Electronic Ordering
Yes
Electronic Invoicing Policy
allowed

Classification

Id
71900000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Laboratory services

Submission terms

Languages

en

Bid Validity Period

Duration In Days
90

Submission Method

electronicSubmission

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
cancelled
Has Options
No
Has Renewal
Yes
Description
NRWAS manage an outsourced analysis contract for the wider business, delivering samples from our laboratory to a third-party laboratory for analysis. The reasons for outsourcing are generally when specialised methods are yet to be developed by NRW or where setting up in-house capability is uneconomical due to low sample numbers. The samples are collected from a range of matrices; including freshwater, trade, treated sewage, saline, biota and sediment. Reporting limits are often required in low, or very low ranges. This Invitation to Tender is for a contract to provide NRW with water quality and environmental analysis and for providing results in a suitable format. The contract also includes the provision of a refrigerated courier service to collect samples from an agreed location.

Renewal

Description
There will be an option to extend the contract by up to a further 12 months for a total of a 36-month extension up to 31st December 2024.

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Name
Quality
Type
quality
Description
60
Criterion 2
Type
price
Description
40

Contract period

Ends
31 Dec 2024, 23:59
Starts
13 Sept 2021, 00:00

Submission terms

Variant Policy
notAllowed

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery Location

Description
NRW Analytical Services, Faraday Building (2nd Floor), Singleton Park Campus, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP. Collection points for samples to be agreed during implementation.

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKL
Entry 2
Region
UKL
Entry 3
Region
UKL
Entry 4
Region
UKL
Entry 5
Region
UKL
Entry 6
Region
UKL
Entry 7
Region
UKL
Entry 8
Region
UKL

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
71900000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Laboratory services

Published documents

Entry 1
Id
economic
Document Type
economicSelectionCriteria
Entry 2
Id
technical
Document Type
technicalSelectionCriteria

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-FTS-2985
Name
Natural Resources Wales

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKL
Locality
Cardiff
Postal Code
CF24 0TP
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Ty Cambria House, 29 Newport Road

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
BODY_PUBLIC
Scheme
TED_CA_TYPE
Description
Body governed by public law
Entry 2
Id
05
Scheme
COFOG
Description
Environmental protection

Identifier

Legal Name
Natural Resources Wales

Contact

Telephone
+44 3000653000
Organisation 2
Id
GB-FTS-111
Name
High Court

Roles

reviewBody

Address

Locality
London
Postal Code
WC2A 2LL
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand

Identifier

Legal Name
High Court

Contact

Telephone
+44 2079477501
Organisation 3
Id
GB-FTS-28422
Name
RPS Environmental Management Limited

Roles

supplier

Address

Region
UK
Locality
Bedfordshire
Postal Code
MK420LF
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
13 St Martins Way, Bedford

Details

Scale
large

Identifier

Legal Name
RPS Environmental Management Limited

Contact

Telephone
+44 1623663372
Organisation 4
Id
GB-FTS-133122
Name
Natural Resources Wales

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKL
Locality
Cardiff
Postal Code
CF10 3NQ
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Welsh Government Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cathays Park

Details

Identifier

Legal Name
Natural Resources Wales

Contact

Telephone
+44 3000653000

Award information

Award 1
Id
022961-2021-86123-1
Status
active
Has Subcontracting
Yes

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-FTS-28422
Name
RPS Environmental Management Limited

Related lots

1

Subcontracting

Maximum Percentage
0.35
Minimum Percentage
0.35
Award 2
Id
006407-2023-86123-1
Title
Specialist Analytical Service for NRW
Status
active

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-FTS-28422
Name
RPS Environmental Management Limited

Related lots

1
Award 3
Id
037874-2023-86123-1
Title
Specialist Analytical Service for NRW
Status
active

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-FTS-28422
Name
RPS Environmental Management Limited

Related lots

1
Award 4
Id
040846-2024-86123-1
Title
Specialist Analytical Service for NRW
Status
active

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-FTS-28422
Name
RPS Environmental Management Limited

Related lots

1
Award 5
Id
084339-2025-86123-1
Title
Specialist Analytical Service for NRW
Status
active

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-FTS-28422
Name
RPS Environmental Management Limited

Related lots

1

Contracts and changes

Entry 1
Id
022961-2021-86123-1
Status
active
Award ID
022961-2021-86123-1
Date Signed
7 Sept 2021, 00:00

Value

Amount
800,000
Currency
GBP
Entry 2
Id
006407-2023-86123-1
Title
Specialist Analytical Service for NRW
Status
active
Award ID
006407-2023-86123-1
Date Signed
7 Sept 2021, 00:00

Items

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Classification

Id
71900000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Laboratory services

Delivery Location

Description
NRW Analytical Services, Faraday Building (2nd Floor), Singleton Park Campus, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP. Collection points for samples to be agreed during implementation.

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKL

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
71900000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Laboratory services

Value

Amount
890,515
Currency
GBP

Period

Ends
31 Dec 2023, 23:59
Starts
13 Sept 2021, 00:00

Amendments

Entry 1
Id
1
Rationale
Need for additional works, services or supplies by the original contractor/concessionaire: The extension option and annual rate increase was included in the original contract.
Description
Implementation of 12-month extension option to 31/12/2023. Rates to increase by 15%, except for courier rates that will increase by 10%. The revised rates will be applied from 1st March 2023 and will remain fixed until 31st December 2023, and is inclusive of the biota samples sent to RPS in February 2023. The modification relates to regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 clause 72(1)(a).
Entry 3
Id
037874-2023-86123-1
Title
Specialist Analytical Service for NRW
Status
active
Award ID
037874-2023-86123-1
Date Signed
7 Sept 2021, 00:00

Items

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Classification

Id
71900000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Laboratory services

Delivery Location

Description
NRW Analytical Services, Faraday Building (2nd Floor), Singleton Park Campus, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP. Collection points for samples to be agreed during implementation.

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKL

Value

Amount
800,000
Currency
GBP

Period

Ends
31 Dec 2024, 23:59
Starts
13 Sept 2021, 00:00

Amendments

Entry 1
Id
2
Rationale
Need for additional works, services or supplies by the original contractor/concessionaire: The variation relates to Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 PCR 2015 clause 1(a). Extension option and annual rate uplift allowed for within the original contract.
Description
Extension of 12 months to 31/12/2024. 12% rate increase on all tests with exceptions detailed below: - Cyanide water 95% increase - Dioxin biota 25% increase - PCB biota 70% increase - PCDF biota 25% increase 22% rate increase for courier costs.
Entry 4
Id
040846-2024-86123-1
Title
Specialist Analytical Service for NRW
Status
active
Award ID
040846-2024-86123-1
Date Signed
7 Sept 2021, 00:00

Items

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Classification

Id
71900000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Laboratory services

Delivery Location

Description
NRW Analytical Services, Faraday Building (2nd Floor), Singleton Park Campus, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP. Collection points for samples to be agreed during implementation.

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKL18
Entry 2
Region
UKL18

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
71900000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Laboratory services

Value

Amount
1,056,467.88
Currency
GBP

Period

Ends
31 Dec 2025, 23:59
Starts
13 Sept 2021, 00:00

Amendments

Entry 1
Id
3
Rationale
Need for additional works, services or supplies by the original contractor/concessionaire: This modification for additional services from RPS has become necessary whilst the CI Project is completed. A change of contractor cannot be made for technical reasons, as only RPS can meet all of our analysis requirements and changing suppliers would cause significant inconvenience and duplication of costs for NRW, as it took the first 12 months of the contract to fully mobilise this contract. The value of the modification does not exceed 50% of the original approved contract value.
Description
Implementation of 12-month extension option to 31/12/2025. Rates to increase by 7%. The modification relates to regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 clause 72(1)(b).
Entry 5
Id
084339-2025-86123-1
Title
Specialist Analytical Service for NRW
Status
active
Award ID
084339-2025-86123-1
Date Signed
7 Sept 2021, 00:00

Items

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Classification

Id
71900000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Laboratory services

Delivery Location

Description
NRW Analytical Services, Faraday Building (2nd Floor), Singleton Park Campus, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP. Collection points for samples to be agreed during implementation.

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKL18

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
71900000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Laboratory services

Value

Amount
1,456,214.88
Currency
GBP

Period

Ends
31 Dec 2026, 23:59
Starts
13 Sept 2021, 00:00

Amendments

Entry 1
Id
4
Rationale
Need for modification brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority/entity could not foresee: 1. Case for Change 2. Direct Data Capture System delayed Roll-out 3. Lack of confirmed monitoring plans for 2026/7-2031 4. Ongoing HVAC issues 5. Changing analytical requirements mid-year 6. Courier supplier performance issues The LIMS Admin team, already under significant pressure and reduced capacity, would be responsible for implementing a new contract, a process that previously took 7 months. Delays to the rollout of the Direct Data Capture system and the inability to automate 3rd party data uploads have further limited resource. The complexity of launching an internal waste analysis service and the need for full Chain of Custody arrangements also require stability and time to become fully embedded. Attempting to procure a new supplier now, in the absence of confirmed long-term monitoring plans, would carry considerable risk. It may also result in a poorly defined specification, reduced supplier interest, and implementation difficulties.
Description
Implementation of 12-month extension option to 31/12/2026. Rates to increase by 6%. The modification relates to regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 clause 72(1)(c). Maximum variation value is 399747 GBP. This includes 151727 GBP contingency estimates for emergency use only for if additional analysis is required during the HVAC improvement works at NRWAS in early 2026.

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Cardiff · UKL · CF10 3NQ · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKL

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-02afeb-2025-12-18T12:34:38Zcompiled ·