AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
Natural England has awarded and signed a contract with APEX SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION LLP for Phase 2 research on how community and individual engagement affects nature recovery outcomes in England.
Published outcomeOne active award and active contract are recorded for APEX SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION LLP. The contract value is £37,000 gross.
Market significanceThis is a small, below-threshold open-competition research services engagement focused on evidence, evaluation and community participation in nature recovery.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
1 supplier record analysed
APEX SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION LLP
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots 1 · 37000 GBP · Active award and contract
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Award 1 names APEX SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION LLP as supplier; contract 1 is linked to award 1 and has a gross value of GBP 37,000.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Procurement status
98% confidenceComplete; contract active
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Tender status is "complete"; award 1 and contract 1 are both marked "active".
Contract signature
99% confidenceSigned on 10 October 2026
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Contract 1 records dateSigned as 2026-10-10.
Contract period
99% confidence10 October 2026 to 20 March 2027
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Contract 1 period records startDate 2026-10-10 and endDate 2027-03-20.
VALUES
Published values explained
Contract value
99% confidence£37,000 gross
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Contract 1 value states amountGross 37000, amount 37000, currency GBP.
Lot-level value
91% confidenceUnknown
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Lot 1 has no published value. The single contract covers award 1 / lot 1.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Tender notice first published
98% confidence15 July 2026
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Release history records tender notice 066589-2026 published 2026-07-15.
Submission deadline
99% confidence2 September 2026, 16:00 BST
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Process submission_deadline is 2026-09-02T16:00:00+01:00.
Contract signed and started
99% confidence10 October 2026
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Contract 1 records both dateSigned and period startDate as 2026-10-10.
Contract details notice published
99% confidence20 October 2026
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Contract document 099156-2026 records datePublished 2026-10-20.
Contract end
99% confidence20 March 2027
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Contract 1 period endDate is 2027-03-20T23:59:59Z.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Requirement
97% confidenceComparative analysis of English case-study sites with differing levels of community engagement and nature recovery activity.
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Published description states that the project will undertake a comparative analysis of case study sites within England with varying community engagement and nature recovery activities.
Intended outcome
96% confidenceStrengthen evidence and best practice on engagement in nature recovery, supporting community and individual action.
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Published description says results are intended to help realise the full power of engagement through actions that increase individual and community engagement.
Classification
99% confidenceCPV 73430000 — Test and evaluation
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Award item lists additional classification CPV 73430000, described as Test and evaluation.
Delivery geography
95% confidenceUnited Kingdom
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Award item delivery address is region UK, country GB.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procedure
99% confidenceOpen competition, below threshold
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Tender procurementMethod is "open" and procurementMethodDetails is "Below threshold - open competition".
Lots
99% confidenceOne lot (Lot 1)
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Tender lists lot 1 only; award 1 is related to lot 1.
Competition outcome details
99% confidenceUnknown
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Information on bidder numbers, evaluation scores and unsuccessful suppliers was not supplied in the published notice data.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Contract status
99% confidenceActive
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Contract 1 status is "active".
Above-threshold status
99% confidenceBelow threshold
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Contract 1 states aboveThreshold: false.
Extension or renewal terms
99% confidenceUnknown
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No extension or renewal terms are included in the supplied contract data.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Addressable opportunity
96% confidenceA £37,000 gross research and evaluation contract in nature recovery and public engagement.
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Contract value is GBP 37,000; scope concerns comparative analysis, evidence and evaluation of engagement in nature recovery.
Route-to-market signal
99% confidenceThe buyer used a below-threshold open competition.
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Procurement method details state "Below threshold - open competition".
Relevant capabilities
91% confidenceEvidence synthesis, comparative case-study analysis, evaluation and community-engagement research are directly aligned to the published scope.
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These activities are described in the requirement and CPV classification is Test and evaluation.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Award and contract evidence
97% confidenceHigh quality
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The supplied OCDS data links award 1 to active contract 1, identifies the supplier, records signature and period dates, and states a contract value.
Published-value discrepancy
99% confidenceThe process-level maximum value is £18,333, while the signed contract value is £37,000 gross.
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Process value_max is 18333 GBP; contract 1 value amount and amountGross are each 37000 GBP. The source does not explain the difference.
Information not supplied in the published notice
99% confidenceNo award decision date, bidder count, evaluation scoring, lot title, lot description, lot-level value, pricing breakdown, or extension terms are supplied.
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These fields are absent or null in the supplied award, lot and contract records.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- The process-level maximum value (£18,333) conflicts with the signed contract value (£37,000 gross), and the supplied source does not explain this discrepancy.
- Information not supplied in the published notice includes award decision date, bidder numbers, evaluation results, unsuccessful suppliers, lot title and description, lot-level value, pricing breakdown, and extension or renewal terms.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
Natural EnglandAPEX SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION LLPnature recoverycommunity engagementresearch contracttest and evaluationFind a Tender
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Who won Natural England's Outcomes for Nature Phase 2 contract?
APEX SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION LLP, verified under company number OC457949.
What is the value of the contract?
The signed contract value is £37,000 gross.
When does the contract run?
The published contract period runs from 10 October 2026 to 20 March 2027.
What is the work about?
The work compares English case-study sites to assess how differing community engagement relates to nature recovery activities and outcomes.
ProcuraAxis award analysis supplements, but does not replace, the official award notice, contract data or procurement documents. “Awarded” does not by itself prove that a contract has been signed.