Provision of Geological Products and Services Framework
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY · Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
✓Tender information last checkedLast checked 15 Oct 2026, 15:46.
Opportunity overview
1. Description
The Environment Agency is undertaking preliminary market engagement to inform the future procurement strategy for the provision of geological products and services.
The proposed arrangement is intended to provide access to geological expertise, datasets, interpretation, modelling and specialist advisory services. These services may support Environment Agency activities, including flood risk management, groundwater investigations, environmental protection, place-based planning, environmental monitoring and related technical programmes.
The Environment Agency wishes to understand market capability and capacity, potential innovations, commercial models and delivery approaches within the geological services sector. Feedback will help inform the future procurement strategy and any subsequent procurement activity.
The potential future arrangement may have an estimated value of up to £5.9 million over four years. This estimate is indicative and is provided for market engagement purposes only. No decision has been made on the final procurement route, framework structure, number of suppliers, lotting approach, award methodology, call-off arrangements or final value. This preliminary market engagement does not form part of a competitive tender process and does not commit the Environment Agency to undertake a subsequent procurement.
2. Purpose of the engagement
• Supplier capability and capacity to deliver all or part of the potential requirement.
• Delivery models and the structure of the market.
• Whether a single-supplier or multiple-supplier framework would be most effective.
• Potential lotting arrangements.
• Direct award, further competition or a combination of both for future call-off contracts.
• Innovation, digital tools, data products and emerging technologies.
• Commercial and contractual considerations.
• Social value and sustainability opportunities.
• Market risks, constraints and barriers to participation.
3. How to participate
Suppliers interested in participating in this market engagement exercise should contact the Commercial Lead using the details below to request the market engagement documentation.
Paul Butler
Email: paul.butler@defra.gov.uk
The market engagement pack includes:
• Market Engagement Specification
• Market Engagement Questionnaire
Suppliers should submit one coordinated response per organisation by the published deadline.
Participation is voluntary. Suppliers will not be disadvantaged in any subsequent procurement if they do not participate, and participation will not give any supplier an advantage.
5. Indicative timetable
Deadline for supplier responses
Friday 30 October 2026 at 2pm (Date Extended)
6. Review of responses
Week commencing Monday 2 November 2026
(Date Extended)
7. Expected commencement of the new arrangement:
1 March 2027
The dates above are indicative and may change following market engagement and internal approvals.
Classification
CPV71351220 — Geological consultancy services
Lots
Lot 1Value not stated
Documents and notices
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a TenderOpen source ↗
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.
To extend the opportunity to 2:00 PM on Friday 30 October 2026
Id
097515-2026
Lots and requirements
Entry 1
Id
1
Status
planned
Suitability
Sme
Yes
Contract period
Starts
1 Mar 2027, 00:00
Ends
31 Mar 2031, 23:59
Items and delivery
Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1
Additional Classifications
Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
71351220
Description
Geological consultancy services
Planning and budget
Milestones
Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Description
3. How to participate
Suppliers interested in participating in this market engagement exercise should contact the Commercial Lead using the details below to request the market engagement documentation.
Paul Butler
Email: paul.butler@defra.gov.uk
The market engagement pack includes:
• Market Engagement Specification
• Market Engagement Questionnaire
Suppliers should submit one coordinated response per organisation by the published deadline.
Participation is voluntary. Suppliers will not be disadvantaged in any subsequent procurement if they do not participate, and participation will not give any supplier an advantage.
5. Indicative timetable
Deadline for supplier responses
Friday 30 October 2026 at 2pm (Date Extended)
Due
23 Oct 2026, 23:59
Status
scheduled
Documents
Entry 1
Id
097515-2026
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Buyer location · London · UKI32 · SW1P 4DF · United Kingdom
Notice and amendment history
6 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.
6 VERSIONS
1
091964-2026Pipeline notice on Find a Tender ·
2
093661-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
3
095581-2026Pipeline notice on Find a Tender ·
4
095593-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
5
097515-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
6
097518-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
PROCURAAXIS ANALYSIS
ProcuraAxis Analysis
Our approved analysis of the opportunity appears below the official tender information.
ANALYSIS PREVIEW
Opportunity intelligence at a glance
Early-stage market engagement for a potential Environment Agency framework covering geological products and services. The buyer is seeking market feedback on capability, capacity, delivery and commercial models; this is not an open competitive tender.
Who this may suit
Relevant to organisations able to provide geological expertise, datasets, interpretation, modelling and specialist advisory services. Participation is voluntary and final framework requirements remain undecided.
Key points identified
Market engagement responseOne coordinated response per organisationEvidence: "Suppliers should submit one coordinated response per organisation by the published deadline."
Potential scopeGeological expertise, datasets, interpretation, modelling and specialist advisory servicesEvidence: "The proposed arrangement is intended to provide access to geological expertise, datasets, interpretation, modelling and specialist advisory services."
Market feedback soughtCapability and capacity, delivery models, innovation, commercial considerations, sustainability and market risksEvidence: "The Environment Agency wishes to understand market capability and capacity, potential innovations, commercial models and delivery approaches within the geological services sector."
95% approved-analysis confidence5 supplier criteria identified4 risks or unknowns
ProcuraAxis structures information found in published procurement records, checks the result for consistency and publishes only approved analysis. Confidence describes the completeness and consistency of the available source information; it is not a guarantee of eligibility or contract award.
Early-stage market engagement for a potential Environment Agency framework covering geological products and services. The buyer is seeking market feedback on capability, capacity, delivery and commercial models; this is not an open competitive tender.
Who this may suit
Relevant to organisations able to provide geological expertise, datasets, interpretation, modelling and specialist advisory services. Participation is voluntary and final framework requirements remain undecided.
Key deliverables
Coordinated market-engagement response per organisation
Feedback on capability, capacity, delivery models, innovation and commercial considerations
Potential geological expertise, datasets, interpretation, modelling and specialist advisory services for a future arrangement
SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS
5 criteria identified
Market engagement response
99% confidence
One coordinated response per organisation
View supporting evidence
"Suppliers should submit one coordinated response per organisation by the published deadline."
Potential scope
99% confidence
Geological expertise, datasets, interpretation, modelling and specialist advisory services
View supporting evidence
"The proposed arrangement is intended to provide access to geological expertise, datasets, interpretation, modelling and specialist advisory services."
Market feedback sought
96% confidence
Capability and capacity, delivery models, innovation, commercial considerations, sustainability and market risks
View supporting evidence
"The Environment Agency wishes to understand market capability and capacity, potential innovations, commercial models and delivery approaches within the geological services sector."
Participation
99% confidence
Voluntary; non-participation will not disadvantage suppliers in a subsequent procurement
View supporting evidence
"Participation is voluntary. Suppliers will not be disadvantaged in any subsequent procurement if they do not participate."
Supplier eligibility criteria
98% confidence
Unknown
View supporting evidence
No eligibility criteria are stated in the supplied notice.
COMMERCIAL AND DELIVERY
Contract intelligence
Commercial
Indicative potential value
99% confidence
Up to £5.9 million over four years
View supporting evidence
"The potential future arrangement may have an estimated value of up to £5.9 million over four years. This estimate is indicative and is provided for market engagement purposes only."
Commercial model
93% confidence
Unknown; feedback is sought on commercial and contractual considerations
View supporting evidence
"Commercial and contractual considerations."
Framework structure
99% confidence
Undecided
View supporting evidence
"No decision has been made on the final procurement route, framework structure, number of suppliers, lotting approach, award methodology, call-off arrangements or final value."
Delivery
Potential supported activities
98% confidence
Flood risk management, groundwater investigations, environmental protection, place-based planning, environmental monitoring and related technical programmes
View supporting evidence
"These services may support Environment Agency activities, including flood risk management, groundwater investigations, environmental protection, place-based planning, environmental monitoring and related technical programmes."
Expected commencement
97% confidence
1 March 2027 (indicative and subject to change)
View supporting evidence
"Expected commencement of the new arrangement: 1 March 2027" and "The dates above are indicative and may change following market engagement and internal approvals."
Response deadline
99% confidence
Friday 30 October 2026 at 2pm (extended)
View supporting evidence
"Deadline for supplier responses Friday 30 October 2026 at 2pm (Date Extended)"
PROCEDURE
How to respond
Opportunity status
99% confidence
Upcoming preliminary market engagement; not a competitive tender process
View supporting evidence
"The Environment Agency is undertaking preliminary market engagement" and "This preliminary market engagement does not form part of a competitive tender process."
Participation route
99% confidence
Contact the Commercial Lead to request market engagement documentation
View supporting evidence
"Suppliers interested in participating in this market engagement exercise should contact the Commercial Lead using the details below to request the market engagement documentation."
Future procurement route
99% confidence
Unknown / undecided
View supporting evidence
"No decision has been made on the final procurement route"
RISKS AND UNKNOWNS
Points requiring attention
Early-stage scope and commercial uncertainty
99% confidence
The final procurement route, framework structure, supplier numbers, lotting, award methodology, call-off arrangements and final value are undecided.
View supporting evidence
"No decision has been made on the final procurement route, framework structure, number of suppliers, lotting approach, award methodology, call-off arrangements or final value."
No commitment to procure
99% confidence
The market engagement does not commit the buyer to a subsequent procurement.
View supporting evidence
"This preliminary market engagement does not form part of a competitive tender process and does not commit the Environment Agency to undertake a subsequent procurement."
Procedure metadata inconsistency
99% confidence
Structured metadata labels the method as "open" / "Open procedure", while the notice expressly says this is preliminary market engagement and not a competitive tender. The future route is stated as undecided.
View supporting evidence
Structured fields state "procurement_method": "open" and "procurement_method_details": "Open procedure"; notice states "This preliminary market engagement does not form part of a competitive tender process" and "No decision has been made on the final procurement route."
Indicative timetable
99% confidence
The response deadline and expected commencement may change following engagement and approvals.
View supporting evidence
"The dates above are indicative and may change following market engagement and internal approvals."
ProcuraAxis analysis supplements, but does not replace, the original notice and tender documents. Always verify eligibility, deadlines and commercial terms with the issuing authority.
Continue in your ProcuraAxis workspaceFree account · Full approved analysis