AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
The Environment Agency awarded a below-threshold, framework-based direct award to UK CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY & HYDROLOGY for year-one work to finalise future governance and technical delivery for the UK Saltmarsh Code ahead of a planned 2027 pilot.
Published outcomeA contract was signed on 2 October 2026, started on 7 October 2026 and is recorded as active through 31 March 2027.
Market significanceThis is a £58,796 excluding VAT specialist research and consultancy engagement supporting development of the UK Saltmarsh Code.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
1 supplier record analysed
UK CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY & HYDROLOGY
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots Lot 1 · £58,796 excluding VAT (£70,555.20 including VAT) GBP · Verified supplier; active award and contract
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Award 1 identifies UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology as its sole supplier. Supplier verification records an exact-name match to company number 11314957. The associated Contract 1 value is £58,796 net and £70,555.20 gross.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Notice type
99% confidenceContract details notice
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The published document is described as a "Contract details notice on Find a Tender".
Award status
99% confidenceActive
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Award 1 has status "active".
Contract status
99% confidenceActive
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Contract 1 has status "active".
Contract signature
99% confidenceSigned 2 October 2026
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Contract 1 gives dateSigned as 2026-10-02.
Contract start
99% confidence7 October 2026
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Contract period startDate is 2026-10-07.
VALUES
Published values explained
Contract value excluding VAT
99% confidence£58,796
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Contract 1 value.amount is 58796 GBP.
Contract value including VAT
99% confidence£70,555.20
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Contract 1 value.amountGross is 70555.2 GBP.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Contract signed
99% confidence2 October 2026
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Contract 1 dateSigned is 2026-10-02.
Contract started
99% confidence7 October 2026
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Contract 1 period startDate is 2026-10-07.
Contract ends
99% confidence31 March 2027
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Contract 1 period endDate is 2027-03-31.
Notice published
99% confidence15 October 2026
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The contract details notice datePublished is 2026-10-15.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Requirement
99% confidenceOperationalising the UK Saltmarsh Code — year 1
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Tender title: "ES RDE 097 - Operationalising the UK Saltmarsh code - year 1".
Delivery purpose
98% confidenceFinalise future governance structure and technical delivery of the Saltmarsh Code
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The description states these elements need to be finalised during a transition year before a planned 2027 pilot.
Service classification
99% confidenceResearch and development services and related consultancy services (CPV 73000000)
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Award item 1 includes CPV 73000000.
Lot structure
99% confidenceOne published lot (Lot 1)
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Tender and award data each identify Lot 1 only.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procurement method
99% confidenceSelective
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Tender procurementMethod is "selective".
Award route
99% confidenceBelow-threshold award under framework; self-service direct award
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procurementMethodDetails states "Below threshold - award under framework" and the description states "Environment Agency Self-Service Direct Award".
Competition
99% confidenceNon-competitive
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Tender competitive is false.
Framework reference
98% confidenceRelated framework process ocds-h6vhtk-04ef64
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relatedProcesses identifies this framework OCID and related framework lot a2XTu000000WlS1MAK.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Term
99% confidence7 October 2026 to 31 March 2027
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Contract 1 period supplies these start and end dates.
Above-threshold status
99% confidenceBelow threshold
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Contract 1 aboveThreshold is false.
Extension or renewal terms
99% confidenceUnknown
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Information not supplied in the published notice.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Commercial structure
99% confidenceA sole-supplier direct award under a framework
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The tender is marked non-competitive and below-threshold under framework; Award 1 names one supplier.
Delivery window
98% confidenceShort year-one engagement of approximately six months
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The explicit period runs from 7 October 2026 to 31 March 2027.
Published evaluation rationale
99% confidenceUnknown
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No award rationale, scoring, pricing breakdown or bidder information is supplied in the published notice.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Supplier verification
99% confidenceVerified
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The supplier was matched by exact name to verified company number 11314957; no supplier-name mismatch is recorded.
Award and contract evidence
98% confidenceHigh-quality lifecycle evidence available
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The source provides an active award, active contract, signed date, start/end dates and net/gross values.
Unpublished competition and evaluation information
99% confidenceBid counts, evaluation details and award rationale are not supplied
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Information not supplied in the published notice.
Lot detail limitation
99% confidenceLot 1 has no published title, description or separate value
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The lot record contains no title, description or value.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- Information not supplied in the published notice: award date, bid count, evaluation methodology, award rationale, scores and pricing breakdown.
- Lot 1 has no published title, description, individual value or detailed deliverables.
- No extension, renewal or follow-on procurement terms are published.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
Environment AgencyUK CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY & HYDROLOGYSaltmarsh Codedirect awardframeworkresearch and development services
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Who won the Environment Agency Saltmarsh Code contract?
UK CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY & HYDROLOGY won Award 1. Its identity was verified by exact-name match to company number 11314957.
What is the value and term of the contract?
The contract value is £58,796 excluding VAT, or £70,555.20 including VAT. It runs from 7 October 2026 to 31 March 2027.
Was this a competitive procurement?
The notice records a non-competitive, below-threshold self-service direct award under a framework.
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.