The Environment Agency is undertaking preliminary market engagement to inform the future procurement strategy for the provision of geological products and services.
The potential future arrangement may have an estimated value of up to £7.08 million (including VAT) over four years – the estimate is indicative and is provided for market engagement purposes only.
The proposed arrangement is intended to provide access to geological expertise, datasets, interpretation, modelling and specialist advisory services which may support Environment Agency activities, including:
- flood risk management
- groundwater investigations
- environmental protection
- place-based planning
- environmental monitoring
- elated technical programmes.
The Agency wants 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.
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. Aim of the engagement is to obtain information on:
- 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.
Interested suppliers (if not already registered) are asked to register on the Defra eCommercial System through Atamis. Once registered, suppliers will be able to access the market engagement opportunity and submit one coordinated response per organisation by the deadline. The Agency points outt that suppliers will not be disadvantaged in any subsequent procurement if they do not participate, and participation will not give any supplier an advantage.
Deadline for supplier responses is 2pm on Friday 23 October 2026 and a review of responses will be undertaken in the week commencing Monday 26 October 2026. Estimated publication date of a formal tender notice is 23 November 2026.
Current estimated start and end contract dates are 1 March 2027 to 31 March 2031
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is undertaking the procurement project on behalf of the Environment Agency.
Click here to access the Atamis portal and register on the Defra eCommercial System
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