Official UK procurement notice
Environmental Science Research, Development and Evidence (ES RDE) Framework
Authority: DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (Central government)
What is being bought10 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionAn open framework for Scientific Research and Development (R&D) and monitoring. It will cover the following thematic areas: Food Science, Farming, Air Quality and Sound, Vegetation and Soil, Flood and Water, Marine and Fisheries, Resource and Waste, Animal Welfare and Plant Health, Biodiversity and Chemicals. Contracts under the Environmental Science Research, Development and Evidence Framework (ES RDE) will comprise creative work undertaken on a systematic basis to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications. Basic research, applied research and experimental development research will all be in scope. Evidence covers a range of sciences including economics, social research, operational research, statistics, natural science, evaluation, engineering and geography.
This notice informs the market of the award of suppliers who have been awarded a place on a framework only. There are no guarantees of work or contract value made as a result. All 'contract' values refer to total 8-year lot values.
A redacted copy of the agreement, which is the same for all suppliers, is available on request.
Due to system limitations in publishing the full volume of contracts and supplier information, all relevant details are provided in the following link:
atamis-9529.my.salesforce.com/sfc/p/8d000003VQwd/a… ↗
Please ensure that you click the 'download' option to get the full text of the notice. The information contained in the link has been shared with tendering suppliers as detailed.
- How the procedure runs: This procurement is being conducted as a Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Completion and submission of all documents will be conducted via the Authority’s eSourcing system. There will be three stages as follows: Stage One – Conditions of Participation At this stage of the procurement Tenderers will be asked to submit their Procurement Specific Questionnaire and the response to the Conditions of Participation. 1.1 Conditions of Participation and Procurement Specific Questionnaire Tenderers must complete a series of questions to allow the Authority to confirm their eligibility to participate in the competition, together with core supplier information, additional exclusions and debarment information. Tenderers will not progress to the Technical Response stage if they do not pass this stage. Stage Two – Tender Stage 1.2 Technical Response Tenderers must respond to a series of technical questions as outlined on the Authority’s eSourcing system. Responses will be evaluated as described in this document and the Authority’s eSourcing system. If Tenderers fail to meet any minimum scoring requirements, they will be eliminated from the competition and not progress to having their Commercial Response assessed. Suppliers must upload their Form of Tender otherwise their submission will not be considered. 1.3 Commercial Response Tenderers must complete the commercial envelope as detailed on the Authority’s eSourcing system. Responses will be evaluated as described in this document and the Authority’s eSourcing system. Scores from the technical and commercial sections will be added together to arrive at a total weighted score. The most advantageous tenders for each lot will be the Tenderers with the highest final scores. Tenderers will be notified about whether they have been successful in securing a place on the Framework. Stage Three – Preferred Bidder Stage An intended award list made up of preferred bidders will be finalised, and final negotiations will be conducted with those suppliers who have been selected. Please note that this tender will be tendered, evaluated and awarded on a sub-lot basis.
CPV: Design and execution of research and development
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Open framework · open framework scheme (admission reopens)
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Places
- up to 312 suppliers · 1 bids on the busiest of 10 lots (0.0 per place) · 1 appointed
- Framework period
- 8 yrs from 1 Feb 2026
- Scheme runs until
- 31 Jan 2034
Who may buy through it
Defra group (including but not limited to Core Defra, EA, NE, MMO, APHA, CEFAS). It will also be procured on behalf of the following government organisations outside of the Defra group:
- Drinking Water Inspectorate
- Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
- Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (DBEIS)
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)
Published description of the framework
This is a multi-supplier agreement.
Prices will be based on the agreed rate card showing rates for described roles.
Call of contracts under the Framework may be placed by either Direct Award or Further Competition depending on value.
There will be no limit to how long a call off contract issued under the Framework can last. No single call off contract will be more than £4,999,999.99 in value.
- ES RDE 101 - Biodiversity Policy Analysis Tool: Freshwater Module Development · DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS · 15 Oct 2026
- ES RDE 097 - Operationalising the UK Saltmarsh code - year 1 · ENVIRONMENT AGENCY · 15 Oct 2026
- ES RDE 097 - Operationalising the UK Saltmarsh code - year 1 · ENVIRONMENT AGENCY · 15 Oct 2026
- ES RDE 091 - Exposure and Effects of Veterinary Medicines and Pesticides to Aqu · NATURAL ENGLAND · 14 Oct 2026
- ES RDE 079 - Using partnership working to scope a lowcost, permanent estuarine t · NATURAL ENGLAND · 13 Oct 2026
Notices that name this framework as their framework in the official record, latest 5 of 71. Many call-offs are never published, so this is a floor, not utilisation.
Lots and requirements (10)Procurement structure
10 lots · all with a published value · same conditions of participation on every lot · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Food ScienceAwardedPublished value£3,070,952
1.1 – Supporting a resilient and secure food system 1.2 – Innovation, Equitable Growth, and Productivity in the Food System 1.3 – Safety and Confidence in food 1.4 – Supporting a sustainable and healthy agri-food chain 1.5 – Services supporting Agri-Food Chain Analysis
- Technical & professional ability
Bidders must meet the Conditions of Participation laid out in the Tender Documents.
Lot #2FarmingAwardedPublished value£40,196,438
2.1 – Crop performance and protection services 2.2 – Livestock performance services 2.3 – Agronomy, nutrient management and sustainable system services 2.4 – Modelling toolkits, informatics and comparative life cycle assessment services
- Technical & professional ability
Bidders must meet the Conditions of Participation laid out in the Tender Documents.
Lot #3Soil and VegetationAwardedPublished value£30,647,331
4.1 – Soil and Vegetation
- Technical & professional ability
Bidders must meet the Conditions of Participation laid out in the Tender Documents.
Lot #4Marine & FisheriesAwardedPublished value£21,098,224
6.1 – Clean & Safe Seas 6.2 – Healthy & biologically diverse seas 6.3 – Productive seas & freshwater systems 6.4 – Ocean climate science & international engagement 6.5 – Society & the sea
- Technical & professional ability
Bidders must meet the Conditions of Participation laid out in the Tender Documents.
Lot #5Resource & WasteAwardedPublished value£16,323,670
7.1 – Waste & waste management 7.2 – Circular Economy, Material resource efficiency and Sustainable Consumption
- Technical & professional ability
Bidders must meet the Conditions of Participation laid out in the Tender Documents.
Lot #6Biodiversity; International and DomesticAwardedPublished value£11,549,118
9.1 – Nature and climate analysis 9.2 – People, finance and health 9.3 – Food systems and global trade
- Technical & professional ability
Bidders must meet the Conditions of Participation laid out in the Tender Documents.
Lot #7Air Quality and SoundAwardedPublished value£21,098,221
3.1 Air quality analysis and expert services 3.2 Air quality monitoring management and data for UK Networks 3.3 Air quality Monitoring and Data Projects 3.4 Modelling tools for air quality studies 3.5 Air quality economics and social research 3.6 Acquisition and analysis of information for acoustics 3.7 Understanding and interpretation of information for acoustics
- Technical & professional ability
Bidders must meet the Conditions of Participation laid out in the Tender Documents.
Lot #8Flood & WaterAwardedPublished value£30,647,332
5.1 Evidence reviews for water quality, water resources, flood and coastal erosion risk management and drinking water quality 5.2 R&D for water quality, water resources, flood and coastal erosion risk management and drinking water quality
- Technical & professional ability
Bidders must meet the Conditions of Participation laid out in the Tender Documents.
Lot #9Animal, Plant and Forestry ResearchAwardedPublished value£5,819,652
8.1 Plant Health Natural Sciences Research and Evidence 8.2 Animal Health Research and Evidence 8.3 Animal Welfare Research and Evidence 8.4 Trees and Forestry Research and Evidence
- Technical & professional ability
Bidders must meet the Conditions of Participation laid out in the Tender Documents.
Lot #10ChemicalsAwardedPublished value£11,549,119
10.1 Risk Assessment 10.2 Risk Management 10.3 Socio-economic Assessment 10.4 Social Research 10.5 Data Analysis and Statistics for Chemicals and Pesticides 10.6 Understanding the Risks from Chemical Pollution
- Technical & professional ability
Bidders must meet the Conditions of Participation laid out in the Tender Documents.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (3)
- Technical: 45%
- Price: 40%
- Social Value: 15%
Published award criteria (3)
- Technical
- Price
- Social Value
- Technical & professional ability
Bidders must meet the Conditions of Participation laid out in the Tender Documents.
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Environmental Science Research, Development and Evidence (ES RDE)…” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 312 suppliers, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Open framework scheme
- Who may use the vehicle
- Defra group (including but not limited to Core Defra, EA, NE, MMO, APHA, CEFAS). It will also be procured on behalf of the following government organisations outside of the Defra group: • Drinking Water Inspectorate • Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT) • Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (DBEIS) • Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) · open scheme: new suppliers can join during the term
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 9 Dec 2025, 16:47 GMT
- Last source update
- 19 Dec 2025, 15:22 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 16 Oct 2025
- Authority reference
C28693- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-015314- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04ef64Find a Tender
- How it runs
This procurement is being conducted as a Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Completion and submission of all documents will be conducted via the Authority’s eSourcing system. There will be three stages as follows: Stage One – Conditions of Participation At this stage of the procurement Tenderers will be asked to submit their Procurement Specific Questionnaire and the response to the Conditions of Participation. 1.1 Conditions of Participation and Procurement Specific Questionnaire Tenderers must complete a series of questions to allow the Authority to confirm their eligibility to participate in the competition, together with core supplier information, additional exclusions and debarment information. Tenderers will not progress to the Technical Response stage if they do not pass this stage. Stage Two – Tender Stage 1.2 Technical Response Tenderers must respond to a series of technical questions as outlined on the Authority’s eSourcing system. Responses will be evaluated as described in this document and the Authority’s eSourcing system. If Tenderers fail to meet any minimum scoring requirements, they will be eliminated from the competition and not progress to having their Commercial Response assessed. Suppliers must upload their Form of Tender otherwise their submission will not be considered. 1.3 Commercial Response Tenderers must complete the commercial envelope as detailed on the Authority’s eSourcing system. Responses will be evaluated as described in this document and the Authority’s eSourcing system. Scores from the technical and commercial sections will be added together to arrive at a total weighted score. The most advantageous tenders for each lot will be the Tenderers with the highest final scores. Tenderers will be notified about whether they have been successful in securing a place on the Framework. Stage Three – Preferred Bidder Stage An intended award list made up of preferred bidders will be finalised, and final negotiations will be conducted with those suppliers who have been selected. Please note that this tender will be tendered, evaluated and awarded on a sub-lot basis.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 12 May 2025, 12:00 BST
- Appointment period ends
- 16 Jun 2025, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 2 Jun 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
atamis-9529.my.site.com/s/Welcome ↗ Submissions must be made via the Authority's eSourcing platform.
Timeline
19 Mar 2025 → 1 Feb 2026 · 12 dates- Planning notice published19 Mar 2025, 19:03 GMT
- Market engagement9 Apr 2025, 23:59 BST
We held an Early Market Engagement event via Teams on the 13th of February. If you missed the opportunity to join, we are happy to share the slides from the day with you. Additionally, we can provide you with a questionnaire to gather your feedback. The questionnaire will be open until the 9th of April.
- Next notice expected14 Apr 2025, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published15 Apr 2025, 15:30 BST
- Expressions of interest by12 May 2025, 12:00 BST
- Clarification questions by2 Jun 2025, 12:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown16 Jun 2025, 12:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent13 Aug 2025, 00:00 BST
- Award decision expected by368 days ago16 Oct 2025, 23:59 BST
- Standstill ends305 days ago18 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Latest notice published304 days ago19 Dec 2025, 15:22 GMT
- Contract starts261 days ago1 Feb 2026
Notice history
9 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 19 Mar 2025- Planned procurement notice published19 Mar 2025, 19:03 GMTUK3
- Planned procurement notice published20 Mar 2025, 15:56 GMTUK3
- Planned procurement notice published21 Mar 2025, 15:54 GMTUK3
- Preliminary market engagement notice published2 Apr 2025, 15:32 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published15 Apr 2025, 15:30 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published17 Apr 2025, 10:15 BSTUK4
- Contract award notice published9 Dec 2025, 16:47 GMTUK6
- Contract details notice published19 Dec 2025, 15:22 GMTUK7
- Contract signature expected19 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMTscheduled
Published amendments (3)
Added Max Suppliers 272, Added Estimated Deadline for Submissions date 9th June 2025. Corrected Lot Numbers.
Amended the Framework Award Method to "Either with or without competition"
Framework Award Method amended from 'With competition' to 'Either with or without competition' to accurately reflect framework award methodology as set out in the bidder pack.
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across several lots1 award | |||
| ‘Withheld Section94 supplier’SMEEnvironmental Science Research, Development and Evidence Framework (All Lots)1 Feb 2026 – 31 Jan 2029 · up to 31 Jan 2034Extensions: This Open Framework will last eight years in total commencing 1st February 2026 until 31st January 2034. It will be re-opened in its third year, and again in either the fifth or sixth years as the Authority deems necessary. | £192,000,000 | 5 Aug 2025 | Awarded |
Contracts
Environmental Science Research, Development and Evidence Framework (All Lots) · ‘Withheld Section94 supplier’SME
- Signed
- 19 Dec 2025
- Value
- £192,000,000
- Period
- 1 Feb 2026 – 31 Jan 2029 · up to 31 Jan 2034 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- This Open Framework will last eight years in total commencing 1st February 2026 until 31st January 2034. It will be re-opened in its third year, and again in either the fifth or sixth years as the Authority deems necessary.
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Food Science | 1final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2 · Farming | 1final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
| 3 · Soil and Vegetation | 1final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
| 4 · Marine & Fisheries | 1final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
| 5 · Resource & Waste | 1final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
| 6 · Biodiversity; International and Domestic | 1final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
| 7 · Air Quality and Sound | 1final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
| 8 · Flood & Water | 1final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
| 9 · Animal, Plant and Forestry Research | 1final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
| 10 · Chemicals | 1final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- did not winWithheld Section94 Supplier · Greater London · all lots
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
1 commercial party on the notice- Withheld Section94 SupplierFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (8)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Planned procurement notice Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- Planned procurement notice Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- Planned procurement notice Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender