Official UK procurement notice
Groundwater Modelling National Framework 2026 - 2034
Authority: ENVIRONMENT AGENCY (Public body)·On behalf of: DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
What is being bought3 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThe aim of the national framework contract is to ensure that all relevant suppliers are available to deliver the Environment Agency's groundwater modelling programme. This includes small and medium sized enterprises not included on existing frameworks. The framework provides an efficient and consistent procurement route for groundwater modelling services across the Environment Agency with standard specifications, key performance indicators and supplier performance monitoring. It also supports access to scarce specialist skills and underpins a national groundwater modelling service.
CPV: Design-modelling services · Environmental issues consultancy services · Environmental services · Research and development consultancy services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework · open framework scheme (admission reopens)
- Call-offs
- every call-off is a further competition among the appointed suppliers
- Bids received
- 15 bids on the busiest of 3 lots · 13 suppliers appointed
- Framework period
- 8 yrs from 18 May 2026
- Scheme runs until
- 30 Jun 2034
Published description of the framework
Open framework with reopening after Year 3 and Year 5/6. Duration 8 years. Suppliers appointed across 3 lots.
Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure
3 lots · all with a published valueLot #1Groundwater Modelling ServicesAwardedPublished value£16,361,596
This service supports data collection and verification, enhancement of existing and development of new conceptual models, numerical model construction or development, verification, maintenance and operational use of groundwater models, model output validation and reporting.
Lot #2Groundwater Flood Forecasting and Modelling ServiceAwardedPublished value£392,810
This service supports the Flood Forecasting Centre’s ability to forecast groundwater flood risk in England,by developing new groundwater level models, maintaining or updating existing ones and providing operational support.
Lot #3Groundwater Modelling Technical SupportAwardedPublished value£1,079,426
Technical experts are required to support specific individual projects; the role shall include specific measurable activities of a constrained defined nature. The nature of the support includes technical review & analysis.
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).
- “Groundwater Modelling National Framework 2026 - 2034” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: each call-off is a further competition, so the pricing contest starts after appointment.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open 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
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 10 Jun 2025, 16:58 BST
- Last source update
- 24 Aug 2026, 14:24 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 30 Apr 2026
- Authority reference
C34412- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-080002- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-054649Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 30 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 15 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
- 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
10 Jun 2025 → 24 Aug 2026 · 11 dates- Planning notice published10 Jun 2025, 16:58 BST
- Market engagement11 Jul 2025, 23:59 BST
We welcome interested suppliers to contact us by 11th July to request a copy of the market engagement pack. We also welcome your thoughts and feedback on the proposed operation of the future framework via email. If you believe a one-to-one meeting is necessary, please provide a short paragraph (up to 500 words) outlining your technical capability to deliver the required services under this framework. Kindly also include any specific questions you would like to discuss. Please submit this by 25th June. Note: The Environment Agency reserves the right to decline meeting requests where the information provided does not demonstrate sufficient capability. This is to ensure meetings are focused on suppliers who meet the framework requirements. All Q&As raised during the market engagement period, unless deemed commercially sensitive, will be published as part of the Bidder Pack. The information provided in this Market Engagement Pack is for market consultation purpose only and is subject to change. The Authority reserves the right to update, amend, or withdraw any part of this pack ahead of a formal procurement process.
- Next notice expected8 Aug 2025, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published315 days ago5 Dec 2025, 10:00 GMT
- Clarification questions by274 days ago15 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Admission / appointment period ends259 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown30 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by168 days ago30 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Assessment summaries sent156 days ago13 May 2026, 00:00 BST
- Contract starts151 days ago18 May 2026, 00:00 BST
- Standstill ends141 days ago27 May 2026, 23:59 BST
- Latest notice published53 days ago24 Aug 2026, 14:24 BST
Notice history
15 events · 9 releases on Find a Tender · since 10 Jun 2025- Pipeline notice published10 Jun 2025, 16:58 BSTUK1
- Pipeline notice published10 Jun 2025, 17:05 BSTUK1
- Preliminary market engagement notice published11 Jun 2025, 11:13 BSTUK2
- Published value published: £12,000,00011 Jun 2025, 11:13 BST
- Tender notice published5 Dec 2025, 10:00 GMTUK4
- Published value updated to £17,800,0005 Dec 2025, 10:00 GMTwas £12,000,000
- Status changed to active5 Dec 2025, 10:00 GMT
- Procurement method changed5 Dec 2025, 10:00 GMT
- Deadline published: 30 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT5 Dec 2025, 10:00 GMT
- Status changed to complete15 May 2026, 16:02 BST
- Contract award notice published15 May 2026, 16:02 BSTUK6
- Contract award notice published15 May 2026, 16:03 BSTUK6
- Contract award notice published15 May 2026, 16:05 BSTUK6
- Contract signature expected26 Jun 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published24 Aug 2026, 14:24 BSTUK7
Published amendments (1)
changing the estimated end date from 1/1/2033 to 31/12/2033 - it was a typo
Routine re-releases (9)
- 2026-05: 2 releases · 15 May 2026, 15 May 2026
- 2025-12: 1 release · 5 Dec 2025
- 2025-06: 3 releases · 10 Jun 2025, 11 Jun 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across several lots1 award | |||
| British Geological Survey, Groundwater Science LtdSME, INTERASME, Jeremy Benn Associates LtdSME, Mott MacDonald, Stantec UK Limited +7 moreEnvironment Agency Groundwater Modelling Framework Tender Ref: C321871 Jul 2026 – 30 Jun 2034Options: Framework reopening's after Year 3 and Year 5/6. Framework duration: 8 years. | £17,800,000 | 5 May 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
Environment Agency Groundwater Modelling Framework Tender Ref: C32187 · British Geological Survey, Groundwater Science LtdSME, INTERASME, Jeremy Benn Associates LtdSME, Mott MacDonald, Stantec UK Limited +7 more
- Signed
- 30 Jun 2026
- Value
- £17,800,000
- Period
- 1 Jul 2026 – 30 Jun 2034
- Status
- active
- Options
- Framework reopening's after Year 3 and Year 5/6. Framework duration: 8 years.
5 agreed KPIs: Communications and engagement · Collaborative behaviours · Delivery- On-Time Delivery Against Awarded Projects …
- Communications and engagement, Supplier shares information in a timely and efficient manner, proactively identifies risks, escalate issues early, and engages in open and honest dialogue to support join problem-solving.
- Collaborative behaviours, Supplier complies with framework procedures; participates constructively in discussions, shares information and expertise, supports innovation and works jointly with the Authority to develop well-supported, best value solutions.
- Delivery- On-Time Delivery Against Awarded Projects, Supplier delivers outputs and milestones in accordance with the accepted call-off contract, with minimal avoidable delays.
- Social Value, Supplier demonstrates evidence of progress against their nominated Social Value commitments in the awarded contracts, in line with the social value specification, showing measurable outcomes and impacts
- Quality of Delivery, Suppliers delivers project outputs to the required standards as set out in the call off projects with minimal quality concerns raised by customers
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Groundwater Modelling Services | 15final-stage tenders | 7 | 0 | — |
| 2 · Groundwater Flood Forecasting and Modelling Service | 14final-stage tenders · 15 at stage one | 6 | 0 | — |
| 3 · Groundwater Modelling Technical Support | 15final-stage tenders | 7 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- wonUKRI – British Geological Survey · East Midlands · all lots
- wonINTERA Geosciences UK LimitedSME · Greater London · all lots
- wonMott MacDonald · East of England · all lots
- wonStantec UK Limited · South East England · all lots
- wonGroundwater Science LimitedSME · West Midlands · all lots
- wonWSP UK Limited · Greater London · all lots
- did not winGeoSmart Information LtdSME · West Midlands · all lots
- wonJeremy Benn Associates Limited (JBA Consulting) · Yorkshire and the Humber · all lots
- did not winGeoff Parkin Hydro LtdSME · North East England · all lots
- did not winGroundwater Modelling Solutions LtdSME · West Midlands · all lots
- did not winStephen Buss Environmental Consulting LtdSME · West Midlands · all lots
- did not winAtkinsRéalis UK Limited · South East England · all lots
- wonWorley Europe Limited · Greater London · all lots
- did not winWater Research Centre Ltd (WRc) · South West England · all lots
- did not winMCM Environmental Services LtdSME · South East England · 1, 3
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
2 public bodies on the noticeOther public bodies
- DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRSProcuring entityManagement and Facilitator of the Procurement process.
Framework contractors & participating bidders
15 commercial parties on the notice · 13 awarded- AtkinsRéalis UK LimitedFramework contractor
- GeoSmart Information LtdFramework contractor
- Geoff Parkin Hydro LtdFramework contractor
- Groundwater Modelling Solutions LtdFramework contractor
- Groundwater Science LimitedFramework contractor
- INTERA Geosciences UK LimitedFramework contractor
- Jeremy Benn Associates Limited (JBA Consulting)Framework contractor
- MCM Environmental Services LtdBidder / tenderer
- Mott MacDonaldFramework contractor
- Stantec UK LimitedFramework contractor
Show 5 more suppliers
- Stephen Buss Environmental Consulting LtdFramework contractor
- UKRI – British Geological SurveyFramework contractor
- WSP UK LimitedFramework contractor
- Water Research Centre Ltd (WRc)Bidder / tenderer
- Worley Europe LimitedFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (9)
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
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award 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
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender