Official UK procurement notice
ID 6612871 - DAERA - AFBI - Comprehensive Radiological Monitoring Survey for Radionuclide Decommissioning Project
Authority: Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (Central government)·On behalf of: CPD
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) (Buyer) have a requirement for the provision of a Comprehensive Radiological Monitoring Survey and Report (Contract). AFBI is a leading provider of scientific research and services to government, nongovernmental organisations and commercial organisations. AFBI is sponsored by its key stakeholder, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). AFBI has historically provided the radiological monitoring and emergency response service for DAERA, but DAERA has confirmed that they will no longer require this capability from AFBI. DAERA have also determined that much of the equipment used by AFBI for this service has reached end of life and would cost significant sums to replace. Therefore, the decommissioning of AFBI’s defunct facilities is now required. AFBI wish to commence the decommissioning of these facilities in a prompt and controlled manner, ensuring that any radiological contamination is appropriately identified, assessed and managed.
To address this, AFBI will engage external Suppliers to undertake a planned three-stage decommissioning process of the defunct facilities. This procurement competition is for stage 2 - 'Monitoring', which requires the carrying out of a Comprehensive Radiological Monitoring Survey (both direct and indirect when required) of the facilities, and provision of a detailed Survey Report of the survey’s findings, including;
- the identification of any areas with above background levels, or clearance levels of contamination
- a set of recommendation pathways for decontamination and/or disposal in relation to the findings.
- Delivery of a presentation of their report and findings to AFBI following the Monitoring exercise.
As outlined in this Instructions to Tenderers document, a Supplier for the completion of Stage 2 will be identified by the Competitive Flexible Procedure. This will include an initial Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) and Conditions of Participation (COP) Stage which will be used to identify a shortlist of experienced and qualified Suppliers, who will then be invited to participate in a following Tender Stage. Further detail on this Stage 2 procurement is available in ID 6612871 - Draft Specification - PSQ Stage.
This procurement is for the award of a public contract through a competitive flexible procedure in accordance with section 20(1) and (2)(b) of the PA 2023.
- How the procedure runs: A Supplier will be identified by the Competitive Flexible Procedure. This will include an initial Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) and Conditions of Participation (COP) Stage, which will be used to identify a shortlist of experienced and qualified Suppliers, who will then be invited to participate in a following Tender Stage. An indication of the anticipated stages in the Competitive Flexible Procedure are as follows: - Conditions of Participation (COP) submissions returned - Evaluate COP submissions and select shortlist of suppliers - informing all of outcome - Issue Tender Documents - Submission of tenders - Assess and disregard any non-compliant tenders and issue intention to award - Contract Award The Contracting Authority may during the process refine the wording and / or weighting of an award criterion in line with section 24 of the PA 2023. Where this is the case revised tender documentation will be provided to all suppliers clearly indicating any refinements made. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to amend the stages of the competitive flexible procurement process. The process described above is indicative only and the finalised process will be provided in the tender documents.
CPV: Apparatus for measuring radiation · Collection of radioactive waste · Disposal of radioactive waste · Electron-beam recorders · Environmental protection · Environmental services · Instruments for measuring quantities · Packaging of radioactive waste · Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy · Radiation dosimeters · Radiation monitors · Radiation protection services · +5 more
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedPublished value£125,000
- Technical & professional ability
As per Tender documentation.
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 (5)
- AC1 - Implementation Plan and Methodology: 20.4%
- AC2 - Key Personnel Experience: 20.4%
- AC3 - Contract Management: 9.6%
- AC4 - Business Continuity: 9.6%
- AC5 - Total Contract Price: 40%
Published award criteria (5)
- AC1 - Implementation Plan and Methodology: A full description of the award criteria will be provided at the next stage.
- AC2 - Key Personnel Experience: A full description of the award criteria will be provided at the next stage.
- AC3 - Contract Management: A full description of the award criteria will be provided at the next stage.
- AC4 - Business Continuity: A full description of the award criteria will be provided at the next stage.
- AC5 - Total Contract Price: A full description of the award criteria will be provided at the next stage.
- Technical & professional ability
As per Tender documentation.
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
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
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 7 Jul 2026, 16:27 BST
- Last source update
- 12 Oct 2026, 10:45 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 31 Aug 2026
- Authority reference
ID 6612871- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-063824- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c59eFind a Tender- Contract terms summary
For further details on invoicing procedures please see : www.finance-ni.gov.uk/ar ↗ ticles/account-ni-good-invoicing-practice
Contract Value
The estimated value figure indicated in the Scope Section represents an overall estimated contract value. This value reflects the potential scale of the contract and takes into account potential optional extension periods and the uptake of potential optional services as detailed in the tender documents. This figure does not however take into account the application of indexation or increases to charges due to increases in the Real Living Wage. Neither CPD nor the contracting Authority can provide any guarantee as to the level of business under this contract. The Contracting Authority does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender. Suppliers remain responsible for all costs and expenses incurred by them or by any third party acting under instructions from the Supplier in connection with taking part in this procurement process regardless of whether such costs arise as a consequence, directly or indirectly of any amendments made to the procurement documents by the Contracting Authority at any time. No legally binding contract shall arise (and a Supplier shall have no legitimate expectation that a contract will be entered into) until such time as entry into the Contract has been confirmed by the Contracting Authority.
- How it runs
A Supplier will be identified by the Competitive Flexible Procedure. This will include an initial Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) and Conditions of Participation (COP) Stage, which will be used to identify a shortlist of experienced and qualified Suppliers, who will then be invited to participate in a following Tender Stage.
An indication of the anticipated stages in the Competitive Flexible Procedure are as follows:
- Conditions of Participation (COP) submissions returned
- Evaluate COP submissions and select shortlist of suppliers - informing all of outcome
- Issue Tender Documents
- Submission of tenders
- Assess and disregard any non-compliant tenders and issue intention to award
- Contract Award
The Contracting Authority may during the process refine the wording and / or weighting of an award criterion in line with section 24 of the PA 2023. Where this is the case revised tender documentation will be provided to all suppliers clearly indicating any refinements made.
The Contracting Authority reserves the right to amend the stages of the competitive flexible procurement process. The process described above is indicative only and the finalised process will be provided in the tender documents.
- Risks
GCC Module 9 Contract Governance gives some examples of what may or may not qualify as a materialisation of a known risk. Risks that materialise “due to the supplier’s solution (e.g. the availability of specific technology, equipment or staff that mean the contract cannot be delivered or sub-contractors)” are listed as likely NOT qualifying as a known unknown.
Insert details of any known unknown risk/s identified by the Contracting Authority as per Schedule 8 paras (5)-(7) of the Act. Remember: to be able to rely on this ground as a safe harbour at a later date, the Tender notice must identify the risk by reference to
- The risk meeting the description of Schedule 8 sub-paragraph (6)(a) AND
- The possibility of a modification under this specific section.
The Contracting Authority has identified the following risks as risks that satisfy the criteria of Schedule 8 sub-paragraph (6)(a) of the Procurement Act 2023 i.e. that the risk/s could jeopardise the satisfactory performance of the contract but, because of its/their nature, cannot be addressed in the contract as awarded:
- Previously unidentified contamination or physical site conditions are discovered during the survey that materially affect the scope, methodology, duration or resources required to complete the survey to the Authority's satisfaction, AND
- Has concluded that there is a possibility that the contract may have to be modified as a result of a materialisation of the known risk/s at a later date in accordance with Schedule 8 paragraph 5 of the Procurement Act 2023.
Exclusions
If at any time during the procurement, or post award, it comes to the attention of the Contracting Authority (CA) or CPD, by whatever means, that a Supplier has become ‘excluded’ or ‘excludable’ as per Sec 57 of the PA 2023, the CA, after compliance with its obligations under the PA 23, reserves the right to exclude said Supplier from the procurement procedure or terminate any contract they have been awarded.
The Contracting Authority expressly reserves the rights:
(I). not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice;
(II). to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the tendering Competition;
(III). to award a contract in respect of any part of the services covered by this notice; and
(IV). to award contract in stages.
and in no circumstances will the Authority be liable for any costs incurred by candidates.
This project will be used to progress the Government’s wider social, economic and environmental objectives.
For CFP Competitions:
The Contracting Authority reserves the right to hold additional rounds of negotiation / dialogue with tenderers; to require the submission of any further or additional information or tender submissions; to award the Contract following the submission of initial tenders and/or to down-select tenderers at specified points in the process. For the avoidance of doubt, final tenders will not be subject to any negotiation with the Contracting Authority (however, they may be subject to clarification, if required, at the Contracting Authority’s absolute discretion).
The Contracting Authority reserves the right: to reject any or all PSQ or tender responses and to cancel or withdraw the procurement process at any stage; to award a contract without prior notice; to change the basis of, the procedure and the timescales set out or referred to in the procurement documents; to require a tenderer to clarify its PSQ or tender response in writing and/or provide additional information; to terminate the procurement process; and/or to amend the terms and conditions of the PSQ or tender evaluation process or negotiation process in line with section 31 of the Procurement Act 2023.
Suppliers should note that all dates, time periods and figures in relation to values and volumes specified in this notice and the procurement documents are approximate only and the Contracting Authority reserves the right to change any or all of them.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 3 Aug 2026, 15:00 BST
- Submission deadline
- 3 Aug 2026, 15:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 28 Jul 2026, 15:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Tenders must be submitted electronically via the relevant Call for Tender (CfT) opportunity on eTendersNI, website details immediately below.
Paper submissions will not be accepted or considered and will be rejected by the Contracting Authority / Buyer.
The tender documents are available with unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: URL etendersni.gov.uk/epps ↗
Timeline
7 Jul 2026 → 21 Oct 2026 · 8 dates- Tender notice published107 days ago7 Jul 2026, 16:27 BST
- Clarification questions by86 days ago28 Jul 2026, 15:00 BST
- Submission deadline80 days ago3 Aug 2026, 15:00 BST
- Award decision expected by51 days ago31 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts31 days ago21 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent16 days ago6 Oct 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published10 days ago12 Oct 2026, 10:45 BST
- Standstill endsearlier today21 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
Notice history
4 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 7 Jul 2026- Tender notice published7 Jul 2026, 16:27 BSTUK4
- Contract award notice published12 Oct 2026, 10:45 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete12 Oct 2026, 10:45 BST
- Contract signature expected22 Oct 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora Health Physics Services Ltd23 Oct 2026 – 22 Apr 2027Options: The Contracting Authority reserves the right to instruct additional Monitoring Areas during the contract term. This may include the award of work for some or all remaining Monitoring Areas detailed within the Contractor's submitted Pricing Schedule. | £322,900 | 6 Oct 2026standstill to 21 Oct 2026 | Standstill |
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1final-stage tenders | 1 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
3 public bodies on the noticeOther public bodies
- CPDBeneficiary authority
- CPD - Supplies & Services DivisionProcess contact pointProcuring entitySummary of their role in this procurement: Construction and Procurement Delivery - Supplies and Services Division, is a Centre of Procurement Expertise and provides a central procurement function for central government in Northern Ireland
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Aurora Health Physics Services LtdAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender