Official UK procurement notice
Lithium Trace Testing · UK public procurement notice
Authority: United Utilities Water Limited (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Bioresource and Energy Services team require non-intrusive tank capacity and sediment assessments of Anaerobic Digesters using Lithium chloride as a trace element to comply with Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016 implementing the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) every 5 years, which takes an integrated approach to controlling pollution to air, water, and land from industrial activities. We require the supplier to develop methodology to determine the effective volume of an anaerobic digester over a short period of testing time. The effective volume should be calculated from the lithium concentration once it reaches a steady and consistent level. The calculation for effective volume should be based on the dose of lithium chloride added, the concentration of lithium, and the background concentration established before the test is initiated. The results of the data should establish the following, and be presented within a report: Mixing efficiency Hydraulic retention time (HRT) Short‑circuiting or dead zones Sediment/grit accumulation The lithium chloride is to be dosed into each digester’s feed line, or other suitable position. Prior to the dosing of lithium chloride, initial samples should be taken from each digester in order to establish the background lithium concentrations. Samples should be taken from designated sampling points, identified during a pre-test site visit.
- How the procedure runs: United Utilities Bioresource and Energy Services team require non-intrusive tank capacity and sediment assessments of Anaerobic Digesters using Lithium chloride as a trace element to comply with Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016 implementing the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) every 5 years, which takes an integrated approach to controlling pollution to air, water, and land from industrial activities. We require the supplier to develop methodology to determine the effective volume of an anaerobic digester over a short period of testing time. The effective volume should be calculated from the lithium concentration once it reaches a steady and consistent level. The calculation for effective volume should be based on the dose of lithium chloride added, the concentration of lithium, and the background concentration established before the test is initiated. The results of the data should establish the following, and be presented within a report: Mixing efficiency Hydraulic retention time (HRT) Short‑circuiting or dead zones Sediment/grit accumulation The lithium chloride is to be dosed into each digester’s feed line, or other suitable position. Prior to the dosing of lithium chloride, initial samples should be taken from each digester in order to establish the background lithium concentrations. Samples should be taken from designated sampling points, identified during a pre-test site visit. Information sharing methods will be established during onboarding
CPV: Laboratory services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs are awarded directly to appointed suppliers, without further competition
- Places
- up to 1 suppliers · 1 appointed (full)
- Framework period
- 4 yrs · up to 9 yrs from 22 Jul 2026
Published description of the framework
Direct Allocation
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£1,250,000
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 (2)
- Technical: 60%
- Commercial: 40%
Published award criteria (2)
- Commercial
- Technical
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Lithium Trace Testing” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 1 suppliers, not a single contract, and call-offs are awarded directly: getting appointed is the whole game.
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
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 20 Nov 2025, 09:51 GMT
- Last source update
- 20 Jul 2026, 12:01 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 15 Jul 2026
- Authority reference
PRO005005- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-032023- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05e500Find a Tender
- How it runs
United Utilities Bioresource and Energy Services team require non-intrusive tank capacity and sediment assessments of Anaerobic Digesters using Lithium chloride as a trace element to comply with Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016 implementing the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) every 5 years, which takes an integrated approach to controlling pollution to air, water, and land from industrial activities. We require the supplier to develop methodology to determine the effective volume of an anaerobic digester over a short period of testing time. The effective volume should be calculated from the lithium concentration once it reaches a steady and consistent level. The calculation for effective volume should be based on the dose of lithium chloride added, the concentration of lithium, and the background concentration established before the test is initiated. The results of the data should establish the following, and be presented within a report: Mixing efficiency Hydraulic retention time (HRT) Short‑circuiting or dead zones Sediment/grit accumulation The lithium chloride is to be dosed into each digester’s feed line, or other suitable position. Prior to the dosing of lithium chloride, initial samples should be taken from each digester in order to establish the background lithium concentrations. Samples should be taken from designated sampling points, identified during a pre-test site visit. Information sharing methods will be established during onboarding
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 22 Jun 2026, 14:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 22 Apr 2026, 17:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
20 Nov 2025 → 29 Jul 2026 · 11 dates- Planning notice published335 days ago20 Nov 2025, 09:51 GMT
- Market engagement312 days ago12 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT
If you have experience in this area please could you provide at a minimum the following information and submit to the United Utilities [email protected] Mailbox -
- Company Name
- Contact details, including location telephone and e-mail address, main point of contact and position in Company
- Next notice expected287 days ago6 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Tender notice published196 days ago8 Apr 2026, 15:02 BST
- Clarification questions by181 days ago22 Apr 2026, 17:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends121 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown22 Jun 2026, 14:00 BST
- Award decision expected by97 days ago15 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
- Assessment summaries sent93 days ago20 Jul 2026
- Latest notice published93 days ago20 Jul 2026, 12:01 BST
- Contract starts91 days ago22 Jul 2026
- Standstill ends83 days ago29 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
Notice history
9 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 20 Nov 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published20 Nov 2025, 09:51 GMTUK2
- Tender notice published8 Apr 2026, 15:02 BSTUK4
- Published value published: £1,250,0008 Apr 2026, 15:02 BST
- Status changed to active8 Apr 2026, 15:02 BST
- Procurement method changed8 Apr 2026, 15:02 BST
- Deadline published: 22 Jun 2026, 14:00 BST8 Apr 2026, 15:02 BST
- Contract award notice published20 Jul 2026, 12:01 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete20 Jul 2026, 12:01 BST
- Contract signature expected17 Aug 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSI Water and Wastewater Solutions LtdSMEPRO005005 - Services - Framework - Lithium Trace Testing1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2030 · up to 31 Aug 2035Extensions: The duration of the framework is proposed to be 9 years, as an initial 4 years, with an option to extend to a maximum of 9 years. | £1,200,000 | 20 Jul 2026standstill to 29 Jul 2026 | Standstill |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
1 commercial party on the notice- NSI Water and Wastewater Solutions LtdFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (3)
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
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender