Award

CL:AIRE -Contaminated Land Advisory Services Contract

  • ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-007692

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-04e90a (view related notices)

Published 3 March 2025, 3:12pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DF

Contact

Carol Caddick

Email

carol.caddick@defra.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 7554439010

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs

Buyer's address

https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority

one.5) Main activity

Environment


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

CL:AIRE -Contaminated Land Advisory Services Contract

Reference number

C27987

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 90522000 - Services relating to contaminated soil

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Authority runs various schemes and research projects which relate to land contamination – identifying and evaluating chemical risks, plus the investigation and remediation of those sites where the risk to health or the wider environment is considered unacceptable.
To help deliver Authority led schemes and initiatives, there is the need to liaise with the land contamination community and those groups and consortia who represent industry.
The Authority is often required to devise and deliver various land contamination research projects, however it does not have the internal expertise or resource to undertake this work in-house.
With the increasing importance and focus on new and emerging chemicals it is anticipated that continued collaboration with CL:AIRE will be required to deliver projects in the future.
In order to streamline and expedite the procurement process for both Parties, a twenty four month call-off Contract will be established between the Authority and the Supplier.

The primary objective of establishing the Contract is to provide the Authority with an efficient, long-term solution to procuring the following services:
1. Expert Technical Advice
2. Ongoing Technical Consultancy Support

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £400,000

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 90713000 - Environmental issues consultancy services
  • 90711000 - Environmental impact assessment other than for construction
  • 90711200 - Environmental standards other than for construction
  • 71621000 - Technical analysis or consultancy services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance

England

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

A 24 month call-off Contract will be established between the Authority and the Supplier.

The primary objective of establishing the Contract is to provide the Authority with an efficient, long-term solution to procuring the following services:
1. EXPERT TECHNICAL ADVICE

1.1. To undertake specific research and provide technical advice on contaminated land matters to Authority teams including:
• preparation of detailed and comprehensive written reports, to an agreed format and timeline, as required.
• presenting, explaining and discussing report findings to the Authority and other stakeholders.
• other related research, analysis or technical advice as required.

2. ONGOING TECHNICAL CONSULTANCY SUPPORT

2.1 To provide ongoing technical support to the Authority including:
• providing expert knowledge, advice and support to enable interpretation and understanding of technical aspects and implications of data and information relevant to contaminated land matters.
• providing advice on robustness of evidence, gaps in evidence and methods.
• providing access to expert bodies to provide supplementary evidence where needed.
• co-authoring draft and final documentation with the Authority, including but not limited to:
o Technical Bulletins
o Training materials
o Best Practice Documents
o Industry guidelines
o Case Studies
o Research Reports

2.2 To provide ongoing technical support to maintain and develop quality standards relating to contaminated land management and remediation.
2.3 To provide ongoing technical support to develop, maintain and update IT databases, platforms and other digital content for the Authority and public use.
2.4 Other related technical support as required related to the Authority’s land contamination research projects.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

The Contract may be extended, at the discretion of the Authority, for a further 2 x 12 month extension periods to a maximum Contract Term of 48 months

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Negotiated without a prior call for competition

  • The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
    • absence of competition for technical reasons

Explanation:

The Authority considers the award constitutes a compliant procurement under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (PCR), Regulation 32.2 which states:
(2) The negotiated procedure without prior publication may be used for public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts in any of the following cases:
(b)where the works, supplies or services can be supplied only by a particular economic operator for any of the following reasons:
(ii)competition is absent for technical reasons
CL:AIRE is a registered charity (No. 1075611) and an environmental body registered with ENTRUST (Entrust No. 119820). The CL:AIRE organisation was created with the backing of the UK government in 1999 as a not-for-profit company to encourage the demonstration and research of practical solutions for the clean-up of contaminated land. CL:AIRE works closely with industry to undertake research and provide advice and training to both the private and public sector on land contamination and associated topics. The Authority holds principal membership of CL:AIRE and has worked in collaboration with the group over recent years to deliver a wide range of innovative projects. CL:AIRE hosts a Technology and Research Group (TRG), an advisory group made up of leading professionals who support CL:AIRE on technology development issues and provide guidance on issues relating to the sustainable reuse of land. Therefore CL:AIRE is in a unique position to facilitate wider industry and academic engagement, and to collate and incorporate valuable technical input from numerous stakeholders due to their position and standing within the land contamination community. The inclusion of industry and academic technical input adds a real-world and current best practice component to projects delivered. The national and international organisations which are part of the CL:AIRE membership have resources, networks and access to data and information from across the world that otherwise the Authority would be unable to access and benefit from. CL:AIRE is also able to attract third party funding for projects the Authority undertakes with CL:AIRE, that would not be available to the Authority, and would otherwise make projects unaffordable for the Authority to undertake without collaborating with CL:AIRE.

four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement

The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes


Section five. Award of contract/concession

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

3 February 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

CL:AIRE

Reading Business Centre Fountain House Queens Walk Reading

Reading

RG1 7QF

Telephone

+44 1182281488

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
National registration number

1075611

Internet address

www.claire.co.uk

The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £200,000

Lowest offer: £1 / Highest offer: £200,000 taken into consideration


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Public Procurement Review Body

N/A

N/A

N/A

Email

publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit

six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures

Public Procurement Review Body

N/A

N/A

N/A

Email

publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit

six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained

Public Procurement Review Body

N/A

N/A

N/A

Email

publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit