Scope
Reference
C407897
Description
UKHSA intends to award a contract, to WeCare4Air Limited for the supply of mercaptan gas analysers. These analysers are to be employed in the mobile ambient air monitoring trailers to measure mercaptan compounds from a range of potential pollution sources where there are key evidence gaps to support the public health risk assessments.
The Mercaptan gas analysers will increase the capabilities of monitoring trailers to measure mercaptans/ sulphur-containing compounds. Any other manufactures or alternative instrument will result in incompatibility with existing equipment (nitrogen gas generators), disproportionate technical difficulties in operation and maintenance, financial efforts to revalidate and recalibrate systems.
Contract 1. Mercaptans Analysers
Supplier
Contract value
- £136,651.40 excluding VAT
- £163,981.67 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
12 February 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 12 February 2026 to 31 March 2026
- 1 month, 17 days
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 38432100 - Gas-analysis apparatus
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Other information
Description of risks to contract performance
N/A
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
- Single supplier - technical reasons
- Additional or repeat goods, services or works - extension or partial replacement
The contract will be awarded in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) and the Procurement Regulations 2024.
In accordance with Section 41(1)(a) of PA23 the UKHSA intends to rely on the Single Supplier direct award justification as set out in Paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 for the award of a contract without competition where due to 'an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods...required, and...there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods...'.
And rely on the justification as set out in Paragraph 7(a)(b) of PA23 for a direct award of the contract as an extension to existing goods where a 'a change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods...that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing goods, services or works, and the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance.
In the above cases, it is considered that a direct award is permissible on the basis that in the absent of alternative potential suppliers due to the technical nature of this procurement and a change of supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods, services or works that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing goods, services or works, and that difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance.
The mercaptans instruments can only be procured from WeCare4Air as a direct award, as they are the only company that can supply the instrument to the required technical requirement and tie in with the existing infrastructure and auxiliary equipment already previously purchased from WeCare4Air for this project.
In accordance with PA23, a Contract Award Notice (UK6) and a Contract Details Notice (UK7) will be published in due course.
Supplier
We Care 4 Air Limited
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYXN-1313-MNZY
Units 4,5 & 6 Parklands Business Centre Stortford Road, Leaden Roding
Dunmow
CM6 1GF
United Kingdom
Email: hello@wecare4air.com
Website: https://www.wecare4air.com/
Region: UKH35 - West Essex
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. Mercaptans Analysers
Contracting authority
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care acting as part of the Crown through UK Health Security Agency
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBMQ-7576-DVGW
10 South Colonnade
London
E14 4PU
United Kingdom
Contact name: Procurement Notices
Email: procurementnotices@ukhsa.gov.uk
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency
Region: UKI42 - Tower Hamlets
Organisation type: Public authority - central government