Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Defra Network eTendering Portal
17 Nobel House
London
SW1P 3JR
rachel.wickerson@environment-agency.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 2072385921
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
National or federal Agency/Office
one.5) Main activity
Environment
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
29581 - Environmental Risk Assessment and Management Services for Chemicals (ERAS2)
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 90710000 - Environmental management
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Environment Agency seeks to identify high quality suppliers to participate in a tendering exercise for the provision of a new framework agreement for Environmental Risk Assessment and Management Services for Chemicals. The Framework (ERAS2) will support the Environment Agency to gain access to expert support, enabling them to achieve organisational objectives.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £600,000
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Risk Assessments
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 90710000 - Environmental management
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
a) To provide specialist advice on chemical fate, behaviour and (eco)toxicity for evaluations of environmental hazard. This will include the critical analysis and summary of scientific data included in test reports or retrieved from academic literature searches for specific substances; advice on test strategies to investigate a concern for specific chemicals or properties; and/or the critical review of comments received as a part of a consultation on a regulatory dossier. Chemicals of interest include both organic and inorganic substances (including polymers and nanomaterials), with a particular focus on persistent, bioaccumulative/mobile and toxic (PB/MT) substances and endocrine disruption. Under some circumstances, advice on mammalian toxicology may be needed to support the development of environmental quality standards, the identification of substances of very high concern (e.g. as part of a PBT or POPs assessment) or a secondary poisoning assessment).
b) To provide specialist advice on chemical emissions and environmental exposure and, risk. This will include the critical analysis and summary of scientific data retrieved from academic literature searches for specific substances or included in REACH Chemical Safety Assessments; advice on the refinement of exposure assessments; and/or the critical review of comments received as a part of a consultation on a regulatory dossier. This could involve modelling (including human exposure via the environment), analysis of monitoring data and mapping, as well as an expert understanding of usage patterns.
c) To review assessments undertaken by third parties, including where necessary identification of issues of particular interest to the UK. The main focus will be on industry assessments carried out under the REACH Regulation. However, documents produced under other legislation (e.g. the Stockholm Convention) or by other national or international regulatory bodies may also be relevant. The work is expected to involve:
i) checking — data (e.g. in terms of adequacy),
— hazard and risk assessment approaches (including assumptions),
— testing proposals or derogations, and/or
— hazard classification proposals.
ii) where necessary, the provision of UK data regarding use patterns, supply volumes, releases, monitoring data (including, but not exclusive to, surface water, groundwater, apex predators), etc.; this may require consultation with industry.
For a review of a formal EU Substance Evaluation, for example, a check should be made for technical errors or omissions and consistency, with reference to the available REACH Technical Guidance and OECD Test Guideline documents. Key studies on which the assessment is based should be identified and checked for reliability and relevance, together with all assumptions, justifications and discussions, especially if a different approach to that in the Technical Guidance has been used.
The need for this type of work (c) is likely to be infrequent.
d) To develop and improve existing hazard/risk assessment methods. This includes evaluating and providing advice on chemical test methods and models (e.g. data estimation methods such as quantitative structure activity relationships (QSAR), in vitro screening assays, Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs), international test guidelines, probabilistic risk assessment, etc.), as required. The contractor may be required to review reports in this area, consider the suitability of a proposed method to investigate a concern or provide comments on draft proposals for a particular method.
e) Other technical advice as necessary, for example on particular concerns for biologically active molecules (such as pesticides), methods of chemical analysis, ecological impacts, etc.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical Submission / Weighting: 60
Price - Weighting: 40
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Risk Management
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 90710000 - Environmental management
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
a) To provide specialist advice on chemical emissions and environmental exposure, risk and risk management options. This will include the critical analysis and summary of scientific data retrieved from academic literature searches for specific substances or included in Applications for Authorisation (AfA); advice on the refinement of exposure assessments; and/or the critical review of comments received as a part of a consultation on a regulatory dossier. This could involve modelling (including human exposure via the environment), analysis of monitoring data and mapping, as well as an expert understanding of usage patterns, socio-economic factors and emission control techniques.
b) To develop and improve existing risk management methods. This includes evaluating and providing advice on measuring the effectiveness of regulatory intervention and models (e.g. probabilistic risk assessment, etc.), as required. The contractor may be required to review reports in this area, consider the suitability of a proposed method to investigate a concern or provide comments on draft proposals for a particular method.
c) To review assessments undertaken by third parties, including where necessary identification of issues of particular interest to the UK. The main focus will be on industry assessments and submissions made under the UK REACH Regulation. However, documents produced under other legislation (e.g. the Stockholm Convention) or by other national or international regulatory bodies may also be relevant. The work is expected to involve:
i) checking — data (e.g. in terms of adequacy),
— risk assessment approaches (including assumptions), and
— risk management proposals.
ii) where necessary, the provision of UK data regarding use patterns, supply volumes, releases, etc.; this may require consultation with industry.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical Submission / Weighting: 60
Price - Weighting: 40
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
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
Open procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
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
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2020/S 213-523093
Section five. Award of contract
Lot No
1
Title
29581 - Environmental Risk Assessment and Management Services for Chemicals (ERAS2) - LOT 1 Chemical Risk Assessments
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
21 May 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 8
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences
Suffolk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Atkins
Surrey
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Ricardo-AEA Ltd
Oxford
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
RSK-ADAS Limited
Cheshire
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Berkshire
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Peter Fisk Associates Ltd.
Kent
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
WCA Environment Ltd.
Oxfordshire
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £300,000
Section five. Award of contract
Lot No
2
Title
29581 - Environmental Risk Assessment and Management Services for Chemicals (ERAS2) - LOT 2 Chemical Risk Management
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
21 May 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 5
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Peter Fisk Associates
Kent
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
WCA Environment Ltd.
Oxfordshire
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Wood Group UK Limited
Aberdeenshire
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £300,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The Court of England and Wales
Various
Country
United Kingdom