Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Natural Resources Wales
Welsh Government Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
cmss@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 3000653000
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKL - Wales
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk
Buyer's address
https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0110
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Specialist Analytical Service for NRW
Reference number
86123
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 71900000 - Laboratory services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 71900000 - Laboratory services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKL - Wales
Main site or place of performance
NRW Analytical Services, Faraday Building (2nd Floor), Singleton Park Campus, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP. Collection points for samples to be agreed during implementation.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement at the time of conclusion of the contract:
NRWAS manage an outsourced analysis contract for the wider business, delivering samples from our laboratory to a third-party laboratory for analysis. The reasons for outsourcing are generally when specialised methods are yet to be developed by NRW or where setting up in-house capability is uneconomical due to low sample numbers. The samples are collected from a range of matrices; including freshwater, trade, treated sewage, saline, biota and sediment. Reporting limits are often required in low, or very low ranges.
This Invitation to Tender is for a contract to provide NRW with water quality and environmental analysis and for providing results in a suitable format. The contract also includes the provision of a refrigerated courier service to collect samples from an agreed location.
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession
Start date
13 September 2021
End date
31 December 2024
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.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Contract award notice concerning this contract
Notice number: 2021/S 000-022961
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
86123
Title
Specialist Analytical Service for NRW
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract/concession award decision:
7 September 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract/concession has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
RPS Environmental Management Limited
13 St Martins Way, Bedford
Bedfordshire
MK420LF
Telephone
+44 1623663372
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession (at the time of conclusion of the contract;excluding VAT)
Total value of the procurement: £800,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST / COMPLETING THE ITT
i) Suppliers should register on the eTendering portal https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk
ii) Once registered, suppliers must express their interest as follows
a) login to the eTendering portal
b) select ITT'
c) select 'ITTs Open To All Suppliers'
d) access the listing relating to the contract (itt_86123 "Specialist Analytical Services for NRW") and view details
e) click on 'Express Interest' button in the 'Actions' box on the left-hand side of the page
iii) Once you have expressed interest, the ITT will move to 'My ITTs', where you can download and view documents and where you can construct your reply as instructed. You must then publish your reply using the publish button.
iv) For any support in submitting your expression of interest, please contact the eTendering helpdesk on 0800 0112470 or at help@bravosolution.co.uk.
(WA Ref:159577)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Telephone
+44 2079477501
Country
United Kingdom
Section seven: Modifications to the contract/concession
seven.1) Description of the procurement after the modifications
seven.1.1) Main CPV code
- 71900000 - Laboratory services
seven.1.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 71900000 - Laboratory services
seven.1.3) Place of performance
NUTS code
- UKL18 - Swansea
Main site or place of performance
NRW Analytical Services, Faraday Building (2nd Floor), Singleton Park Campus, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP. Collection points for samples to be agreed during implementation.
seven.1.4) Description of the procurement:
NRWAS manage an outsourced analysis contract for the wider business, delivering samples from our laboratory to a third-party laboratory for analysis. The reasons for outsourcing are generally when specialised methods are yet to be developed by NRW or where setting up in-house capability is uneconomical due to low sample numbers. The samples are collected from a range of matrices; including freshwater,
trade, treated sewage, saline, biota and sediment. Reporting limits are often required in low, or very low ranges.
This Invitation to Tender is for a contract to provide NRW with water quality and environmental analysis and for providing results in a suitable format. The contract also includes the provision of a refrigerated courier service to collect samples from an agreed location.
seven.1.5) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession
Start date
13 September 2021
End date
31 December 2026
seven.1.6) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession:
£1,456,214.88
seven.1.7) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
RPS Environmental Management Limited
13 St Martins Way, Bedford
Bedfordshire
MK420LF
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
seven.2) Information about modifications
seven.2.1) Description of the modifications
Nature and extent of the modifications (with indication of possible earlier changes to the contract):
Implementation of 12-month extension option to 31/12/2026.
Rates to increase by 6%. The modification relates to regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 clause 72(1)(c).
Maximum variation value is 399747 GBP. This includes 151727 GBP contingency estimates for emergency use only for if additional analysis is required during the HVAC improvement works at NRWAS in early 2026.
seven.2.2) Reasons for modification
Need for modification brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority/entity could not foresee.
Description of the circumstances which rendered the modification necessary and explanation of the unforeseen nature of these circumstances:
1. Case for Change
2. Direct Data Capture System delayed Roll-out
3. Lack of confirmed monitoring plans for 2026/7-2031
4. Ongoing HVAC issues
5. Changing analytical requirements mid-year
6. Courier supplier performance issues
The LIMS Admin team, already under significant pressure and reduced capacity, would be responsible for implementing a new contract, a process that previously took 7 months. Delays to the rollout of the Direct Data Capture system and the inability to automate 3rd party data uploads have further limited resource.
The complexity of launching an internal waste analysis service and the need for full Chain of Custody arrangements also require stability and time to become fully embedded.
Attempting to procure a new supplier now, in the absence of confirmed long-term monitoring plans, would carry considerable risk. It may also result in a poorly defined specification, reduced supplier interest, and implementation difficulties.
seven.2.3) Increase in price
Updated total contract value before the modifications (taking into account possible earlier contract modifications, price adaptions and average inflation)
Value excluding VAT: £1,056,467.88
Total contract value after the modifications
Value excluding VAT: £1,456,214.88