Open14 days left · closes 6pm, Monday 12 October 2026

Laboratory Equipment and Maintenance Services Framework – Lots 1 and 2

United Utilities Water Limited · Private utility

In brief

United Utilities Water Limited is looking for suppliers for laboratory equipment work (UK-wide).

It is a framework worth up to £20,750,000 excluding VAT: the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers, not one contract.

The contract runs for 5 years, up to 8 years with extensions, starting 1 January 2027.

It is split into 2 lots, so a supplier can bid for part of the work.

The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Bids close at 6pm, Monday 12 October 2026.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Key dates

Questions by: 6pm, Wednesday 30 September 2026
Bids by: 6pm, Monday 12 October 2026

How bids are scored

Technical 60% · Commercial 40%

Quality matters most. You can win without being the cheapest.

Framework

Winning puts you on a list of suppliers the buyer can call on; it does not guarantee work. The £20,750,000 is the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers over the framework's life, not one contract.

What the notice says

United Utilities is seeking to establish a multi-supplier framework agreement for the supply of laboratory equipment and associated maintenance services. The Framework will support regulatory, operational and investigative laboratory testing requirements. Lot 1 – Laboratory Equipment Supply, Installation, Warranty and Lifecycle Support: supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, warranty and associated lifecycle support for new and replacement laboratory equipment. Lot 2 – Laboratory Equipment Maintenance, Repair and Lifecycle Support: planned preventative maintenance, reactive maintenance and repair, service-tier support, spare parts, lifecycle support and associated service-level requirements for laboratory equipment assets. The Framework will operate for an initial term of four years, with options to extend by up to a further four years.

Should I bid?

Tick what applies to you. Nothing is saved.

Can you prepare a good bid in 14 days?Leave time for clarification questions and sign-off.
Is a contract of about £20,750,000 a size you can deliver?Buyers often check that your turnover is comfortably larger than the yearly contract value.
Can you deliver in locations across the UK?Check the delivery locations in the tender documents.
Is one of the 2 lots a good fit?You can usually bid for one lot without bidding for the others.
Can you meet what the notice mentions: Framework agreement?The tender documents will say exactly what is required.
Are you registered on the Central Digital Platform?You need to be registered to take part under the Procurement Act 2023.
The buyer says this suits small businesses.A good sign if you are an SME, but check the requirements.

How to bid

Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
Submit your bid through the buyer's e-tendering portal: uk.eu-supply.com.
Send clarification questions before 6pm, Wednesday 30 September 2026.
Make sure your bid arrives before 6pm, Monday 12 October 2026. Late bids are usually rejected.

Lots

Lot	Trade	Value
Lot 1 – Laboratory Equipment Supply, Replacement & Warranty 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2031 What this lot covers Lot 1 covers the supply of new and replacement laboratory equipment, including associated installation, commissioning, training, handover, warranty support and lifecycle information during the warranty period. The scope is intentionally broad at framework level to ensure United Utilities can access appropriate laboratory equipment and instrumentation as testing requirements evolve. Specific equipment requirements will be defined at call-off mini-competition stage	Laboratory and scientific equipment	£15,800,000
Lot 2 – Maintenance, Repair & Lifecycle Support 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2031 What this lot covers Lot 2 covers planned maintenance, reactive maintenance, repairs, parts and post-warranty lifecycle support for laboratory equipment and instrumentation. Lot 2 is intended to provide a structured route for maintaining laboratory assets once they are outside warranty, or where a maintenance requirement is otherwise required. The purpose of Lot 2 is to improve service resilience, asset availability, lifecycle visibility and commercial control across the laboratory equipment estate	Laboratory and scientific equipment	£9,000,000

Timeline

16 September 2026Tender notice · UK4, notice 087536-2026

About the buyer

United Utilities Water LimitedLast 12 months

Procurements

Awards

All tenders and awards from United Utilities Water Limited

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From notice 087536-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 16 September 2026. We last checked for changes on 27 September 2026.