Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
UK
Contact person: Lara Dolamore
E-mail: lara.dolamore@defra.gov.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs
Address of the buyer profile: https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
I.5) Main activity
Environment
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
NBC Technical Quality Assurance Partner
Reference number: C34335
II.1.2) Main CPV code
71621000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
NBC Technical Quality Assurance Partner<br/> This is a key strategic NBC Partner contract to :<br/>Provide Commissioning, Verification and Validation (CVV) services to the NBC Programme. Principle projects will be the Science Hubs (PR29 and PR30), with lesser support to PR21 and PR36 science buildings at Coombelands. <br/><br/>Other Weybridge projects delivered by NBC such as Lab Science Building B (LSB-B). <br/><br/>This procurement is being carried out by the Authority in accordance with the Competitive Award Procedure under Crown Commercial Services (CCS) DPS RM6242 and the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 , on behalf of the Defra.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
18 300 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
71356000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Lots are:<br/><br/>NBC Technical Assurance Partner, with an estimated contract value of £18,300,000 <br/><br/>Weybridge DgP Technical Assurance and High Containment Services, with an estimated contract value of £7,000,000<br/><br/>Awarded under two contracts for each Lot.<br/>This contract provides<br/>Technical Quality Assurance Partner (TQAP) for National Biosecurity Centre -Weybridge. This is a key strategic NBC Partner contract <br/><br/>Provide Commissioning, Verification and Validation (CVV) services to the NBC Programme. Principle projects will be the Science Hubs (PR29 and PR30), with lesser support to PR21 and PR36 science buildings at Coombelands. <br/><br/>Other Weybridge projects delivered by NBC such as Lab Science Buildings.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: High Containment
/ Weighting: 25%
Quality criterion: Project Planning and Ways of Working
/ Weighting: 10%
Quality criterion: Key Personnel, Staff and Behaviour Management
/ Weighting: 15%
Quality criterion: Interview
/ Weighting: 10%
Quality criterion: Social Value
/ Weighting: 10%
Cost criterion: Cost
/ Weighting: 30%
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
DPS procurement<br/>Agreement IDRM6242 Start date03/11/2021 End date23/02/2029<br/>Filtering categories: Laboratory advisory services, Life sciences, Laboratories, Life Sciences
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive
Explanation
Competition was called for through GCA DPS RM6242<br/>Invitation to tender sent through DPS after filtering .
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section V: Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
08/06/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
MERRICK and COMPANY UK LIMITED
07681401
One, Fleet Place, London, England, EC4M 7WS
London
EC4M 7WS
UK
Telephone: +44 3037810741
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 18 300 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract is likely to be subcontracted
Value or proportion likely to be subcontracted to third parties
Proportion: 5 %
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
Competition was called for through GCA DPS RM6242. Filters from DPS used : Laboratory advisory services, Life sciences, Laboratories, Life Sciences. Supplier invited and asked to fill out NDA. Competition run in 2 lots.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
HIGH COURT ROYAL COURTS OF JUSTICE
London
The Strand
WC2A 2LL
UK
Internet address(es)
URL: www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/royal-courts-of-justice
VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
HIGH COURT ROYAL COURTS OF JUSTICE
London
The Strand
WC2A 2LL
UK
Internet address(es)
URL: www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/royal-courts-of-justice
VI.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
HIGH COURT ROYAL COURTS OF JUSTICE
London
The Strand
WC2A 2LL
UK
Internet address(es)
URL: www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/royal-courts-of-justice
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
10/06/2026