On behalf of the Environment Agency Defra group Commercial has gone out to tender with a contract for the provision of services to recover and remove sunken and abandoned vessels from reaches of the nontidal River Thames between Pinkhill Lock and Teddington Lock worth an estimated £360,000 (inc VAT).
Although Environment Agency local enforcement teams continue to be active, the increase of non-compliance i.e. unregistered vessels and their associated poor management, has led to an increase in the number of vessels either becoming wrecks or abandoned (floating).
As the Navigation Authority, the Environment Agency is aiming to create a better place for legitimate customers to enjoy navigation - approximately 70 vessels need to be recovered from the river.
Multiple contracts are expected to be awarded under the procurement with reaches tendered into 5 Lots.
Current estimated start and end contract dates are 13 February 2026 to 31 March 2026.
Maximum number of lots suppliers can bid for and be awarded is 5 Lots.
There are 5 mixed geographic packages of Reaches, each containing a blend of wrecked, abandoned vessels and/or sunken vessels, all to be removed and disposed of by contractors.
Tenderers can bid for all 5 lots, but must ensure that if they bid for multiple lots, their submitted programmes can run concurrently and ensure completion of all awarded lots by the contract deadline of 31st March 2026.
The Lot structure is as follows:
- Lot 1 - Eynsham/ Iffley
- Lot 2 - Culham/Caversham
- Lot 3 - Sonning/Marsh
- Lot 4 - Hambledon/Chertsey
- Lot 5 - Shepperton/Teddington
- Lot 6. SE - THMS - Thames Wreck Management
Tenderers are required to provide a price for all vessels contained within a package, if they choose to submit a bid for that Lot. All vessels bid for by a tenderer are required to be recovered and removed safely by the tenderer, with sustainability in mind.
Deadline for submission of enquiries is 5:00pm on 9 January 2026, with a tender submission deadline of 5:00pm on 20 January 2026, Expected contract award decision date is 3 February 2026.
For further information about submissions, any special instructions and to view the Bidder Pack on the Authority's eSourcing Portal visit: https://atamis-9529.my.site.com/s/Welcome
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