Trade & Sanctions

£2M Low-Emission Bus Service Contract for Egham Campus

Royal Holloway, University of London has published a contract opportunity for a low-emission bus service at its Egham campus. The estimated £2M service contract runs from September 2026 through August 2031, with potential extensions. Tenders must be submitted electronically by 12 May 2026, 11am. The service is not suitable for SMEs or VCSEs.

Royal Navy Uncrewed Surface Vehicle Conversion RFI, Budget c. £60,000

The Royal Navy has published an early engagement notice seeking industry input on converting a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) or similar vessel into a remotely operated uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) for use as a mobile target in naval exercises. The procurement aims to assess low-cost options with a budget of approximately sub £60,000 to expedite Royal Navy trials and experimentation. Responses are invited by 30 April 2026.

EPA Region 1 Wetland Program Development Grants up to $350,000 (Closing April 24, 2026)

EPA Region 1 announces Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs) for state, Tribal, territory, and local government agencies. Total program funding is $2,784,000 with 13 expected awards, capped at $350,000 per grant. Applications close April 24, 2026.

Queen's University Belfast High Throughput Live-Cell Imaging System Contract Termination

Queen's University Belfast issued a procurement termination notice for a High Throughput Live-Cell Imaging System contract. The university decided not to sign the contract dated 18 April 2026, citing a need to revise the procurement documentation. The process will be terminated and reissued in due course. No new compliance obligations are created by this notice.

General Insurance Procurement 2026 - Insurer Tender, £1.2M, 4 Suppliers

Belfast Harbour has awarded a £1.2M general insurance procurement contract under the Procurement Act 2023 to four suppliers: American International Group UK Limited, Intact Insurance Ireland DAC UK Branch, Willis Towers Watson, and Zurich Insurance Company Ltd. The contract covers 12 lots including employers liability, public liability, property, motor fleet, management liability, contract works, and hotel combined insurance for the 2026/2027 period. The standstill period ends 29 April 2026 with contract commencement from 1 May 2026.

High Throughput Live-Cell Imaging System - Future Medicines Institute Procurement

Queen's University Belfast has published a Preliminary Market Engagement notice under the Procurement Act 2023 for the supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of a high throughput live-cell imaging system for the Future Medicines Institute. The system is intended to support drug discovery through real-time monitoring of cellular changes. Market engagement responses are due by 13 March 2026, with the full tender notice estimated to publish on 19 April 2026. The estimated contract period is 29 June 2026 to 28 June 2029, with a possible extension to 27 June 2036.

Joint Statement on Libya Unified Budget Agreement

The United States and nine allied nations issued a joint statement welcoming Libya's signing of a unified 2026 budget on April 11, representing the first Libyan national budget in over a decade. The statement applauds economic coordination between western and eastern Libyan leaders and expresses support for implementation of development projects, Central Bank of Libya oversight, and increased energy production through the National Oil Corporation's first operational budget in years. The governments reaffirm support for UNSMIL and the political roadmap developed by UN Special Representative Hanna Tetteh.

Northampton College Design Services Tender - Closes 7 May 2026

Northampton College has published a tender notice on Contracts Finder for the provision of Design Services (UNSPSC 79415200). The contract has an estimated value of £0, with an open procedure suitable for SMEs. The contract runs from 22 June 2026 to 21 June 2028, with submissions closing on 7 May 2026 at 12pm.

Construction Testing Services Tender (£500k-£1m)

Kier Infrastructure is inviting suppliers to submit competitive quotations for construction testing services. The contract, valued between £500,000 and £1,000,000, covers non-intrusive and intrusive surveys to support design development and Environmental Impact Assessment requirements. The procurement opportunity closes on 22 April 2026 at 5pm.

ICTS (UK) Seeks Local SME for Office Cleaning and Maintenance Services

UK Government Contracts Finder has published an open tender opportunity for local SMEs to provide office cleaning and regular office maintenance services. The contract is valued between £5,000 and £15,000, with a closing date of 1 June 2026 at 5pm. The contract period runs from 1 September 2026 to 2 August 2027. The buyer is ICTS (UK) Ltd, a private company procuring cleaning services through the public contracts portal.

Northampton College Seeks Brand Identity Services, Closing 7th May

Northampton College published a contract notice seeking suppliers for brand identity rollout and application services. The open tender procedure closes on 7 May 2026 at 12pm, with contract performance from 8 June 2026 through 7 June 2027. The opportunity is valued at £0 and is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Woolwich PolyMAT School Seeks Contractor for External Canopy Works

Woolwich PolyMAT school has published an open procurement opportunity for external canopy installation works. The contract involves installing a 12m x 18m enclosed external canopy with three entry/exit points at the girls' school in SE28 8AT, London. Bids close on 14 May 2026 at 12pm, with works scheduled to run from 20 July to 28 August 2026. The procurement is open to SMEs.

Fire Door Replacement and Compartmentation Contract

Colchester Council has published a contract notice seeking suppliers for the replacement and compartmentation of internal storage fire doors within its general housing stock. The contract has an estimated value of £500,000 to £1,000,000 and is open to any interested supplier via an open procedure. Tenders must be submitted by 12 May 2026 at 12pm, with work commencing 1 July 2026.

Electrical Materials Supply Tender - New College Swindon

New College Swindon has published an open tender notice for approved suppliers of electrical materials. The three-year supply contract runs from 1 July 2026 to 1 July 2029. Suppliers must submit bids via the MultiQuote portal by 27 April 2026 at 10am.

MOD RFI: Tactical Network and Audio Distribution Hardware Manufacturing (BCIP/MPPS)

The UK Ministry of Defence (Tactical Systems) has issued a Request for Information seeking industry capability to manufacture two tactical network and audio distribution hardware products: the Tactical Local Area Subsystem (LAS) Adapter (TLA) and the Tactical Crew Station (TCS). These form part of the Modular Platform Processing Suite (MPPS) family used in Bowman/BCIP military communications systems. The RFI seeks indicative method statements, manufacturing locations, indicative costing, component availability, and market appetite for initial quantities of 500 TLAs and 2000 TCSs, with potential for up to 7,500 additional units.

Financial Audit Services for ISF Ukraine Phase 2 Programme

Chemonics Group UK Ltd, on behalf of the UK Government, seeks an independent external financial audit firm to audit the ISF Ukraine: Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine (PFRU-2) programme. The audit covers financial statements, internal controls, and compliance with donor requirements for the period 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2026. The contract has an estimated value of £1 to £20,000 with a closing date of 8 May 2026.

ICT S Seeks Local SME for Office Cleaning and Maintenance Services

ICT S (UK) Ltd published a contract opportunity notice on Contracts Finder seeking local SMEs to provide office cleaning and regular office maintenance services. The contract has an estimated value of £5,000 to £15,000, runs from 1 September 2026 to 1 September 2027, and is open to SMEs and VCSEs. The procurement closing date is 1 June 2026 at 5pm.

Merseyside Authority Seeks Hire Vehicles for Staff Travel

Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority has published a contract notice seeking three hire vehicles for staff travel to MWDA facilities. The contract runs from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2029. Suppliers must submit bids by 18 May 2026 at 12pm via the open procedure below threshold.

Animal Feed Tender - Multiple Species Categories

New College Swindon has published a tender notice for approved suppliers of animal feed, ancillary products and accessories across six lots covering small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, aquatics/crustaceans, invertebrates, and farm livestock. The contract runs from 1 July 2026 to 1 July 2028 with an estimated value of £0. Bids close on 27 April 2026 at 10am.

Court of International Trade Orders CBP and BIS Depositions in Section 232 Steel Tariff Exclusion Case

The U.S. Court of International Trade ordered U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Bureau of Industry and Security to sit for depositions in a case filed by G&H Diversified Manufacturing LP seeking Section 232 steel tariff refunds. The CIT limited the discovery scope originally sought by G&H but granted access to certain relevant documents, inter-agency communications, exclusion request procedures, and BIS training materials. This marks the first time the CIT has ordered depositions in a case related to the steel Section 232 exclusions process.

Section 232 Tariff Overhaul: Winners, Losers, and Unintended Consequences

President Trump issued a proclamation on April 2, 2026, modifying the Section 232 tariff regime for aluminum, steel, and copper and their derivatives, effective April 6, 2026. The new regime assesses duties on the full customs value of covered articles rather than just the metal-content portion and introduces a four-tier structure (50%, 25%, 15% cap, de minimis exemption below 15% metal content by weight). Reduced rates of 10% apply to articles manufactured entirely with U.S.-origin metals, with additional preferential rates for UK-origin articles.

Barnsley Residential Care Framework - Corrigendum Notice

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council issued a corrigendum to its Framework Agreement for Residential Care and Nursing Care of Older People originally published under notice 2023/S 000-019927. The correction updates Section V (Award of Contract) information, showing the contract was awarded to Panaceon Healthcare Ltd on 24 November 2022, with a total value of £214,166.66 excluding VAT. Thirty tenders were received for this health and social work services procurement.

SUPC Awards £200M Recruitment Services Contract Across 7 Lots

Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium has awarded a £200,000,000 recruitment services contract following a competitive procurement process. The contract covers 7 lots including Non-Specialist, IT, Commercial, Executive/Senior Leadership, Medical/Veterinary, Academic roles, and a Recruitment One-Stop Shop. A total of 204 suppliers were awarded across all lots, with quality weighted at 70% and price at 30% for evaluation criteria.

Project Zora - Universal Credit Microservices Transition

The Department for Work and Pensions has published a pipeline notice for Project Zora, a strategic programme to decompose the Universal Credit monolithic application into a microservices architecture. The estimated contract value is between £20 million and £35 million over a 3-year period (November 2026 to October 2028, with possible extension to October 2029). The notice prioritises participation from SMEs and VCSEs and will be conducted via DWP's e-procurement system Atamis.

Nicaraguan Vice Minister of Interior Designated Under Section 7031(c) for Human Rights Violations

The U.S. Department of State designated Nicaraguan Vice Minister of Interior Luis Roberto Cañas Novoa under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State Appropriations Act, 2026 for his involvement in gross violations of human rights. The designation commemorates the anniversary of the April 2018 protests and honors over 325 protesters killed in the aftermath of government repression. The individual is designated for involvement in human rights abuses connected to the Ortega-Murillo regime.

Temporary Suspension of Federal Fuel Excise Tax

CBSA issued Customs Notice 26-11 advising of CARM system modifications to implement the temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax on unleaded gasoline, unleaded aviation gasoline, diesel fuel, and aviation fuel from April 20 to September 7, 2026. Trade Chain Partners will temporarily not be required to enter an Excise Tax code when completing Commercial Accounting Declarations for these imported fuels. Full tax rates resume September 8, 2026, with gasoline and aviation gasoline at 10 cents per litre and diesel and aviation fuel at 4 cents per litre.

United States Passports Moving to Single-Sized Passport Book

The Department of State published a notice announcing a shift in passport book format to a single-sized book. The State Department is accepting public comments on this policy change for 65 days. This affects all passport applicants and government agencies involved in passport issuance.

ST LNG Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Maritime Project

The Maritime Administration has published a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for an LNG maritime project. The document is available for public review with comments due by June 1, 2025. This consultation invites feedback on the environmental assessment before any final decisions are made.

ST LNG Deepwater Port Draft Environmental Impact Statement Available for Public Comment

MARAD announces the availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the ST LNG Deepwater Port license application. The project proposes a deepwater port terminal approximately 10.4 nautical miles offshore Matagorda, Texas, capable of exporting up to 8.4 million metric tons per annum of liquefied natural gas. MARAD requests public comments on the DEIS and announces an informational open house and public meeting on May 6, 2026, in Bay City, Texas.

ST LNG Terminal Technical Meeting Record and Environmental Attachments

MARAD posted documentation of technical meetings held on April 17, 2025 regarding the South Texas LNG terminal project. The docket contains 30 attachments including ichthyoplankton impact assessments, underwater acoustic assessments, vessel noise data, sediment disturbance analyses, and water intake/discharge tables. The documents appear to support environmental review of the proposed LNG maritime terminal.

Oleoresin Paprika From India; Scheduling of the Final Phase of Countervailing Duty and Antidumping Duty Investigations

The US International Trade Commission has scheduled the final phase of antidumping and countervailing duty investigations concerning imports of oleoresin paprika from India under Investigation Nos. 701-TA-771 and 731-TA-1755. The investigations examine whether the US industry is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports preliminarily found to be subsidized and sold at less-than-fair-value. The product is classified under HTS subheadings 3203.00.80 and 3301.90.10.

Shiseido America Inc. Subzone Application, New Jersey

The Foreign-Trade Zones Board has received an application from the County of Mercer requesting subzone status for Shiseido America Inc. facilities located in Cranbury and East Windsor, New Jersey. The proposed subzone would cover two sites totaling approximately 29 acres. Public comments on the application are invited through June 1, 2026.

Foreign-Trade Zone 27 Subzone Application, Applied Materials, Inc.

The Foreign-Trade Zones Board received an application from the Massachusetts Port Authority requesting subzone status for Applied Materials, Inc. facilities in Boylston, Gloucester, Newburyport, and Rowley, Massachusetts. The proposed subzone would cover 13 sites totaling approximately 70.31 acres. Public comments on the application are invited through June 1, 2026.

Marine Mammal Research Permit Application, University of Alaska Southeast, File No. 29418

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service published notice of a permit application from the University of Alaska Southeast to conduct research on marine mammals in Alaska. The application covers 18 species of cetaceans including endangered gray, humpback, and sperm whales, and four species of pinnipeds. Research methods include vessel and drone surveys, photo-identification, tagging, biological sampling, and acoustic recordings. The public comment period closes May 20, 2026.

China Aluminum Container Circumvention Inquiry: Preliminary Affirmative Determination

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has issued a preliminary affirmative determination in the circumvention inquiry regarding aluminum containers completed in Thailand using Chinese-origin aluminum foil. Commerce preliminarily determines that such merchandise is circumventing the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on aluminum containers from China on a country-wide basis. As a result, Commerce will direct CBP to suspend liquidation and require cash deposits of estimated duties on unliquidated entries entered on or after October 28, 2024.

USPTO Requests OMB Approval for GIPA Surveys Extension

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published a notice on April 20, 2026, seeking public comments on the extension and revision of information collection 0651-0065 (Global Intellectual Property Academy Surveys) under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The GIPA surveys measure the effectiveness of international technical assistance activities for intellectual property rights protection. Comments are due June 22, 2026.

OMB Review of Fisheries Finance Program Requirements Collection

NOAA publishes a notice under the Paperwork Reduction Act requesting 60 days of public comment on extending the Fisheries Finance Program information collection (OMB Control No. 0648-0012). The program provides direct government loans for construction or reconstruction of fishing vessels, shoreside fishery facilities, aquaculture facilities, and individual fishing quotas. Comments must be received by June 22, 2026. The estimated annual burden is 848 hours across 316 respondents.

NOAA Reinstates Export Fishery Definition in 50 CFR Part 216

NOAA has published a correction to Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations reinstating the definition of "Export fishery" in section 216.3. The definition, which was inadvertently omitted during the October 1, 2025 annual revision, establishes criteria for classifying foreign commercial fishing operations that export to the United States and have more than a remote likelihood of incidental marine mammal mortality or serious injury. The correction applies to foreign commercial fishing operations and informs the classification process used by the Assistant Administrator.

PTAB Appeals Information Collection Extension and Revision Request for Comments

The USPTO, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites public comments on the extension and revision of existing information collection 0651-0063 covering Patent Trial and Appeal Board appeals. The collection includes forms for Notice of Appeal, Appeal Brief, Reply Brief, Request for Oral Hearing, and related proceedings under 37 CFR 41. Estimated annual respondents total 16,905 with a combined burden of 337,662 hours and $150,934,914 in costs. Comments must be submitted on or before June 22, 2026.

NOAA Requests OMB Approval to Extend CZMA Federal Consistency Information Collection

NOAA, under the Paperwork Reduction Act, invites public comment through June 22, 2026, on extending OMB Control No. 0648-0411 for information collections under the CZMA Federal Consistency Requirements. The collection enables states to determine consistency of proposed Federal actions with State Coastal Management Programs. Affected parties include Federal agencies, non-Federal applicants for coastal licenses/permits, and State/local governments applying for coastal Federal financial assistance.

Preliminary Affirmative Circumvention Determination: Aluminum Containers From Vietnam Using Chinese-Origin Aluminum Foil

The U.S. Department of Commerce has issued a preliminary affirmative determination that imports of disposable aluminum containers completed in Vietnam using aluminum foil produced in China are circumventing the antidumping duty and countervailing duty orders on aluminum containers from China on a country-wide basis. Commerce is directing U.S. Customs and Border Protection to suspend liquidation and require cash deposits of estimated duties on unliquidated entries entered on or after October 28, 2024. Interested parties may submit comments on this preliminary determination.

NEH Fellowships for Humanities Research, $30k-$60k

NEH announced Fellowships for individual humanities scholars with awards of $30,000 to $60,000. The 2026 competition will fund projects in American history and culture and Western civilization only. Total program funding is $3,600,000 with an expected 60 awards. Applications close April 22, 2026.

Public Scholars Grants for Humanities Research

NEH announces the Public Scholars grant program providing $900,000 in total funding for 15 expected awards ranging from $30,000 to $60,000 per project. Eligible projects must focus on American history and culture or Western civilization topics. Applications close April 22, 2026.

AFRI Strengthening Agricultural Systems Funding Opportunity

NIFA has announced $140,000,000 in AFRI Strengthening Agricultural Systems funding available to eligible institutions. The opportunity anticipates 18 awards ranging from $1,000,000 to $10,000,000 each, with applications closing April 23, 2026. Eligible applicants include colleges, universities, 1994 Land-grant Institutions, and Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities.

FSCS Payments Compliance Notice, Oct 2025-Mar 2026

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme Limited published its payments compliance report for 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2026 under the Procurement Act 2023. The report shows 99.1% of payments were made within 30 days of invoice receipt, with an average of 6.6 days to payment. Approximately 1.27% of payments due were not made during the reporting period.

UK Space Agency RFI: In-Orbit Servicing Mission Concepts

The UK Space Agency issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking industry feedback on potential In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) mission concepts. UKSA wishes to understand feasibility of Rendezvous, Proximity Operations and Docking (RPOD) enabled ISAM missions, indicative costs, and delivery timescales. Responses are due by 29 May 2026 and will inform future programme planning and options development. This RFI does not constitute a commitment to procure or fund any activity.

Midpoint Birmingham - Principal Contractor PSQ for Warehouse/Industrial Development at Longwell Green Retail Park

West Midlands Pension Fund published a tender notice under the Procurement Act 2023 for a Principal Contractor Procurement Selection Questionnaire (PSQ). The contract involves designing and constructing a new warehouse/industrial unit at Longwell Green Retail Park, Gloucestershire/Wiltshire/Bristol area, with an estimated value of £9.4 million including VAT. The two-stage competitive flexible procedure will select up to 4 suppliers to proceed from the PSQ stage to the Invitation to Tender stage.

Tree Maintenance Services Procurement £9.492M 3 Lots

The London Borough of Hillingdon has published a tender notice for tree maintenance services valued at £9,492,000 over a three-year contract with a possible two-year extension. The procurement is split into three lots covering North Highways with out-of-hours callouts (£5.16M), South Highways (£3.60M), and Housing and Corporate sites (£740k). The tender submission deadline is 13 May 2026 and the contract is expected to commence on 1 September 2026.

Lancashire and South Cumbria Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services Contract Award

NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board has published a corrigendum notice confirming contract award for Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS) covering Lancashire and South Cumbria. The contract was awarded under Provider Selection Regime (PSR) regulations via direct award process C to a single provider. The contract value is £16,975,000 with a 12-month term from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.

£16.975M Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services Contract Awarded to North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust

NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board published an intention to award a £16,975,000 contract for Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS) to North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust. The contract covers the period 01/04/2026 to 31/03/2027 and was awarded via Provider Selection Regime (PSR) direct award process C to an existing provider. The standstill period allows representations until 29/04/2026.