Lancashire Company and Director Fined for Illegal Waste Exports
The Environment Agency prosecuted 3R Technology UK Ltd and Director Yulin Wang for illegally exporting contaminated plastic waste to Malaysia. The company was fined £80,000 with £45,000 costs and £2,000 victim surcharge; Wang received 120 hours unpaid community work plus £15,000 costs and £114 surcharge. They pleaded guilty to 16 charges involving waste shipments between April 2022 and February 2025.
Platform Risk Assessment Requirements Under Online Safety Act
Ofcom has issued legally binding notices to more than 40 platforms requesting over 70 risk assessments under the UK's Online Safety Act. 30 providers covering 43 services must submit their Year 2 illegal harms risk assessments and children's risk assessments by 31 July 2026. The regulator reviewed over 100 risk assessments in 2025, raising serious concerns with 11 platforms that subsequently submitted revised versions.
Three Tower Hamlets Schools Cleaning Tender
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has published a tender notice for cleaning services across three schools: Morpeth School, Old Palace Primary School, and Cubitt Town Primary School. The estimated contract value is £2.04m divided into 3 lots, with a submission deadline of 29th April 2026. The contract is scheduled to commence on 1st August 2026 for an initial three-year term with extension options.
SEND Transport Services Contract Awarded by Surrey County Council
Surrey County Council awarded a £223,785.71 contract for SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) transport services to an economic operator. The contract was awarded following an open procedure under the Government Procurement Agreement, with nine tenders received. The contract value excludes VAT.
General Licence for Insurance Payments under UK Sanctions Regimes
OFSI issued General Licence INT/2022/2009156 permitting designated persons under UK Autonomous Sanctions Regimes to make insurance payments to UK insurers and brokers for building, engineering, terrorism, property liability, and claims preparation insurance. UK insurers may make claim payments and refunds to UK Designated Persons. The licence was amended on 15 December 2023 to add motor insurance, include insurance brokers, expand the UK DP definition to include owned/controlled entities, and permit persons acting on behalf of UK DPs to make permitted payments.
Bond Restructuring Licence for Non-Designated Persons
OFSI issued General Licence INT/2023/2824812 permitting bond restructurings and amendments where Designated Persons hold bonds, provided no funds reach designated parties and any frozen assets remain blocked. UK issuers and Relevant Institutions may process qualifying bond transactions under this licence, subject to reporting requirements to HM Treasury within 14 days of completion.
OFSI General Licence - Russia Sanctions Bond Restructuring
OFSI issued General Licence INT/2023/2824812 under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 to permit bond restructuring and amendments for non-Designated Persons. The licence allows Issuers and UK Persons to effect bond restructurings provided no funds reach Designated Persons and any amounts owed to sanctioned parties remain frozen. The licence was extended on 28 March 2025.
General Licence Permitting Utility Payments by UK Designated Persons
OFSI issued General Licence INT/2022/2300292 permitting UK Designated Persons (sanctioned individuals and entities) to make utility payments for gas and electricity from frozen UK bank accounts. The licence also allows Energy Companies to receive such payments and process return payments to frozen accounts, subject to quarterly reporting requirements to HM Treasury.
General Licence allowing sanctioned UK persons to pay utility bills
OFSI published notice regarding General Licence INT/2022/2300292 allowing UK designated persons subject to asset freezes to make permitted utility payments for gas and electricity from frozen UK bank accounts. The General Licence, originally issued November 2022, has been amended multiple times to expand permissions, most recently February 2024 to include additional permitted payment categories for gas and electricity meters.
UK Sanctions Insurance Payments General Licence
OFSI issued General Licence INT/2022/2009156 permitting specific insurance-related payments that would otherwise breach UK Autonomous Sanctions Regulations. The licence authorises UK insurers, insurance brokers, and regulated financial institutions to process premiums, claims, and refunds involving designated persons for specified insurance products covering UK properties and motor vehicles.
Water fittings ICT solution tender
Northern Ireland Water Ltd published a tender notice for a replacement ICT solution to support statutory Water Fittings Inspection services under the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009. The estimated contract value is £720,000 excluding VAT over an initial 5-year term with potential extensions up to 8 years. Bidders must provide a cloud-based SaaS solution to manage risk-based inspection strategies for water fittings compliance.
Shortbreaks and Outreach Framework for Disabled Children
Southampton City Council published a £5.4 million Short Breaks, Outreach and Support Framework tender under the Procurement Act 2023. The framework covers two lots for disabled children and young people aged up to 18: Lot 1 for Care Support and Community Outreach, and Lot 2 for Specialist Playschemes and Targeted Short Breaks. The Council is conducting Preliminary Market Engagement prior to formal procurement.
Water Fittings ICT Solution Procurement
Northern Ireland Water Limited published a preliminary market engagement notice for a replacement ICT solution to support its statutory Water Fittings Inspection service under the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009. The estimated contract value is £864,000 including VAT, covering the period October 2026 to September 2029 with possible extension to 2032. This is a retendering following discontinuation of a previous procurement through Crown Commercial Services Framework.
Water Hygiene Monitoring Programme - Dundee City Council £870k
Dundee City Council published a contract notice for Water Hygiene Monitoring services valued at £870,000. The procurement is divided into two lots covering water hygiene monitoring across council properties. Tenders must be submitted electronically via Public Contracts Scotland portal.
Invest Northern Ireland Event Management Services tender, £7.2m
Invest Northern Ireland published a tender notice for Event Management Services valued at £7.2m (including VAT). The two-year contract (with potential extensions to five years) supports the Northern Ireland Executive's Programme for Government 2024-2027. Bids must be submitted by 7 May 2026 via eTendersNI.
£21.35m Void Property Works Contract 2026-2029
Angus Council published a contract notice inviting tenders for void property works across four geographic lots spanning 2026-2029. The estimated contract value is £21.35m, covering preparation, repair, and upgrading of void flats and houses in Arbroath, Carnoustie & Monifieth, Brechin & Montrose, and Forfar & Kirriemuir. Tenders must be submitted electronically via the Public Contracts Scotland portal.
Energia Group Strategic Technology and Consultancy Framework
Energia Group NI Holdings Limited published a £96 million Strategic Consultancy and Technology Services Framework tender notice through the UK Government Find a Tender portal. The framework covers six lots including transformation services, digital, data/AI, and security. This is a commercial procurement opportunity for suppliers; no regulatory obligations are created for third parties.
Housing Unplanned Repairs Contract
Angus Council published a contract notice for £22.56m housing unplanned repairs services across 4 contract areas in Angus, Scotland (Arbroath, Carnoustie & Monifieth, Brechin & Montrose, Forfar & Kirriemuir) for 2026-2029. Contractors can submit bids via Public Contract Scotland portal.
Exams venue provision by British Council, Shymkent, Kazakhstan
The British Council published a contract award notice for exam venue provision services in Shymkent, Kazakhstan under the UK Procurement Act 2023. The contract was awarded to IELTS Center for approximately 107.7 million KZT excluding VAT for a two-year period with possible extension until March 2032.
Buy-out price index changes from RPI to CPI
The Department for the Economy (Northern Ireland) amended the Renewables Obligation Order (Northern Ireland) 2009, replacing the Retail Prices Index (RPI) with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) for calculating buy-out prices in obligation periods after 1 April 2025. The order defines 'consumer prices index' as the index calculated by the Statistics Board. This statutory rule (SR (NI) 2026 No. 67) came into operation on 24 March 2026.
Designates City of Derry Airport as international airport
The Department for Communities (Northern Ireland) has issued S.R. 2026 No. 70, designating City of Derry Airport as an international airport under Article 53(1) of the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. The Order, made on 31st March 2026, came into operation on 2nd April 2026. This designation allows the airport's licensed premises within the customs examination station to sell alcohol outside normally prohibited hours.