Official UK procurement notice
Digester Inspection and Refurbishment Works
Authority: THAMES WATER UTILITIES LIMITED
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThames Water Utilities Limited intends to establish a single-lot, multi-supplier framework agreement to deliver inspection, repair, refurbishment and upgrade works to anaerobic digester assets and associated infrastructure across its operational estate.
Thames Water Utilities Limited intends to establish a single-lot, multi-supplier framework agreement to deliver inspection, repair, refurbishment and upgrade works to anaerobic digester assets and associated infrastructure across its operational estate.
The framework will support the ongoing maintenance, regulatory compliance and enhancement of Thames Water's digester portfolio, which forms a critical part of sludge treatment operations. Works will be required across multiple sites and will be delivered as discrete packages or programmes of work called off over the duration of the framework.
The scope of services to be delivered under the framework includes, but is not limited to:
- Decommissioning, isolation and preparation of digesters for inspection and refurbishment
- Removal, treatment and disposal of sludge, grit and associated waste materials in accordance with all applicable regulations
- Internal and external inspection of digester structures and associated assets, including provision of inspection reports, defect identification and recommended remedial actions
- Cleaning and enabling works required to facilitate inspection and subsequent refurbishment activities
- Structural repair and refurbishment of digester assets, including roofs, walls, bases and associated civil infrastructure
- Repair, replacement and upgrade of mechanical, electrical, control and instrumentation (MECI/MEICA) systems, including mixing equipment, pipework, valves, heating systems, and control/automation systems
- Upgrade works to meet current regulatory, environmental and operational standards, including those relating to emissions control, gas management and asset performance
- Temporary works, access solutions, cranage, site establishment and all associated enabling activities required to safely deliver the works
- Testing, commissioning, performance validation and handover of refurbished assets
- Provision of as-built documentation, asset data, operation and maintenance manuals, and training for operational personnel
The nature, scope and value of individual call-off contracts will vary. In many cases, the full extent of refurbishment and upgrade works will only be confirmed following completion of initial decommissioning, cleaning, and detailed inspection activities. As such, works packages may comprise a combination of defined and developing scopes, with suppliers required to work collaboratively with Thames Water to refine and deliver solutions based on inspection findings.
The framework is expected to operate across multiple sites within the Thames Water region. Works will need to be carefully planned and executed to ensure continued operational performance of the wider network, including constraints on the number of digesters that can be taken offline at any one time.
The estimated aggregate value of contracts awarded under the framework is £70,000,000. This value is indicative only and does not constitute any guarantee of the volume, value, timing or distribution of work. No minimum workload or exclusivity is guaranteed to any supplier.
Suppliers appointed to the framework will be expected to demonstrate capability in delivering complex, safety-critical works within live operational environments, and to work collaboratively with Thames Water to achieve programme objectives, regulatory compliance and value for money.
Further detail regarding the scope, technical requirements and contractual arrangements will be set out in the procurement documentation issued at the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) stage.
- How the procedure runs: This Tender Notice invites a request to participate from Applicants. Having reviewed the Tender Notice, all Applicants wishing to participate in the Digester Works Framework competition will need to demonstrate in their submissions that they meet the Conditions of Participation set out in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire Pack (PSQ Pack) and complete a Non-Disclosure/Confidentiality Agreement. Applications will be submitted via the contracting authority's portal as described in the PSQ Pack - Part 1 Instructions to Applicants. The contracting authority will assess the Applicant's submissions and be shortlisted based on several pass/fail questions on corporate assurance along with 3 scored questions. The weighting of the scored questions is listed below. • Health & Safety 15% • Capability & Relevant Experience 25% • Capability (asset integration) 10% • Supply Chain Management 15% • Collaboration 20% • Innovation 15% Scored submissions will be ranked from highest to lowest and the contracting authority intends to invite the top twelve to twenty highest ranked compliant bidders to tender for the Digester Works Framework AMP8/9. Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) Stage The contracting authority will share with the shortlisted Applicants an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) against which such Applicants will be invited to submit a tender. Tender submissions will be evaluated in accordance with the objective criteria set out in the ITN. Technical Questions will be made available at ITN Stage and will follow the question themes and below with the remaining 25% attributed to the commercial score of the bidder. • Safety • Programme - Sequencing & Outage Plan Development • Delivery & Technical Negotiation Stage The contracting authority may engage in negotiations with tenderers as set out further in the ITN. For the avoidance of doubt, the contracting authority reserves the right to award the framework without any negotiation, on the basis of the most advantageous tenders submitted at the ITN Stage. Following any negotiation stage, the contracting authority also reserves the right to invite tenderers to submit an updated tender, as explained further in the ITN. Following the submission of any updated tenders, the contracting authority will complete the tender evaluation process and award places on the Digester Works Framework Agreement to up to ten most advantageous tenders in accordance with the objective criteria set out in the ITN. Thames Water reserves the right to refine the award criteria. Please note that that deadline for asking for access to the PSQ & submitting of the PSQ is 9 July 2026, at 12:00 noon.
CPV: Construction works for plants, mining and manufacturing and for buildings relating to the oil and gas industry
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Framework period
- 4 yrs · up to 8 yrs from 1 Feb 2027
Published description of the framework
Thames Water Utilities Limited is establishing this Framework as a single-lot, multi-supplier framework agreement for the delivery of digester inspection, repair, refurbishment and upgrade works. The Framework will be procured using a competitive flexible procedure.
General operation of the Framework
No supplier is guaranteed any minimum volume or value of work under the Framework.
Call-off contracts will be awarded either:
- through further competition between all appointed Framework suppliers; or
- via award directly to a supplier on an objective basis
For each call-off, Thames Water Utilities Limited will issue a call-off tender pack setting out:
- the initial scope of works,
- project-specific requirements and constraints,
- pricing approach and assumptions, and
- evaluation criteria.
Tenderers will be required to submit both a technical and commercial proposal. Contracts will be awarded to the tenderer submitting the most advantageous tender in accordance with the criteria set out in the call-off documentation.
Call-off contracts will be let using the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC) Option A (priced contract with activity schedule).
Pricing mechanism
At the framework award stage (ITN), tenderers will be required to submit a Framework Schedule of Rates, setting out their proposed:
- labour rates,
- plant and equipment rates,
- daywork rates, and
- rates for defined inspection, repair and refurbishment activities.
These rates will form the baseline pricing structure for all future call-off contracts under the Framework.
At call-off stage, for each further competition:
- Thames Water will issue a call-off scope and associated pricing template
- Tenderers will be required to propose quantities for each activity based on their methodology, inspection assumptions, and understanding of the scope
- The total tendered price will be calculated by applying the tenderer's framework rates to their proposed quantities
- Tenderers may, where they identify efficiencies specific to the call-off project, offer reduced rates compared to their submitted Framework Schedule of Rates, provided these are clearly identified and applied consistently within their pricing submission
This approach will result in a priced Activity Schedule, consistent with NEC4 ECC Option A, which will form the basis of contract award.
Submitted quantities and any proposed rate adjustments will be evaluated against clear criteria.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£70,000,000
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (2)
- Technical: 75%
- Commercial: 25%
Published award criteria (2)
- Technical
- Commercial
- Price carries 25 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 2.5 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Digester Inspection and Refurbishment Works” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Works
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 11 Jun 2026, 07:44 BST
- Last source update
- 30 Jun 2026, 11:39 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 3 Aug 2026
- Authority reference
FA2309- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-054972- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06b25cFind a Tender
- How it runs
This Tender Notice invites a request to participate from Applicants. Having reviewed the Tender Notice, all Applicants wishing to participate in the Digester Works Framework competition will need to demonstrate in their submissions that they meet the Conditions of Participation set out in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire Pack (PSQ Pack) and complete a Non-Disclosure/Confidentiality Agreement.
Applications will be submitted via the contracting authority's portal as described in the PSQ Pack - Part 1 Instructions to Applicants.
The contracting authority will assess the Applicant's submissions and be shortlisted based on several pass/fail questions on corporate assurance along with 3 scored questions. The weighting of the scored questions is listed below.
- Health & Safety 15%
- Capability & Relevant Experience 25%
- Capability (asset integration) 10%
- Supply Chain Management 15%
- Collaboration 20%
- Innovation 15%
Scored submissions will be ranked from highest to lowest and the contracting authority intends to invite the top twelve to twenty highest ranked compliant bidders to tender for the Digester Works Framework AMP8/9.
Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) Stage
The contracting authority will share with the shortlisted Applicants an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) against which such Applicants will be invited to submit a tender. Tender submissions will be evaluated in accordance with the objective criteria set out in the ITN.
Technical Questions will be made available at ITN Stage and will follow the question themes and below with the remaining 25% attributed to the commercial score of the bidder.
- Safety
- Programme - Sequencing & Outage Plan Development
- Delivery & Technical
Negotiation Stage
The contracting authority may engage in negotiations with tenderers as set out further in the ITN.
For the avoidance of doubt, the contracting authority reserves the right to award the framework without any negotiation, on the basis of the most advantageous tenders submitted at the ITN Stage.
Following any negotiation stage, the contracting authority also reserves the right to invite tenderers to submit an updated tender, as explained further in the ITN.
Following the submission of any updated tenders, the contracting authority will complete the tender evaluation process and award places on the Digester Works Framework Agreement to up to ten most advantageous tenders in accordance with the objective criteria set out in the ITN.
Thames Water reserves the right to refine the award criteria. Please note that that deadline for asking for access to the PSQ & submitting of the PSQ is 9 July 2026, at 12:00 noon.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 16 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
- Appointment period ends
- 16 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 25 Jun 2026, 17:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
If you are interested in participating, please complete this form:
Timeline
11 Jun 2026 → 1 Feb 2027 · 6 dates- Tender notice published139 days ago11 Jun 2026, 07:44 BST
- Clarification questions by124 days ago25 Jun 2026, 17:00 BST
- Latest notice published120 days ago30 Jun 2026, 11:39 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends104 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown16 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
- Award decision expected by85 days ago3 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
- Today28 Oct 2026
- Contract startsin 95 days1 Feb 2027
Notice history
2 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 11 Jun 2026- Tender notice published11 Jun 2026, 07:44 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published30 Jun 2026, 11:39 BSTUK4
Published amendments (1)
Please note the deadline for asking for access and submitting the PSQ data requested is now 16th July at 12 noon GMT.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender