Official UK procurement notice
Independent Monitor - Thames Water
Authority: The Water Services Regulation Authority (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionRole of Independent Monitor - Thames Water
- How the procedure runs: o The procurement is being conducted using a Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. Bidders will be required to submit a tender response addressing the conditions of participation, quality and commercial requirements set out in the tender documents. Following evaluation of written tenders, Ofwat intends to shortlist up to four bidders to participate in a Presentation and Interview Stage. Shortlisting will be based on the evaluation methodology set out in the Invitation to Tender. Following completion of the Presentation and Interview Stage, final scores will be calculated using the published evaluation methodology and the highest scoring bidder will be invited to enter into the contract. Ofwat reserves the right to clarify aspects of tenders in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 and the procurement documents.
CPV: Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£13,000,000
- Economic & financial standing
The Bidder must have the legal capacity to perform the contract and comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Where applicable, the Bidder must demonstrate compliance with UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 obligations and confirm that it has the authority, governance arrangements and legal standing necessary to perform the contract.
The Bidder must demonstrate sufficient economic and financial standing to perform the contract. The Bidder must confirm that:
It is not subject to insolvency or analogous proceedings;
Its most recent audited financial statements do not contain a qualified audit opinion or material uncertainty relating to going concern; and
Its average annual turnover over its two most recently completed financial years was at least £5m.
Ofwat reserves the right to verify supporting evidence prior to contract award.
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 (4)
- Written Quality Responses: 50%
- Presentation and Interview Stage: 10%
- Pricing Response: 30%
- Social Value: 10%
Published award criteria (4)
- Written Quality Responses: Final award criteria applicable to shortlisted bidders: Understanding of Requirements (Question 1) – 15% Proposed Approach and Methodology (Question 2) – 17.5% Relevant Experience, Capability and Delivery Team (Question 3) – 17.5%
- Presentation and Interview Stage: Evaluation of the bidder's Presentation and Interview Stage
- Social Value: Evaluation of the bidder's Social Value proposals in accordance with the Social Value question and evaluation methodology set out in the procurement documents.
- Pricing Response: Evaluation of the bidder's Price Response based on the weighted day-rate card methodology set out in the procurement documents. Scores will be determined using the blended evaluated rate and evaluation formula.
- Economic & financial standing
The Bidder must have the legal capacity to perform the contract and comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Where applicable, the Bidder must demonstrate compliance with UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 obligations and confirm that it has the authority, governance arrangements and legal standing necessary to perform the contract.
The Bidder must demonstrate sufficient economic and financial standing to perform the contract. The Bidder must confirm that:
It is not subject to insolvency or analogous proceedings;
Its most recent audited financial statements do not contain a qualified audit opinion or material uncertainty relating to going concern; and
Its average annual turnover over its two most recently completed financial years was at least £5m.
Ofwat reserves the right to verify supporting evidence prior to contract award.
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
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
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 31 Jul 2026, 19:24 BST
- Last source update
- 28 Oct 2026, 13:47 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 21 Oct 2026
- Authority reference
PROC.0298- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-072941- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d965Find a Tender- Contract terms summary
Valid and undisputed invoices will be paid within 30 days of receipt
- How it runs
o The procurement is being conducted using a Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023.
Bidders will be required to submit a tender response addressing the conditions of participation, quality and commercial requirements set out in the tender documents.
Following evaluation of written tenders, Ofwat intends to shortlist up to four bidders to participate in a Presentation and Interview Stage. Shortlisting will be based on the evaluation methodology set out in the Invitation to Tender.
Following completion of the Presentation and Interview Stage, final scores will be calculated using the published evaluation methodology and the highest scoring bidder will be invited to enter into the contract.
Ofwat reserves the right to clarify aspects of tenders in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 and the procurement documents.
- Risks
The satisfactory performance of the contract may be affected by factors outside Ofwat's direct control, including changes to Thames Water's financial position, recapitalisation activities, corporate restructuring, regulatory interventions, and enforcement actions, or changes to the company's turnaround programme.
The scope, intensity and focus of the Independent Monitor's activities may need to change during the contract term in response to evolving risks, emerging issues, delivery performance, compliance with undertakings, governance developments, financial resilience concerns and wider regulatory requirements.
The contract has therefore been designed to support a flexible, scalable and proportionate monitoring approach that can be adapted to reflect changes in risk, regulatory priorities and the company's circumstances while ensuring effective regulatory oversight.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 11 Sept 2026, 17:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 24 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Tenders must be submitted electronically via the myTenders eProcurement portal (www.mytenders.co.uk ↗). Instructions for accessing the procurement documents, submitting clarification questions and submitting tenders will be provided through the portal. Tenders submitted by email or post will not be accepted.
Timeline
31 Jul 2026 → 9 Nov 2026 · 8 dates- Tender notice published88 days ago31 Jul 2026, 19:24 BST
- Clarification questions by65 days ago24 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline47 days ago11 Sept 2026, 17:00 BST
- Award decision expected by6 days ago21 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
- Assessment summaries sent16h ago28 Oct 2026
- Latest notice published2h ago28 Oct 2026, 13:47 GMT
- Today28 Oct 2026
- Contract startsin 7 days5 Nov 2026
- Standstill endsin 12 days9 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMT
Notice history
7 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 31 Jul 2026- Tender notice published31 Jul 2026, 19:24 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published14 Aug 2026, 17:01 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published28 Aug 2026, 15:15 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published4 Sept 2026, 15:58 BSTUK4
- Contract award notice published28 Oct 2026, 13:47 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete28 Oct 2026, 13:47 GMT
- Contract signature expected12 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
Published amendments (3)
Addition of 'Appendix B - Instructions and Guidance to Bidders' document.
Addition of 'Schedule 3 Security Requirements (ICT10) within Appendix A - Terms and Conditions' document.
Addition of "Presentation and Interview Stage Instructions" document. Addition of "Note to Bidders" document, outlining small number of changes to the terms of the Independent Monitor Contract at Appendix A of the Invitation to Tender. Extension of the tender submission deadline from Monday 7 September 2026 at 09:00 am (BST) to Friday 11 September at 17:00 (BST). All other dates remain unchanged u…
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2026-07: 1 release · 31 Jul 2026
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ernst and Young LLPIndependent Monitor (IM) - Thames Water16 Nov 2026 – 8 May 2029 · up to 8 Nov 2030Extensions: 1 year | £13,000,000 | 28 Oct 2026standstill to 9 Nov 2026 | Standstill |
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6final-stage tenders | 1 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- wonERNST & YOUNG LLP · Greater London
- did not winS&W PARTNERS LLP · Greater London
- did not winDEECON CONSULTING LIMITEDSME · South East England
- did not winROLAND BERGER LTD · Greater London
- did not winL.E.K. CONSULTING LLP · Greater London
- did not winGRANT THORNTON UK ADVISORY & TAX LLP · Greater London
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
6 commercial parties on the notice · 1 awarded- DEECON CONSULTING LIMITEDBidder / tenderer
- ERNST & YOUNG LLPAwarded supplier
- GRANT THORNTON UK ADVISORY & TAX LLPBidder / tenderer
- L.E.K. CONSULTING LLPBidder / tenderer
- ROLAND BERGER LTDBidder / tenderer
- S&W PARTNERS LLPBidder / tenderer
Official documents & specifications (12)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications Schedule 3 Security Requirements (ICT10) within Appendix A - Terms and Conditions document
- Bidding documents and specifications PROC.0298 - Appendix A - Terms and Conditions
- Bidding documents and specifications PROC.0298 - Appendix B - Instructions and Guidance to Bidders
- Bidding documents and specifications Presentation and Interview Stage Instruction document
- Bidding documents and specifications "Note to Bidders" document, outlining small number of changes to the terms of the Independent Monitor Contract at Appendix A of the Invitation to Tender.
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: Tender documents will be made available through the myTenders eProcurement portal.
- Bidding documents and specifications PROC.0298 - Invitation to Tender - Independent Monitor - Thames Water
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender