Official UK procurement notice
PRO004917-Services-Framework-Operational Technology Build Only
Authority: United Utilities Water Limited (Public body)·Consortium: 2 public authorities
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionUnited Utilities is seeking to establish a multi-supplier framework for the provision of Operational Technology (OT) Build Only Works across its water and wastewater infrastructure assets. The framework will support the delivery of OT installation, integration, commissioning and associated build activities required to maintain, enhance and expand operational technology systems across a range of operational sites. The framework is intended to provide access to suitably qualified and experienced suppliers capable of delivering safe, efficient and high-quality OT build services, supporting United Utilities' operational and capital investment programmes. The procurement will be undertaken using a Competitive Flexible Procedure and will comprise a Conditions of Participation Questionnaire (COPQ) stage followed by an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) stage for suppliers who successfully meet the conditions of participation and are shortlisted to proceed. Successful suppliers appointed to the framework may be invited to compete for individual call-off contracts covering a range of OT Build Only Works requirements across water and wastewater treatment works, pumping stations, network assets and other operational facilities within the United Utilities operational area.
- How the procedure runs: United Utilities intends to award a multi-supplier framework for the provision of Operational Technology (OT) Build Only Works across water and wastewater infrastructure assets. The procurement will be conducted using the Competitive Flexible Procedure and will comprise two stages: Stage 1 – Conditions of Participation Questionnaire (COPQ): Interested suppliers will be required to complete and submit a COPQ. Responses will be evaluated against the conditions of participation and selection criteria detailed within the procurement documents. Suppliers meeting the required standards will be shortlisted to progress to the next stage. Stage 2 – Invitation to Negotiate (ITN): Shortlisted suppliers will be invited to participate in the ITN stage, during which they will be required to submit detailed proposals. Negotiations may be undertaken with bidders to refine technical, commercial and contractual solutions prior to submission of final tenders. Final tenders will be evaluated in accordance with the award criteria set out in the procurement documents. Following completion of the evaluation process, United Utilities intends to appoint multiple suppliers to the framework agreement for the provision of OT Build Only Works services.
CPV: Installation services (except software) · Installation services of communications equipment · Installation services of computers and office equipment · Installation services of electrical and mechanical equipment · Installation services of equipment for measuring, checking, testing and navigating · Installation services of fire protection equipment · Installation services of machinery and equipment · Installation services of medical and surgical equipment · Installation services of metal containers
How this framework works
From the published notice- Framework period
- 5 yrs · up to 10 yrs from 1 Apr 2027
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£20,000,000
- Economic & financial standing
Applicants will be required to demonstrate their legal standing, financial stability and ability to perform the contract. This may include, but is not limited to:
- Evidence of registration and legal status.
- Confirmation that none of the mandatory or discretionary exclusion grounds apply.
- Satisfactory financial standing demonstrated through submitted accounts and/or financial information requested as part of the procurement.
- Appropriate levels of insurances, including Employers' Liability, Public Liability and Professional Indemnity (where applicable).
- Compliance with applicable health and safety, environmental, modern slavery, anti-bribery and data protection legislation.
- Acceptance of the framework terms and conditions, including any requirements relating to parent company guarantees or performance security where specified. Full details of the conditions of participation and the assessment methodology will be provided within the procurement documents.
- Technical & professional ability
Applicants will be required to demonstrate relevant technical capability, capacity and experience in delivering Operational Technology (OT) build and installation works within regulated utility, industrial or comparable operational environments. This may include, but is not limited to:
- Demonstrable experience in the delivery of OT build, installation, integration, testing and commissioning activities.
- Relevant experience of working within water, wastewater, utility or similar critical infrastructure environments.
- Evidence of competent and suitably qualified personnel, including project management, engineering and site-based resources.
- Appropriate health, safety, environmental and quality management systems and accreditations.
- Evidence of supply chain, resource and delivery capability sufficient to support framework requirements.
- Provision of suitable contract references demonstrating successful delivery of comparable works within the last five years. Full details of the conditions of participation and the assessment methodology will be provided within the procurement documents.
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: 40%
- Commercial: 60%
Published award criteria (2)
- Commercial
- Technical
- Economic & financial standing
Applicants will be required to demonstrate their legal standing, financial stability and ability to perform the contract. This may include, but is not limited to:
- Evidence of registration and legal status.
- Confirmation that none of the mandatory or discretionary exclusion grounds apply.
- Satisfactory financial standing demonstrated through submitted accounts and/or financial information requested as part of the procurement.
- Appropriate levels of insurances, including Employers' Liability, Public Liability and Professional Indemnity (where applicable).
- Compliance with applicable health and safety, environmental, modern slavery, anti-bribery and data protection legislation.
- Acceptance of the framework terms and conditions, including any requirements relating to parent company guarantees or performance security where specified. Full details of the conditions of participation and the assessment methodology will be provided within the procurement documents.
- Technical & professional ability
Applicants will be required to demonstrate relevant technical capability, capacity and experience in delivering Operational Technology (OT) build and installation works within regulated utility, industrial or comparable operational environments. This may include, but is not limited to:
- Demonstrable experience in the delivery of OT build, installation, integration, testing and commissioning activities.
- Relevant experience of working within water, wastewater, utility or similar critical infrastructure environments.
- Evidence of competent and suitably qualified personnel, including project management, engineering and site-based resources.
- Appropriate health, safety, environmental and quality management systems and accreditations.
- Evidence of supply chain, resource and delivery capability sufficient to support framework requirements.
- Provision of suitable contract references demonstrating successful delivery of comparable works within the last five years. Full details of the conditions of participation and the assessment methodology will be provided within the procurement documents.
- Price carries 60 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 6 points. This one is won on the number: sharpen the price before polishing the prose.
- “PRO004917-Services-Framework-Operational Technology Build Only” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Competition analysis · published record, not a forecast of who will bid
How United Utilities Water Limited buys Electrical installation work (CPV 4531), and who usually turns up
United Utilities Water Limited’s published record next to the market for the same work. Compared with other frameworks and DPS only. Whole-market view: Electrical installation work (CPV 4531) →
How the contest usually goes
Winner shares use published awards; bid and price charts use contested lots.
i
How often small and medium firms win.
Share of awards where the winner’s size is known.
The counts under this question show how many awards have a known supplier size.
Small firms have won here. Neither number says whether you qualify; it describes who has been winning.
i
How often local firms win similar work.
Winners with a registered address in the delivery region, out of awards with a known address.
Local means the winner is registered in the region where that award was delivered.
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners were registered in the region where that award was delivered.
i
How long buyers here take to decide after bids close.
Middle value in days from the bid deadline to the award date, on competitions that published both.
Only decided tenders count, so slow ones still waiting are not in.
Half of these awards have an award date within 55 days of the bid deadline.
i
How often work is awarded with no recorded rival.
Direct awards and tenders where every published lot count shows one bid.
The market share is a minimum: some awards have no bid count.
Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.
Awards are recorded, but published direct routes and bid counts do not establish this buyer’s share.
How many bids did past lots attract?
i
How many bids past lots received.
Each colour is a bid-count range. Only competed lots with a published count are included.
Past bids do not predict this tender.
1 bid0% / 0%
2–30% / 24%
4–678% / 32%
7+22% / 43%
How did awards compare with estimates?
i
Where winning prices landed against estimates.
Each colour shows awards below, close to or above the published estimate, one lot at a time.
On a framework or DPS, prices are agreed when work is called off.
Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.
Not comparable on a framework or DPS: the price is set later, on each call-off.
Assess each lot i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
Open a lot for its forecast, this buyer’s previous supplier and possible competitors, from published award history, not a bid list
Lot #1CPV 51Published estimate£20m
This lot lists more than one class in CPV 51. The comparison uses that group.
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid0%
2–38%
4–666%
7+25%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
No comparable awards for this lot yet.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
| Supplier | This buyer’s earlier contract | Lot | Award value | Why listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethell Construction LtdWorked for this buyer | PRO004736-Works-Framework-Build Onlynotice published Dec 2024 | Infrastructure | — | Similar wording and category |
| Sapphire Utility Solutions LimitedWorked for this buyer | PRO004736-Works-Framework-Build Onlynotice published Dec 2024 | Infrastructure | — | Similar wording and category |
| Forkers LtdWorked for this buyer | PRO004736-Works-Framework-Build Onlynotice published Dec 2024 | Infrastructure | — | Similar wording and category |
| ERIC WRIGHT CIVIL ENGINEERING LIMITEDWorked for this buyer | PRO004736-Works-Framework-Build Onlynotice published Dec 2024 | Infrastructure | — | Similar wording and category |
| Barhale LtdWorked for this buyer | PRO004736-Works-Framework-Build Onlynotice published Dec 2024 | Infrastructure | — | Similar wording and category |
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| £3.0m22 awards in 36m · last 2 months ago | 3 live · £1.8m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 24% above n=1 | |
| £3.5m7 awards in 36m · last 19 months ago | 1 live iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 33% below n=1 | |
| 14 awards in 36m · last 2 months ago | 1 live iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| £15m4 awards in 36m · last 10 months ago | 1 live iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| £13m7 awards in 36m · last 11 months ago | 2 live · £4.4m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 24% below n=1 |
About this data
- Source. Official UK public procurement notices (Find a Tender), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. New notices arrive through the day; the figures are rebuilt nightly.
- Two views, kept apart. The authority’s own track record and the wider market for the same kind of work sit side by side and are never mixed. Where the local picture is too thin, a figure widens to a broader market and says which one it used.
- Forecasts are labelled. The price forecast and its range, possible competitors and the earlier-work matches are our estimates from past awards: not published facts, not win chances and not price advice. Official notices do not say who is bidding.
- Every figure shows what it rests on. Not every notice publishes a bid count, a value or a delivery region, so each figure carries the number of records behind it, and one built on few records is marked as such. The on a figure explains it; the counting rules are in the methodology. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
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
- Open admission
- 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
- 20 May 2026, 09:44 BST
- Last source update
- 27 Oct 2026, 08:34 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 26 Feb 2027
- Authority reference
PRO004917- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-101293- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-069ca9Find a Tender
- How it runs
United Utilities intends to award a multi-supplier framework for the provision of Operational Technology (OT) Build Only Works across water and wastewater infrastructure assets. The procurement will be conducted using the Competitive Flexible Procedure and will comprise two stages: Stage 1 – Conditions of Participation Questionnaire (COPQ): Interested suppliers will be required to complete and submit a COPQ. Responses will be evaluated against the conditions of participation and selection criteria detailed within the procurement documents. Suppliers meeting the required standards will be shortlisted to progress to the next stage. Stage 2 – Invitation to Negotiate (ITN): Shortlisted suppliers will be invited to participate in the ITN stage, during which they will be required to submit detailed proposals. Negotiations may be undertaken with bidders to refine technical, commercial and contractual solutions prior to submission of final tenders. Final tenders will be evaluated in accordance with the award criteria set out in the procurement documents. Following completion of the evaluation process, United Utilities intends to appoint multiple suppliers to the framework agreement for the provision of OT Build Only Works services.
How to participate & submission route
Official notice Apply via EU-Supply (CTM)- Requests to participate (first stage)
- —
- Appointment period ends
- 30 Dec 2026
- Clarification deadline
- 30 Nov 2026
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
20 May 2026 → 1 Apr 2027 · 7 dates- Planning notice published160 days ago20 May 2026, 09:44 BST
- Market engagement143 days ago5 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
United Utilities is undertaking a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise to inform the development of a future procurement for Operational Technology Build Only and Associated Works.
Suppliers wishing to express interest in participating in this engagement should do so by contacting daniel.weir@uuplc.co.uk.
Expressions of interest should include company name, contact details and a summary of relevant experience.
All clarification questions relating to this PME should be submitted via email to the same address within the timelines specified in the PME documentation. United Utilities reserves the right to shortlist participants should demand exceed capacity and a future tender is not guarenteed.
- Tender notice published4h ago27 Oct 2026, 08:34 GMT
- Today27 Oct 2026
- Clarification questions byin 33 days30 Nov 2026
- Admission / appointment period endsin 63 days · period end, not a bid countdown30 Dec 2026
- Award decision expected byin 122 days26 Feb 2027, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 155 days1 Apr 2027
Notice history
6 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 20 May 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published20 May 2026, 09:44 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published27 Oct 2026, 08:34 GMTUK4
- Status changed to active27 Oct 2026, 08:34 GMT
- Procurement method changed27 Oct 2026, 08:34 GMT
- Deadline published: 30 Dec 202627 Oct 2026, 08:34 GMT
- Buyer details updated27 Oct 2026, 08:34 GMT
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Nothing awarded yet- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeOfficial documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender