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Published 29 May 2026, 13:42 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Bio Recycling · UK public procurement notice

Official notice

Authority: THAMES WATER UTILITIES LIMITED

Framework agreement6 lotsServicesCompetitive flexible procedureAbove thresholdUtilitiesSME suitable
Sectors: Transport Equipment & Vehicles (34)Industrial machinery (42)Construction & Civil Engineering (45)
+2 moreAgricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services (77)Cleaning & Environmental Services (90)
 Delivery: Delivery location not published
Framework ceiling (notional)£0total for 6 lots · framework ceiling, not attributable revenue
Submissions closed 3 Jul 2026
Lots 6see the lot list below
Framework period 5 yrsends 29 Feb 2032 · up to 28 Feb 2035 with extensions · starts 1 Mar 2027

What is being bought6 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

Thames Water is the UK's largest water and wastewater service company. Every day we supply around 2.5 billion litres of tap water to 10.6 million customers across London and the Thames Valley. We also remove and treat more than 4.7 billion litres of sewage for 16 million customers. In everything we do, we follow Thames Water's purpose and values.

Thames Water is seeking to appoint service providers to deliver Bio Recycling services. The appointed service providers will be responsible for providing one or multiple of the following services:

  • Lot 1: Haulage,
  • Lot 2: Spreading,
  • Lot 3: Offsite Liming,
  • Lot 4: Onsite Liming,
  • Lot 5: Restoration,
  • Lot 6: Trackway services

The service provider is expected to be proactive in contractual innovation and deliver high-quality performance throughout the contract period. The contracts will encompass all aspects of Bio Recycling services, with a focus on supporting TWUL's operational and strategic objectives.

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 3rd July 2026, 12 noon GMT.

  • How the procedure runs: The Bio Recycling tender will follow the competitive flexible procedure to ensure compliance through robust supplier management, drive operational efficiency and sustainability, maximise competitive tensions via regional delivery for spreading services and foster market engagement especially from SMEs. Thames Water will conduct a multi-stage competitive procedure that includes: 1. PSQ (Procurement Specific Questionnaire) with general company and technical questions. 'Pass/fail' questions and 'for information only' questions, with some weighted answers for technical/delivery questions. All bidders are required to complete a Mandatory Survey (general company questions) alongside a Lot Specific Survey for each lot they are bidding for. 2. ITN (Invitation to Negotiate) with more detailed weighted answers to assess the technical suitability of a supplier for the relevant works. Commercial proposals will also be assessed 3. Negotiations held to agree legal derogations 4. Contract Award

CPV: Agricultural services · Cleaning and treatment of soil · Construction work · Heavy-duty motor vehicles · Lifting and handling equipment and parts · Motor vehicles for the transport of goods · Sludge removal services · Sludge transport services · Sludge treatment services · Soil pollution protection services

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
5 yrs · up to 8 yrs from 1 Mar 2027
Published description of the framework

For the Direct Award Lots (Lots 1,2 and 3) suppliers will be selected based on capacity and cost and for the mini competition lots (Lots 1,3,4,5) suppliers will be selected based on the capacity and costs too.

Lots and requirements (6)Procurement structure

6 lots · all with a published value · evaluation weights differ by lot
Lot #1HaulageRenewal 5 yrsSMEPublished value£0

The service includes haulage support in peak seasons.

The Service Provider must supply appropriate vehicles and drivers and hold the appropriate Waste Carrier licences for the haulage of Biosolids to agricultural land or other locations. The Biosolids are collected from the Collection Sites (typically the Purchaser's Sewage Treatment Works), where a vehicle loads from the Purchaser's storage areas, silos or direct from a product discharge point.

The product is then transported to a Transfer Point, as instructed by the Purchaser, where either stockpiling operations or discharge into a reception facility shall take place.

Lot volumes 2026/27 (estimated)

  • ~200Kt
Contract period: 1 Mar 2027 – 29 Feb 2032 (5 yrs) · up to 28 Feb 2035 with extensions
Eligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: The full scope of the services to be provided and any options that may be considered throughout the term of the agreement, is set out in the Specification issued within the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) document · Initial contract term is 5 years with three one-year extension options up to the max term of 8 years.
34130000 Motor vehicles for the transport of goods34140000 Heavy-duty motor vehicles42400000 Lifting and handling equipment and parts90513600 Sludge removal services90513700 Sludge transport services
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2
  • Economic & financial standing

    Legal and Financial Pass/Fail questions will be included at PSQ Stage in the General PSQ, which must be answered before answering Lot-specific PSQ's

  • Technical & professional ability

    Technical ability Pass/Fail questions will be included at PSQ stage in the Lot-specific and General PSQ

Lot #2SpreadingRenewal 5 yrsSMEPublished value£0

The service includes spreading of compliant biosolids to agricultural land, and supply of composting mix on an ad hoc basis.

The spreading operation involves the even distribution of Biosolids from the stockpile to the area designated by the Purchaser at the Customer site as well as other ad hoc activities as requested.

Lot volumes 2026/27 (estimated)

  • Total Lot Volume ~670Kt - 715K

Regional volumes 2026/27 (estimated):

  • North West~ 125 to 137 Kt
  • North East ~ 199 to 210 Kt
  • South East ~ 121 to 132 Kt
  • South West ~ 225 to 236 Kt

Please note that these figures are non-committal estimates for the period April 2026 to March 2027, and actual volumes may fall above or below the stated ranges.

Contract period: 1 Mar 2027 – 29 Feb 2032 (5 yrs) · up to 28 Feb 2035 with extensions
Eligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: The full scope of the services to be provided and any options that may be considered throughout the term of the agreement, is set out in the Specification issued within the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) document · Initial contract term is 5 years with three one-year extension options up to the max term of 8 years.
77100000 Agricultural services
Lot #3Off site LimingRenewal 5 yrsSMEPublished value£0

The service includes processing and disposal of non-compliant biosolids via an approved low odour, off site liming operation to compliant parameters. The supplier shall manage the post-treatment process, which include product placement.

The provision of haulage of biosolids to the liming site is optional.

Lot volumes 2026/27 (estimated)

  • ~60Kt
Contract period: 1 Mar 2027 – 29 Feb 2032 (5 yrs) · up to 28 Feb 2035 with extensions
Eligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: The full scope of the services to be provided and any options that may be considered throughout the term of the agreement, is set out in the Specification issued within the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) document · Initial contract term is 5 years with three one-year extension options up to the max term of 8 years.
90513600 Sludge removal services90513700 Sludge transport services90513800 Sludge treatment services
Lot #4On site LimingRenewal 5 yrsSMEPublished value£0

The service includes processing of non-compliant biosolids using a low odour mobile plant at TWUL sites to bring biosolids to compliant parameters.

TWUL will be responsible for hauling and placement of the product.

Lot volumes 2026/27 (estimated)

  • ~36Kt
Contract period: 1 Mar 2027 – 29 Feb 2032 (5 yrs) · up to 28 Feb 2035 with extensions
Eligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: The full scope of the services to be provided and any options that may be considered throughout the term of the agreement, is set out in the Specification issued within the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) document · Initial contract term is 5 years with three one-year extension options up to the max term of 8 years.
90513800 Sludge treatment services
Lot #5RestorationRenewal 5 yrsSMEPublished value£0

The service includes the disposal of non-compliant biosolids via restoration. The provision of haulage of biosolids to the restoration site is optional.

Lot volumes 2026/27 (estimated)

  • ~47Kt
Contract period: 1 Mar 2027 – 29 Feb 2032 (5 yrs) · up to 28 Feb 2035 with extensions
Eligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: The full scope of the services to be provided and any options that may be considered throughout the term of the agreement, is set out in the Specification issued within the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) document · Initial contract term is 5 years with three one-year extension options up to the max term of 8 years.
90513600 Sludge removal services90513700 Sludge transport services90522400 Cleaning and treatment of soil
Lot #6TrackwayRenewal 5 yrsSMEPublished value£0

The service includes the supply, delivery, installation, inspection, maintenance and removal of Trackway panels, to enable safe access and ground protection for operational and agricultural environments and haulage to agricultural land activities.

Lot volumes 2026/27 (estimated)

  • ~1.7m SQM, 5200 days of hire across 500 sites
Contract period: 1 Mar 2027 – 29 Feb 2032 (5 yrs) · up to 28 Feb 2035 with extensions
Eligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: The full scope of the services to be provided and any options that may be considered throughout the term of the agreement, is set out in the Specification issued within the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) document · Initial contract term is 5 years with three one-year extension options up to the max term of 8 years.
45000000 Construction work90732100 Soil pollution protection services

What it takes to win
i

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 more
How bids were scored

Lots publish different evaluation splits; there is no single procedure weighting.

LotQualityPriceSplit
1 · Haulage35%65%
2 · Spreading45%55%
3 · Off site Liming45%55%
4 · On site Liming45%55%
5 · Restoration45%55%
6 · Trackway45%55%
What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 55–65 points depending on the lot; most lots put it at 55 points.
  • “Bio Recycling” 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
Services
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
29 May 2026, 13:42 BST
Last source update
15 Jun 2026, 10:29 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 23 Nov 2026
Authority reference
FA2209
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-050867
Latest notice
Tender notice (UK4)
Classification (CPV)
Agricultural servicesCleaning and treatment of soilConstruction workHeavy-duty motor vehiclesLifting and handling equipment and partsMotor vehicles for the transport of goodsSludge removal servicesSludge transport servicesSludge treatment servicesSoil pollution protection services
Delivery area
Not published
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a8f4 Find a Tender
How it runs

The Bio Recycling tender will follow the competitive flexible procedure to ensure compliance through robust supplier management, drive operational efficiency and sustainability, maximise competitive tensions via regional delivery for spreading services and foster market engagement especially from SMEs.

Thames Water will conduct a multi-stage competitive procedure that includes:

  1. PSQ (Procurement Specific Questionnaire) with general company and technical questions. 'Pass/fail' questions and 'for information only' questions, with some weighted answers for technical/delivery questions. All bidders are required to complete a Mandatory Survey (general company questions) alongside a Lot Specific Survey for each lot they are bidding for.
  2. ITN (Invitation to Negotiate) with more detailed weighted answers to assess the technical suitability of a supplier for the relevant works. Commercial proposals will also be assessed
  3. Negotiations held to agree legal derogations
  4. Contract Award

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: portal not identified
Electronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Appointment period ends
3 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
Clarification deadline
12 Jun 2026, 17:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

If you are interested in participating, please complete the registration form:

forms.cloud.microsoft/e/p5XmgJX1MU ↗

Timeline

29 May 2026 → 1 Mar 2027 · 6 dates
  1. Tender notice published145 days ago
    29 May 2026, 13:42 BST
  2. Clarification questions by130 days ago
    12 Jun 2026, 17:00 BST
  3. Latest notice published128 days ago
    15 Jun 2026, 10:29 BST
  4. Admission / appointment period ends110 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown
    3 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
  5. Today
    21 Oct 2026
  6. Award decision expected byin 34 days
    23 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMT
  7. Contract startsin 131 days
    1 Mar 2027

Notice history

3 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 29 May 2026
  1. Tender notice published
    29 May 2026, 13:42 BST
    UK4
  2. Tender notice published
    2 Jun 2026, 16:03 BST
    UK4
  3. Tender notice published
    15 Jun 2026, 10:29 BST
    UK4
Published amendments (2)

There have been very minor changes to the lot descriptions

Please note the Lot 2 volumes 2026/27 have been updated

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

THAMES WATER UTILITIES LIMITED

Contracting authorityPrivate utility GB-COH: 02366661 · GB-PPON: PNQQ-4647-DTCV Clearwater Court, Reading, South East, RG1 8DBContact email

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender