Business Management Consultancy · UK public procurement notice

Official notice

Authority: Southern Water Services Limited (Public body)

Open framework scheme6 lotsServicesCompetitive flexible procedureAbove thresholdUtilitiesSME suitable

Sectors: Financial and insurance services (66)Architecture & Engineering (71)IT Services & Software (72)

+1 more

Business Services & Consultancy (79)

Delivery: South East (UKJ)

Framework ceiling (notional)£161,280,000total for 6 lots · framework ceiling, not attributable revenue

Submissions closed 17 Dec 2025awarded 10 Jul 2026

Awarded to AECOM LIMITED +24 more5 awards

Framework period 8 yrsends 8 May 2034 · starts 8 May 2026

What is being bought6 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

Southern Water Services are seeking to establish a framework panel whom have the expertise to support the companies ambitions.

SWS are seeking business management consultancy & related professional services expertise in, but not limited to: Regulatory Advice, Regulatory Economic Advisory and Modelling, Procurement and Commercial, General Tax, Financial Services, Strategy & Change

All services provided under this framework agreement are to be structured in a manner that is outside the scope of IR35 legislation. The service providers remain responsible for compliance with all relevant tax and employment regulations

SWS will retain the right to compete work outside the pool of pre-qualified service providers (via Procurement Act 2023 process or otherwise) in its discretion (e.g. where the pre-qualified service providers do not have specialist capability to deliver the consultancy services required by SWS or the price secured within the pool is not judged by SWS to be market competitive).

Indicative lot values per annum :

Lot 1a Regulatory Advice £1.4m

Lot 1b Regulatory Economic Advisory and Modelling £1m

Lot 2 Procurement & Commercial £3m

Lot 3a General Tax £400k

Lot 3b Financial Services £1m

Lot 4 Strategy & Change £10m

Whilst these values reflect the best estimate, Tenderers should be aware that we may see peaks in demand that are much higher than the indicated values per annum and there will be some years it’s much lower.

These values may be subject to change due to potential future regulatory or policy changes

How the procedure runs: Southern Water intends to award a multi lotted open framework with limited number of suppliers on each lot using the Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. Stage 1 PQQ All interested suppliers are invited to submit a response to Pre-Qualification Questionnaire. The Tenderer will be required to accept the Terms and Conditions in the Framework Agreement. Minor amendments to the Framework Agreement in the form of ‘derogations’ to SWS’ Framework Agreements for the relevant Lot(s) may be considered at PQQ stage, as detailed in Section 9 of the Information and Instructions To tender (IITT) to Tenderers document on SWS e-Sourcing platform. SWS are not bound to accept any suggested amendments to the framework agreement However, Tenderers should note that SWS reserves the right to reject a tender submission if the terms and conditions of contract are not agreed between SWS and the Tenderer within a reasonable period. Such period to be determined at the sole discretion of SWS. SWS additionally reserves the right to not award the Framework to any Tenderer. Stage 2 ITT Only shortlisted tenderers will receive an Invitation To Tender Shortlisted tenderes will be invited to respond to ITT technical questions, will be required to attend a presentation (where applicable), and as well as to provide a commercial response as part of their tender submission, in alignment with the costing structure provided in the e-sourcing portal. Commercial envelope evaluation comprises an initial submission in alignment with the costing structure provided in the e-sourcing platform for the 2 elements. The commercial evaluation will be followed by a Best and Final Offer Stage, where a reverse eAuction will be conducted for one of the 2 elements of the commercial envelope. SWS, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to amend, modify or update the eAuction process and methodology at any time, as deemed necessary. Any changes will communicate to all qualifying tenderers prior to implementation. Framework Reopening This framework may be reopened at specified intervals: - once during the first 3 years from the commencement date of the framework - withing a 3 year period from the award of any succesive farmework SWS will retain the right to compete work outside the pool of pre-qualified service providers (via Procurement Act 2023 process or otherwise) in its discretion (e.g. where the pre-qualified service providers do not have specialist capability to deliver the consultancy services required by SWS or the price secured within the pool is not judged by SWS to be market competitive). SWS will retain the right to amend, vary or update the Award Procedures under this Framework Agreement at any time, provided the fundamental principles (direct award and or further competition) remain unchanged. Southern Water reserves the right to adjust the weightings of evaluation criteria to ensure aligmnent with evolving market and business goals, while the criteria themselves remain unchanged.

CPV: Banking and investment services · Business analysis consultancy services · Business and management consultancy and related services · Business and management consultancy services · Business development consultancy services · Consulting services for water-supply and waste consultancy · Corporate finance and venture capital services · Economic impact assessment · Financial consultancy services · Financial management consultancy services · Financial market regulatory services · Human resources management consultancy services · +4 more

How this framework works

From the published notice

Type: Closed framework · open framework scheme (admission reopens)
Call-offs: call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
Places: up to 38 suppliers · 35 appointed
Framework period: 8 yrs from 8 May 2026
Scheme runs until: 20 May 2034
Electronic auction: yes

Published description of the framework

Call off mechanism of the framework to include Direct Award & Further Competition (mini competition)

SWS will retain the right as indicated in clause 4.15.3 of the Framework Agreement to amend, vary or update the Award Procedures under this Framework Agreement at any time, provided the fundamental principles (direct award and or further competition) remain unchanged.

Lots and requirements (6)Procurement structure

6 lots · all with a published value · evaluation weights differ by lot

Every one of these 6 lots carries the same published figure, £161,280,000: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.

Lot #1Procurement & CommercialAwarded 8 yrsSMEceiling above

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 8 May 2026 – 8 May 2034 (8 yrs)