Official UK procurement notice
Combined Heat and Power Engines
Authority: THAMES WATER UTILITIES LIMITED (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThis procurement relates to the supply, commissioning and maintenance support of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) engines across multiple Thames Water wastewater treatment sites to maximise engine availability / performance. The scope includes the provision of new CHP units and associated services to support operational efficiency and energy recovery, as well as spare parts stock holding and technical support.
Objectives and Expected Outcomes
Effective utilisation of the biogas produced during the treatment of sludge, minimising flaring of gas, maximising electrical heat and power production
- Securing Capacity: Ensure supply of CHP Engine requirement through AMP 8 and AMP9
- Standardisation: Promote consistency across the CHP estate to reduce complexity and improve asset availability
- Commercial Value: Leverage volume-based incentives and long-term value through strategic sourcing
- Serviceability: Ensure availability of cost-effective spare parts and technical support
- Efficiency & Sustainability: Support energy recovery and carbon reduction goals by securing high-performance, low-emission CHP solutions
- Regulatory Changes: Ensure compliance with evolving regulatory requirements
- Innovation: Accommodate benefits from innovation
Procurement Approach: A competitive tender process will be undertaken to appoint a supplier capable of delivering the full scope. We anticipate awarding the contract to a single supplier but reserve the right to award to more than one supplier if it is deemed to deliver best value.
Background: Thames Water (TW) currently operates 47 Combined Heat and Power Engines (CHP) across 24 wastewater treatment sites. These engines vary in age, size and output, and many are approaching the end of their lifecycle (typically 20 years).
Anticipated Requirements:
- Replacement of end-of-life engines during AMP 8 with estimated 10 - 16 new engines (Estimated range between 100kW - 1500kW electrical output) expected to be installed within AMP 8 alone. Further new engines will be required for AMP 9
- Specification: to be provided at PSQ
- Support innovation: We are always looking for ways to improve what we do, and welcome innovative ideas/solutions
- Compliance with evolving environmental regulations, especially around emissions to air (e.g. methane slip and possible carbon capture under the Industrial Emissions Directive)
- Integration of AMP 9 requirements, to leverage further standardisation and volume based discounts: The engines on an additional 7 wastewater treatment sites planned to be upgraded in AMP 9
What we anticipate purchasing
TW is seeking to procure a comprehensive solution for CHP engines, which includes:
- Supply, installation, and commissioning of new CHP engines across the TW estate
- Ancillary components required for engine connection and operation
- Provision of spare parts to support ongoing maintenance
- Planned and reactive maintenance in line with the manufacturers O&M manual
- Technical support to ensure safe and efficient operation through the lifecycle of the asset
The procurement will cover both replacement of end-of-life engines and new installations to meet growing demand. The current aim is to award a single-source agreement to enable standardisation, improve serviceability, and reduce complexity across the estate.
- How the procedure runs: The procurement will follow a Competitive Flexible Procedure in line with the Procurement Act 2023. The process will include multiple stages, with opportunities for clarification, negotiation, and refinement of award criteria before final contract award. Stage 1: Tender Notice Publication • The process begins with the publication of the Contract Notice on the Find a Tender Service (FTS) • This will outline the scope of requirements, procurement stages, and timelines Stage 2: Pre-Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) • PSQ Publication: The PSQ will be published alongside the contract notice • Supplier Response: Suppliers will complete and submit the PSQ by the stated deadline • Clarification Period: A defined window will allow suppliers to raise queries and Thames Water to provide clarifications • Evaluation: PSQ responses will be assessed on a pass/fail basis against mandatory criteria • Outcome: Successful suppliers will be shortlisted and invited to the next stage Stage 3: Preliminary Tender Submission • Issue of Documents: Shortlisted suppliers will receive the full information pack • Clarification: Suppliers submit any clarification questions to the tender. TW will answer • Submissions: Suppliers submit bid submissions (technical and commercial proposals) • Clarification and Questions: TW submit clarifications and questions to the supplier responses • Evaluation: Submissions are assessed against published criteria Stage 4: Negotiation Stage • Shortlisted suppliers will receive invitations to negotiate and further information about the process • Negotiation and Refinement: Negotiations with suppliers to refine solutions and optimise value • Updated Submissions: Suppliers to submit revised bids following negotiation rounds Stage 5: Final Evaluation and Selection • Evaluation: Final submissions are evaluated against weighted criteria Stage 6: Contract Award • Notification: Successful and unsuccessful suppliers will be informed in writing • Standstill Period: A mandatory standstill period will apply before contract signature • Contract Execution: Following standstill, the contract will be awarded and signed
CPV: Heat-exchange units, air-conditioning and refrigerating equipment, and filtering machinery · Repair and maintenance services of machinery · Spark-ignition engines · Turbines and motors
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework · open framework scheme (admission reopens)
- Call-offs
- call-offs are awarded directly to appointed suppliers, without further competition
- Framework period
- 8 yrs from 1 Jun 2026
Published description of the framework
This framework agreement establishes the terms under which contracting authorities may award future call-off contracts for the provision of Combined Heat and Power Engines. It is designed to ensure transparency, value for money, and fair competition in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.
Price Determination
Prices under this framework may be determined through one or more of the following mechanisms:
- Pre-agreed rate cards: Suppliers submit fixed or benchmarked rates for defined roles or services at the framework stage
- Scenario testing: Contracting authorities may model pricing across different service configurations to assess cost-effectiveness
- Negotiation levers: Prior to award, authorities may negotiate discounts, rebates, offshoring commitments, or payment profiling to optimise commercial outcomes
Award of Contracts
Contracts awarded under this framework will follow:
- Direct Award: Where the framework is with a single supplier or where the framework clearly defines the call-off terms and includes an objective mechanism for supplier selection
The framework will be awarded based on the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT), taking into account price, quality, and other relevant criteria as defined.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedWhat 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: 60%
- Commercial: 40%
Published award criteria (2)
- Commercial
- Technical
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Combined Heat and Power Engines” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract, and call-offs are awarded directly: getting appointed is the whole game.
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
- Goods
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Open framework scheme
- 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
- 31 Oct 2025, 11:23 GMT
- Last source update
- 5 Aug 2026, 11:57 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 30 Mar 2026
- Authority reference
FA2277- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-070025- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d7ceFind a Tender
- How it runs
The procurement will follow a Competitive Flexible Procedure in line with the Procurement Act 2023. The process will include multiple stages, with opportunities for clarification, negotiation, and refinement of award criteria before final contract award.
Stage 1: Tender Notice Publication
- The process begins with the publication of the Contract Notice on the Find a Tender Service (FTS)
- This will outline the scope of requirements, procurement stages, and timelines
Stage 2: Pre-Specific Questionnaire (PSQ)
- PSQ Publication: The PSQ will be published alongside the contract notice
- Supplier Response: Suppliers will complete and submit the PSQ by the stated deadline
- Clarification Period: A defined window will allow suppliers to raise queries and Thames Water to provide clarifications
- Evaluation: PSQ responses will be assessed on a pass/fail basis against mandatory criteria
- Outcome: Successful suppliers will be shortlisted and invited to the next stage
Stage 3: Preliminary Tender Submission
- Issue of Documents: Shortlisted suppliers will receive the full information pack
- Clarification: Suppliers submit any clarification questions to the tender. TW will answer
- Submissions: Suppliers submit bid submissions (technical and commercial proposals)
- Clarification and Questions: TW submit clarifications and questions to the supplier responses
- Evaluation: Submissions are assessed against published criteria
Stage 4: Negotiation Stage
- Shortlisted suppliers will receive invitations to negotiate and further information about the process
- Negotiation and Refinement: Negotiations with suppliers to refine solutions and optimise value
- Updated Submissions: Suppliers to submit revised bids following negotiation rounds
Stage 5: Final Evaluation and Selection
- Evaluation: Final submissions are evaluated against weighted criteria
Stage 6: Contract Award
- Notification: Successful and unsuccessful suppliers will be informed in writing
- Standstill Period: A mandatory standstill period will apply before contract signature
- Contract Execution: Following standstill, the contract will be awarded and signed
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 28 Nov 2025, 10:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 14 Nov 2025, 17:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
To gain access to the PSQ documents, please fill out the details from this form;
Timeline
31 Oct 2025 → 17 Aug 2026 · 8 dates- Tender notice published354 days ago31 Oct 2025, 11:23 GMT
- Clarification questions by340 days ago14 Nov 2025, 17:00 GMT
- Admission / appointment period ends327 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown28 Nov 2025, 10:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by204 days ago30 Mar 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts142 days ago1 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent77 days ago5 Aug 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published76 days ago5 Aug 2026, 11:57 BST
- Standstill ends64 days ago17 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
Notice history
6 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 31 Oct 2025- Tender notice published31 Oct 2025, 11:23 GMTUK4
- Tender notice published7 Nov 2025, 10:31 GMTUK4
- Contract award notice published5 Aug 2026, 11:57 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete5 Aug 2026, 11:57 BST
- Procurement method changed5 Aug 2026, 11:57 BST
- Contract signature expected1 Sept 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Published amendments (1)
Please note we have moved the date of PSQ clarifications to the 14th November 2025, at 5 pm.
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edina UK LimitedSMEVCSE1 Sept 2026 – 1 Sept 2029 · up to 1 Sept 2034Extensions: Thames Water may, at its sole discretion, extend the Contract beyond the initial term of three (3) years for a period of up to five (5) additional years, resulting in a maximum total Contract term of eight (8) years. Any extension may be exercised as a single extension period or for a shorter period determined by Thames Water, provided that the total Contract duration does not exceed eight (8) years. Extensions may be exercised where Thames Water determines that continued service delivery represents value for money, the Supplier has performed satisfactorily against the Contract requirements, and there remains an ongoing business need for the services. | — | 5 Aug 2026standstill to 17 Aug 2026 | Standstill |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
1 commercial party on the notice- Edina UK LtdFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices 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