Official UK procurement notice
Consumer confidence in drinking water
Authority: DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionResearch aims
One of DWI’s core objectives is to protect and promote public confidence in the quality and safety of drinking water. Recent political, media and environmental pressures have highlighted the need for a robust evidence base to better understand what drives public perception in this space and what DWI’s role should be in communicating risk and assurance.
This research will investigate the factors influencing consumer confidence in drinking water in England and Wales, and how DWI’s communications strategy might evolve to effectively support its statutory and non-statutory responsibilities. It will help answer questions such as:
- What are the public’s current views on drinking water quality?
- What drives or reduces trust in drinking water specifically, independent of broader industry issues?
- What role can or should DWI play in informing, reassuring and correcting public narratives?
Background
Surveys by Ofwat and
CPV: Research and development consultancy services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedPublished value£0
- Condition of participation
To select those Tenderers who are suitable to deliver the Authority’s requirements and will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria set out in Sections 1 to 5 of the response form in Atamis and Part 1 of this Section (in respect of economic and financial standing and technical and professional ability). Failure to meet the stated selection criteria will result in a Response being rejected at this stage and no further assessment of the remainder of the Response (including the Tender) pursuant to the remaining stages below will be undertaken by the Authority.
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 (3)
- Technical: 60%
- Commercial: 30%
- Sustainability and Social Value: 10%
Published award criteria (3)
- Technical: 60 Technical
- Commercial: 30
- Sustainability and Social Value: 10
- Condition of participation
To select those Tenderers who are suitable to deliver the Authority’s requirements and will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria set out in Sections 1 to 5 of the response form in Atamis and Part 1 of this Section (in respect of economic and financial standing and technical and professional ability). Failure to meet the stated selection criteria will result in a Response being rejected at this stage and no further assessment of the remainder of the Response (including the Tender) pursuant to the remaining stages below will be undertaken by the Authority.
- 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
- Below threshold - open competition
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Below threshold
- 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
- 7 Oct 2025, 15:51 BST
- Last source update
- 11 Dec 2025, 12:08 GMT
- Authority reference
C32133- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-062983- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05a9cfFind a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 3 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 27 Oct 2025, 14:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
Timeline
7 Oct 2025 → 11 Dec 2025 · 5 dates- Tender notice published378 days ago7 Oct 2025, 15:51 BST
- Clarification questions by358 days ago27 Oct 2025, 14:00 GMT
- Submission deadline351 days ago3 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Contract starts338 days ago17 Nov 2025
- Latest notice published313 days ago11 Dec 2025, 12:08 GMT
Notice history
5 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 7 Oct 2025- Tender notice published7 Oct 2025, 15:51 BSTUK4
- Contract award notice published27 Nov 2025, 16:23 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete27 Nov 2025, 16:23 GMT
- Contract signature expected8 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMTscheduled
- Contract details notice published11 Dec 2025, 12:08 GMTUK7
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICF Consulting Services Limited8 Dec 2025 – 8 Dec 2026Options: Extension Option: 3months - Due to unknown situations any extension must be agreed with the Authority and will be processed via a Variation/ Contract Change Note (CCN) issued by DGC | £51,675 | 26 Nov 2025 | Awarded |
| ICF Consulting Services LimitedSME | £51,675 †same award published again · counted once | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Consumer confidence in drinking water · ICF Consulting Services LimitedSME
- Signed
- 10 Dec 2025
- Value
- £51,675
- Period
- 11 Dec 2025 – 8 Dec 2026
- Status
- active
- Options
- 3 months - Due to unknown situation and/or other factors beyond the control of both parties; an option for an extension may be executed if it is necessary. Any extension must be agreed with the Authority and will be processed via a Contract Change Note
5 agreed KPIs: Presentations and webinars · Updates to Defra and the project steering group · Data handling …
- Presentations and webinars, Presentation materials and delivery of key findings
- Updates to Defra and the project steering group, Regular, and ad hoc, verbal and written updates summarising progress and challenges
- Data handling, Secure, accessible and organised collecting and storage of data/information relating to the project
- Consultation outputs, Notes and final report describing consultation process
- Reports and knowledge exchange packs, Evidence review, Reports setting out methodology, final report and knowledge exchange packs
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
2 commercial parties on the notice- ICF Consulting Services LimitedAwarded supplier
- ICF Consulting Services LimitedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender