Defence Water Services Programme - UK4

• Not divided into lots: The Authority is looking to deliver all its WWW Services across the England and Wales estate, this will be through a single supplier holistic approach to enable consistency and the ability to react to the changes in the MOD demand, therefore lots do not support this approach.
• How the procedure runs: This tender notice is for the award of a public contract through a competitive flexible procedure in accordance with section 20(1) and (2)(b) of the Procurement Act 2023. Potential Providers must complete the Conflict-of-Interest declaration that will be made available as part of the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) supporting documents and to inform the Authority whether they have identified from this review any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest arising from the Potential Provider or any other identified party's participation in the procurement. Please note that any incumbent supplier providing Water and Wastewater (WWW) Services and or supporting the DWSP or Aquatrine that is shortlisted to participate in the Tender Process will be required to sign the Ethical Walls Agreement made available as part of the PSQ supporting documents. Failure to do so may result in the Potential Provider being excluded from further participation in the procurement process. The PSQ (including Conditions of Participation) is available within the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) and will be used to down select to no more than 6 suppliers, who will be invited to the next stage of the Tender process. This will also include the assessment of whether a supplier, its connected persons, associated persons or any intended subcontractors are excluded or excludable persons and whether the suppliers are UK suppliers under the Procurement Act 2023. A clarification process will be used during the PSQ period to allow suppliers to seek clarification from the Authority. All clarification questions must go through the DSP, further information regarding this process can be found in the DWSP PSQ guidance document. Within the PSQ there are a mix of questions: Pass/Fail and scored questions. A Fail in a Pass/Fail question will result in exclusion and further evaluation will not take place. For those suppliers who Pass all the Pass/Fail questions, their overall technical score will determine their ranking. Those suppliers ranking in the top 6 will be Invited to Tender. Where there is a tie at Positions 6 and 7 (or more), the decision on which supplier(s) will be Invited to the next stage will be based on the 4 scored questions at 3.9 (Technical Ability and Project Experience) of the PSQ, the process will be as followed: 1. Initially on the highest score on question 3.9.1 of the Technical Conditions of Participation. 2. Where this still results in a tie, the decision will be based on the highest score for question 3.9.2. 3. Where this still results in a tie, the decision will be based on the highest score for question 3.9.3. 4. Where this still results in a tie, the decision will be based on the highest score for question 3.9.4. If this sequential process does not result in a clear 6th place, then the Authority reserves the right to proceed to tender with additional suppliers who share equal 6th position. Following the down selection, the down selected Bidders will be given access to the AWARD system. Tender documentation will be available on AWARD at the appropriate stages. A clarification process will be used during the tendering period to allow Bidder the opportunity to seek clarification from the Authority. A summary of the award criteria will be explained further in the Tender documentation. The Authority reserves the right to refine the award criteria before and during the Tender period in accordance with section 24 of the Procurement Act 2023. This may include revision to the scored quality questions including revision to the weightings. The following supplementary processes may be used by the Authority (further details are set out in the additional tender documentation): - Co-create workshops - where bidders have an opportunity to comment on key Tender documentation prior to the invitation to submit outline solutions. - Invitation to Submit Outline Solutions (ISOS) - this may include a down select to 3 tenderers, details of the criteria for down-select will be included in the Tender documentation. - Dialogue sessions will be held with each tenderer – this is for the Authority to understand the proposed outline solution and where necessary request further explanation. - Supplier presentations / site visits / other collaborative behavioural assessments – may take place during the Tender, and Tender Evaluation. - Invitation to Submit Detailed Solution (ISDS). - Clarifications – The Authority to confirm understanding during the tender evaluation period - Best and Final Offer - Preferred Supplier Stage The Authority reserves the right to amend the procurement, where such amendment would not be substantial, as follows, including and not limited to; - amendments to the tender documents which may provide clarification - refining the specification as the competitive flexible procedure progresses - reduce and or increase timescales. If any amendments are made, the Authority will consider whether any applicable tender deadlines should be revised, and whether any tender documents or notices need to be re-issued. Under Section 43 of the Procurement Act 2023, the Authority reserves the right to Direct Award should there be no suitable tenders or requests to participate be received.

CPV: Billing system · Building and facilities management services · Drainage construction works · Energy-management services · Fire hydrants · Flood-defences maintenance works · Flood-prevention works · Helpdesk and support services · Laboratory services · Pipes · Repair and maintenance services of firefighting equipment · Repair and maintenance services of water meters · +4 more

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

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

15 Apr 2025, 11:44 BST

Last source update

7 Jan 2026, 17:08 GMT

Award evaluation window

Submission end – 17 Aug 2027

Authority reference

714602450

FTS notice number

2026/S 000-001236

Latest notice

Tender notice (UK4)

Classification (CPV)

Billing systemBuilding and facilities management servicesDrainage construction worksEnergy-management servicesFire hydrantsFlood-defences maintenance worksFlood-prevention worksHelpdesk and support servicesLaboratory servicesPipes

+6 more

Repair and maintenance services of firefighting equipmentRepair and maintenance services of water meters

Delivery area

North East (UKC)North West (UKD)East Midlands (UKF)West Midlands (UKG)East of England (UKH)South East (UKJ)South West (UKK)Wales (UKL)

+1 more

Scotland (UKM)

Official registry OCID

ocds-h6vhtk-050318 Find a Tender

Contract terms summary

All payments will be made through the Authority's Contracting, Purchasing & Finance

(CP&F) system and will be in accordance with future contractual arrangements.

How it runs

This tender notice is for the award of a public contract through a competitive flexible procedure in accordance with section 20(1) and (2)(b) of the Procurement Act 2023.

Potential Providers must complete the Conflict-of-Interest declaration that will be made available as part of the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) supporting documents and to inform the Authority whether they have identified from this review any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest arising from the Potential Provider or any other identified party's participation in the procurement. Please note that any incumbent supplier providing Water and Wastewater (WWW) Services and or supporting the DWSP or Aquatrine that is shortlisted to participate in the Tender Process will be required to sign the Ethical Walls Agreement made available as part of the PSQ supporting documents. Failure to do so may result in the Potential Provider being excluded from further participation in the procurement process.

The PSQ (including Conditions of Participation) is available within the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) and will be used to down select to no more than 6 suppliers, who will be invited to the next stage of the Tender process. This will also include the assessment of whether a supplier, its connected persons, associated persons or any intended subcontractors are excluded or excludable persons and whether the suppliers are UK suppliers under the Procurement Act 2023.

A clarification process will be used during the PSQ period to allow suppliers to seek clarification from the Authority. All clarification questions must go through the DSP, further information regarding this process can be found in the DWSP PSQ guidance document.

Within the PSQ there are a mix of questions: Pass/Fail and scored questions. A Fail in a Pass/Fail question will result in exclusion and further evaluation will not take place.

For those suppliers who Pass all the Pass/Fail questions, their overall technical score will determine their ranking. Those suppliers ranking in the top 6 will be Invited to Tender.

Where there is a tie at Positions 6 and 7 (or more), the decision on which supplier(s) will be Invited to the next stage will be based on the 4 scored questions at 3.9 (Technical Ability and Project Experience) of the PSQ, the process will be as followed:

1. Initially on the highest score on question 3.9.1 of the Technical Conditions of Participation.
2. Where this still results in a tie, the decision will be based on the highest score for question 3.9.2.
3. Where this still results in a tie, the decision will be based on the highest score for question 3.9.3.
4. Where this still results in a tie, the decision will be based on the highest score for question 3.9.4.

If this sequential process does not result in a clear 6th place, then the Authority reserves the right to proceed to tender with additional suppliers who share equal 6th position.

Following the down selection, the down selected Bidders will be given access to the AWARD system. Tender documentation will be available on AWARD at the appropriate stages. A clarification process will be used during the tendering period to allow Bidder the opportunity to seek clarification from the Authority. A summary of the award criteria will be explained further in the Tender documentation. The Authority reserves the right to refine the award criteria before and during the Tender period in accordance with section 24 of the Procurement Act 2023. This may include revision to the scored quality questions including revision to the weightings.

The following supplementary processes may be used by the Authority (further details are set out in the additional tender documentation):

• Co-create workshops - where bidders have an opportunity to comment on key Tender documentation prior to the invitation to submit outline solutions.
• Invitation to Submit Outline Solutions (ISOS) - this may include a down select to 3 tenderers, details of the criteria for down-select will be included in the Tender documentation.
• Dialogue sessions will be held with each tenderer – this is for the Authority to understand the proposed outline solution and where necessary request further explanation.
• Supplier presentations / site visits / other collaborative behavioural assessments – may take place during the Tender, and Tender Evaluation.
• Invitation to Submit Detailed Solution (ISDS).
• Clarifications – The Authority to confirm understanding during the tender evaluation period
• Best and Final Offer
• Preferred Supplier Stage

The Authority reserves the right to amend the procurement, where such amendment would not be substantial, as follows, including and not limited to;

• amendments to the tender documents which may provide clarification
• refining the specification as the competitive flexible procedure progresses
• reduce and or increase timescales.

If any amendments are made, the Authority will consider whether any applicable tender deadlines should be revised, and whether any tender documents or notices need to be re-issued.

Under Section 43 of the Procurement Act 2023, the Authority reserves the right to Direct Award should there be no suitable tenders or requests to participate be received.

Requests to participate (first stage)

18 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT

Submission deadline

18 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT

Clarification deadline

11 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT

Submission channel

Official e-sourcing portal

Electronic submission

Allowed

Accepted languages

en