Official UK procurement notice
Independent Monitor for South East Water
Authority: Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionOfwat has concluded a procurement for an Independent Monitor (IM) for South East Water. The purpose of the procurement is to appoint an IM to monitor, assess and report South East Water's progress in delivering a turnaround in their operational performance and resilience.
The scope of the Monitor's role is intended to be consistent with undertakings accepted by Ofwat in its enforcement decisions concerning water supply resilience and customer care during supply interruption incidents, and compliance with a licence condition requiring the company to hold two Issuer Credit Ratings that are Investment Grade Ratings.
The IM will support Ofwat's monitoring of the company's delivery of remediation actions required under the undertakings, including the development and implementation of a Performance Improvement Plan.
The IM will provide independent assessment of progress, governance, risk management and delivery confidence, identify material risks to compliance and delivery, and report findings to Ofwat. The IM will support proportionate, risk-based regulatory oversight, while maintaining clear accountability with the company for delivery of the required improvements.
The scope is expected to evolve during the contract term in response to the company's performance, risk profile and progress against the undertakings. The monitoring approach must therefore be scalable, risk-based and proportionate.
Read the full description (224 more characters)
The IM will be appointed by Ofwat, act independently of the company and provide advice and recommendations to Ofwat only.
The costs of the independent monitor will be met by the Company, and will not impact on customer bills.
How the procedure runs: The procurement is being conducted as a Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. Bidders will be required to submit a written tender response addressing the Procurement Specific Questionnaire conditions of participation, quality and commercial requirements set out in the tender documents. Following evaluation of more…
written tenders, Ofwat intends to shortlist up to four bidders to participate in a Presentation and Interview Stage. Shortlisting will be based on the evaluation methodology set out in the Invitation to Tender. Following completion of the Presentation and Interview Stage, final scores will be calculated using the published evaluation methodology and the highest scoring bidder will be invited to enter into the contract. Ofwat reserves the right to clarify aspects of tenders in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 and the procurement documents.
CPV: Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1Lot 1AwardedRenewalPublished value£5,000,000
- Value
- £5,000,000 exc. VAT · £6,000,000 inc. VAT
- Extensions
- 2x 1 year option periods.
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 (4)
- Written Quality Responses — 50%
- Presentation and Interview Stage — 10%
- Pricing Response — 30%
- Social Value — 10%
Published award criteria (4)
- Written Quality Responses — Final award criteria applicable to shortlisted bidders: Understanding of Requirements (Question 1) – 15% Proposed Approach and Methodology (Question 2) – 17.5% Relevant Experience, Capability and Delivery Team (Question 3) – 17.5%
- Presentation and Interview Stage — Evaluation of the bidder's Presentation and Interview Stage
- Social Value — Evaluation of the bidder's Social Value proposals in accordance with the Social Value question and evaluation methodology set out in the procurement documents.
- Pricing Response — Evaluation of the bidder's Price Response based on the weighted day-rate card methodology set out in the procurement documents. Scores will be determined using the blended evaluated rate and evaluation formula.
- Economic & financial standing
The Bidder must have the legal capacity to perform the contract and comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Where applicable, the Bidder must demonstrate compliance with UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 obligations and confirm that it more…
has the authority, governance arrangements and legal standing necessary to perform the contract. The Bidder must demonstrate sufficient economic and financial standing to perform the contract. The Bidder must confirm that: - It is not subject to insolvency or analogous proceedings; - Its most recent audited financial statements do not contain a qualified audit opinion or material uncertainty relating to going concern; and - Its average annual turnover over its two most recently completed financial years was at least £1.25m. Ofwat reserves the right to verify supporting evidence prior to contract award.
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
- Awarded
- 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
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 30 Sept 2026, 11:10 BST
- Last source update
- 30 Sept 2026, 11:10 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end — 2 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
- Authority reference
PROC.0218- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d963Find a Tender- Contract terms summary
- Valid and undisputed invoices will be paid within 30 days of receipt
- How it runs
The procurement is being conducted as a Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. Bidders will be required to submit a written tender response addressing the Procurement Specific Questionnaire conditions of participation, quality and commercial requirements set out in the tender documents. Following evaluation of written tenders, Ofwat intends to shortlist up to four bidders to participate in a more…
Presentation and Interview Stage. Shortlisting will be based on the evaluation methodology set out in the Invitation to Tender. Following completion of the Presentation and Interview Stage, final scores will be calculated using the published evaluation methodology and the highest scoring bidder will be invited to enter into the contract. Ofwat reserves the right to clarify aspects of tenders in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 and the procurement documents.
- Risks
The nature, scope and volume of the Services required from the Independent Monitor may increase or decrease during the term of the Contract, depending on the nature and significance of issues identified through the implementation of the company's Performance Improvement Plan and/or in the process of delivering other more…
remediation steps and commitments in the enforcement undertakings, the progress and outcome of the Company’s recapitalisation, and any associated changes to the Company’s financial, operational, governance or regulatory arrangements
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 7 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 24 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
8 published dates · Europe/London- Tender notice published61 days ago31 Jul 2026, 19:04 BST
- Clarification questions by38 days ago24 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline23 days ago7 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST
- Assessment summaries sent2 days ago29 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published1 day ago30 Sept 2026, 11:10 BST
- Award decision expected byin 2 days2 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract startsin 7 days8 Oct 2026, 00:00 BST
- Standstill endsin 9 days9 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics — not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant Thornton UK Advisory & Tax LLPPROC.0218 - Independent Monitor - South East Water12 Oct 2026 — 12 Oct 2028 · up to 12 Oct 2030Extensions: 2x 1 year option periods. | £5,000,000 | 29 Sept 2026standstill to 9 Oct 2026 | Standstill |
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4final-stage tenders | 1 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- wonGrant Thornton UK Advisory & Tax LLP · Greater London
- did not winDEECON CONSULTING LIMITEDSME · Greater London
- did not winJacobs UK Ltd · Greater London
- did not winTurner & Townsend Infrastructure Limited · West Midlands
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Notice history
10 events · 5 releases on Find a Tender · since 31 Jul 2026- Contract signature expected12 Oct 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract award notice published30 Sept 2026, 11:10 BSTUK6
- Published value updated30 Sept 2026, 11:10 BSTwas £5,000,000
- Status changed to complete30 Sept 2026, 11:10 BST
- Deadline withdrawn30 Sept 2026, 11:10 BST
- Tender notice published4 Sept 2026, 13:04 BSTUK4
- Deadline moved to 7 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST4 Sept 2026, 13:04 BST+1 days · was 7 Sept 2026, 09:00 BST
- Tender notice published28 Aug 2026, 14:15 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published14 Aug 2026, 16:53 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published31 Jul 2026, 19:04 BSTUK4
Published amendments (3)
Addition of 'Appendix B - Instructions and Guidance to Bidders' document.
Addition of 'Schedule 3 - Security Requirements (ICT10) within Appendix A - Terms and Conditions' document.
Addition of "Presentation and Interview Stage Instructions" document. Addition of "Note to Bidders" document, outlining small number of changes to the terms of the Independent Monitor Contract at Appendix A of the Invitation to Tender. Extension of the tender submission deadline from Monday 7 September 2026 at 09:00 am (BST) to Monday 7 September 2026 at 23:59 (BST). All other dates remain unchang…
Routine re-releases (5)
- 2026-08: 1 release · 14 Aug 2026
- 2026-07: 1 release · 31 Jul 2026
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
4 commercial parties on the notice · 1 awarded- DEECON CONSULTING LIMITEDBidder / tenderer
- Grant Thornton UK Advisory & Tax LLPAwarded supplier
- Jacobs UK LtdBidder / tenderer
- Turner & Townsend Infrastructure LimitedBidder / tenderer
Official documents & specifications (13)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications Presentation and Interview Stage Instruction document
- Bidding documents and specifications PROC.0218 - Appendix B - Instructions and Guidance to Bidders
- Bidding documents and specifications Schedule 3 Security Requirements (ICT10) within Appendix A - Terms and Conditions document
- Bidding documents and specifications "Note to Bidders" document, outlining small number of changes to the terms of the Independent Monitor Contract at Appendix A of the Invitation to Tender.
- Bidding documents and specifications PROC.0218 - Invitation to Tender - Independent Monitor - South East Water
- Bidding documents and specifications PROC.0218 - Appendix A - Terms and Conditions
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: Tender documents will be made available through the myTenders eProcurement portal.
- Conflict of interest declarationNot published
Notices 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
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender