Official UK procurement notice
Independent Monitor - Thames Water
Authority: The Water Services Regulation Authority (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionOfwat is procuring an Independent Monitor (IM) to provide independent monitoring, analysis and reporting in relation to Thames Water's turnaround programme, financial resilience and compliance with undertakings accepted by Ofwat following a breach of licence condition P26.
The IM will support Ofwat's Turnaround Oversight Regime by monitoring and assessing Thames Water's progress in delivering its turnaround plan and complying with regulatory commitments. The IM will provide independent oversight of governance, operational performance, financial resilience, transformation activities and delivery confidence, and identify and report material risks, issues and emerging concerns to Ofwat.
The IM will undertake monitoring and reporting services across a broad range of functions, including operational performance, financial resilience, governance, transformation programmes, regulatory submissions, capital delivery and asset management. The IM will report regularly to Ofwat and provide independent evidence and analysis to support regulatory oversight and decision-making.
The role is expected to operate in a dynamic and evolving environment. The nature, scope and intensity of the IM's activities may increase or decrease during the contract term to reflect Thames Water's progress, risk profile, recapitalisation activities, regulatory developments and wider turnaround programme. The contract has therefore been designed to support a scalable and proportionate monitoring approach.
The IM will be appointed by Ofwat, will act independently of Thames Water, and will provide recommendations and advice 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: o The procurement is being conducted using a Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. Bidders will be required to submit a tender response addressing the 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 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 #1RenewalPublished value£13,000,000
- 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 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 £5m.
Ofwat reserves the right to verify supporting evidence prior to contract award.
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 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 £5m.
Ofwat reserves the right to verify supporting evidence prior to contract award.
- 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
- 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
- 31 Jul 2026, 19:24 BST
- Last source update
- 4 Sept 2026, 15:58 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 21 Oct 2026
- Authority reference
PROC.0298- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-072941- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d965Find a Tender- Contract terms summary
Valid and undisputed invoices will be paid within 30 days of receipt
- How it runs
o The procurement is being conducted using a Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023.
Bidders will be required to submit a tender response addressing the 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 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 satisfactory performance of the contract may be affected by factors outside Ofwat's direct control, including changes to Thames Water's financial position, recapitalisation activities, corporate restructuring, regulatory interventions, and enforcement actions, or changes to the company's turnaround programme.
The scope, intensity and focus of the Independent Monitor's activities may need to change during the contract term in response to evolving risks, emerging issues, delivery performance, compliance with undertakings, governance developments, financial resilience concerns and wider regulatory requirements.
The contract has therefore been designed to support a flexible, scalable and proportionate monitoring approach that can be adapted to reflect changes in risk, regulatory priorities and the company's circumstances while ensuring effective regulatory oversight.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 11 Sept 2026, 17:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 24 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Tenders must be submitted electronically via the myTenders eProcurement portal (www.mytenders.co.uk ↗). Instructions for accessing the procurement documents, submitting clarification questions and submitting tenders will be provided through the portal. Tenders submitted by email or post will not be accepted.
Timeline
31 Jul 2026 → 5 Nov 2026 · 6 dates- Tender notice published87 days ago31 Jul 2026, 19:24 BST
- Clarification questions by63 days ago24 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
- Latest notice published52 days ago4 Sept 2026, 15:58 BST
- Submission deadline45 days ago11 Sept 2026, 17:00 BST
- Award decision expected by5 days ago21 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
- Today26 Oct 2026
- Contract startsin 9 days5 Nov 2026
Notice history
4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 31 Jul 2026- Tender notice published31 Jul 2026, 19:24 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published14 Aug 2026, 17:01 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published28 Aug 2026, 15:15 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published4 Sept 2026, 15:58 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 Friday 11 September at 17:00 (BST). All other dates remain unchanged u…
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (11)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications PROC.0298 - Appendix B - Instructions and Guidance to Bidders
- Bidding documents and specifications PROC.0298 - Appendix A - Terms and Conditions
- Bidding documents and specifications Schedule 3 Security Requirements (ICT10) within Appendix A - Terms and Conditions document
- Bidding documents and specifications Presentation and Interview Stage Instruction 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 specificationsAccess: Tender documents will be made available through the myTenders eProcurement portal.
- Bidding documents and specifications PROC.0298 - Invitation to Tender - Independent Monitor - Thames Water
Notices published for this procedure
- 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