Official UK procurement notice
NW3168 - Project Risk Tool
Authority: NORTHUMBRIAN WATER LIMITED
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionNW3168 - Project Risk Tool
Northumbrian Water Limited (NWL) provide water and sewerage services to just under 4.4 million people operating principally in the North-East of England, Essex, and Suffolk. It is NWL's vision 'to be the most digital water company in the world'. Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) is a large and diverse organisation which employs a varied set of processes to achieve its business outcomes. Our organisation is entering a period of increasing scale and complexity, and our current Excel‑based approach creates challenges with consistency, auditability, quantitative analysis, and real‑time visibility. To address these issues, NWL intends to procure a centralised Risk Management Tool that reflects our business, functional and non‑functional requirements.
Our ambition is to embed a consistent minimum standard for risk and opportunity management across all levels of the organisation, while maintaining flexibility to support differing risk types, project complexities and operational environments. The new solution must allow NWL to manage risk at project, programme, and portfolio level with configurable hierarchies, strong governance controls, audit trails, validation rules, automated workflows, and clear ownership and accountability.
The tool must support qualitative and quantitative analysis, including interaction with Monte‑Carlo simulation to enable QSRA/QCRA, ensuring NWL can reduce reliance on external consultants and improve the agility of in‑house modelling. It must also support configurable scoring, heatmaps, pre‑ and post‑mitigation views, dependencies, assumptions, exclusions, and risk and opportunity management across all levels of hierarchy.
As the solution will be used by a wide and diverse user base, it must provide an intuitive, user‑friendly interface that can be easily navigated and adopted, with accessibility‑aligned design, strong searchability, a training/sandpit area, and clear help and guidance materials. It must also support controlled access for external users (e.g., contractors) and role‑based permissions to ensure secure collaboration.
To meet NWL's operational and digital integration expectations, the system must offer open API‑based links to corporate platforms including (but not limited to) O365/Power BI, Active Directory, Oracle Fusion, and other related systems. Bulk uploads, automated data exchange, scheduling of tasks, notifications, escalations, and workflow automation are essential to improving efficiency and reducing manual effort across risk management activities.
The solution must be scalable to support 1,000 active projects, with capacity for at least 500 risks per project and a minimum of 500 concurrent users, ensuring sustainability as NWL grows. Auditability, resilience, data retention, lifecycle management, and the ability to retain historical risk information for lessons learned and long‑term organisational insight are critical requirements.
Suppliers should be able to demonstrate strong hierarchy management, workflow capability, governance controls, reporting and dashboarding, including automated distribution, heatmaps, drill‑down and drill‑up views, and flexible output formats for audit and assurance purposes. Solutions that offer high configurability, strong training support, sandpit environments, and effective licence models are considered strong candidates based on market assessment.
Initial contract term 5 years.
NWL intends to award a contract aligned to a 5+3+3 model (up to 11 years in total). Implementation is expected to begin in December 2027, following contract award, with a planned go‑live in January - March 2027. Future phases may introduce additional capability dependent on business priorities.
Target Contract start date 02/11/2026.
- How the procedure runs: Competitive Flexible Procedure Description Stage 1 - Conditions of Participation (COP) Stage 1 commenced with the issuing of this Tender Notice and the publication of the Conditions of Participation Document (COP) in NWL's Ariba Sourcing tool. The document includes a COP questionnaire which all suppliers are required to complete and return in accordance with the procurement timetable and instructions within the document. NWL will use this stage to confirm that neither the supplier, nor any related persons within its corporate group, associated persons relied on to meet the conditions of participation, or proposed sub-contractors are listed on the Cabinet Office debarment list. To the extent that any such entities are listed on the debarment list, NWL will consider whether to exclude the supplier from participating in this procurement in accordance with its obligations under the Act. In addition, NWL will consider whether any supplier or related persons within its corporate group, associated persons relied on to meet the conditions of participation, or proposed sub-contractors are excluded or excludable suppliers, and before NWL determines that a supplier is an excluded or excludable supplier, it will provide the supplier reasonable opportunity to make representations and provide evidence as is proportionate in the circumstances. If the supplier is an excluded or excludable supplier only by virtue of an associated person or proposed sub-contractor, NWL will notify the supplier of its intention to exclude the supplier and provide the supplier with reasonable opportunity to replace the associated person or sub contractor. If as a consequence of this process NWL excludes the supplier from participating in this procurement or is aware of an associated person or sub-contract having been replaced, it will give notice of this fact within 30 days of its decision to the Procurement Review Unit (PRU). NWL will also undertake a review of the completed COP with reference to any information held on the Central Digital Platform. Responses to any conditions of participation will be assessed in accordance with the selection process and any criteria as set out in the tender notice and described in this document. The assessment of these responses will identify the top 5 suppliers to be invited to participate in Stage 2. Stage 1 will complete with suppliers being notified in writing of whether or not they have been successfully shortlisted to participate in Stage 2. Suppliers not invited to stage 2 will be provided with a written explanation of the reasons why they have not been shortlisted to participate in Stage 2. Suppliers should note that NWL reserves the right to re-assess any response to the conditions of participation at any stage of this procurement, including in light of any new relevant information that comes to NWL's attention. Stage 2 - Invitation to Submit Initial Tenders Stage 2 commenced with the notification, inviting those suppliers which have successfully been shortlisted at Stage 1 of this Procurement to submit initial tenders and the publication of this document. This document includes a request for initial tenders which all suppliers are required to complete and must be submitted in accordance with the Procurement Timetable and instructions set out in this document and any additional information provided. Following the deadline for submission of initial tenders, NWL will assess initial tenders in accordance with the assessment process and award criteria set out in the Tender Notice and described in this document. The assessment process will identify which suppliers are to be selected to participate in the negotiation/dialogue stage as set out in Stage 3. Once the assessment of initial tenders has concluded, suppliers will be notified in writing whether they have successfully been invited to Stage 3. Any suppliers not invited to participate in Stage 3 will be provided with reasons in writing to explain why they have not been successful. Stage 3 - Invitation to Participate in Supplier Negotiations/Dialogue (Supplier Presentations) Stage 3 will commence with the notification inviting suppliers that have successfully passed Stage 2 to attend a Supplier Presentation (virtually, via MS Teams). The notification will also provide details of any new information made available to suppliers at this stage in this Procurement. The notification will also have further detail around the question, dates and required attendees. Stage 4 - Invitation to Submit a Best and Final Offer (BAFO) Stage 4 will commence with the issuing of a letter inviting suppliers that have been successfully shortlisted at Stage 3 to submit their Best and Final Offers. Best and Final offers must be submitted in accordance with the Procurement Timetable and instructions set out in this document and any additional information provided. After the deadline for submission of best and final offers, NWL will reconsider, in respect of each supplier that submitted, whether the supplier or any related persons within its corporate group, associated suppliers relied on to meet the conditions of participation, or proposed sub-contractors, are excluded or excludable suppliers and will consider whether to disregard the best and final offer submitted in accordance with its obligations under the Act. If the supplier is an excluded or excludable supplier only by virtue of an associated supplier or proposed sub-contractor, NWL will notify the supplier of its intention to disregard its tender and provide the supplier with a reasonable opportunity to replace the associated supplier or sub-contractor. If as a consequence of this process NWL disregards a tender from an excluded or excludable supplier or is aware of an associated supplier or sub contractor having been replaced, it will give notice of this fact within 30 days of its decision to the Procurement Review Unit (PRU). NWL will conduct an assessment of all Best and Final Offers in order to identify the supplier which has submitted the most advantageous tender in accordance with the assessment methodology and award criteria set out in the Tender Notice and described in this document. In carrying out this assessment, NWL will disregard any final tender from a supplier who does not satisfy the Conditions of Participation. Once the assessment has concluded, NWL will provide an assessment summary to all suppliers that submitted a Best and Final offer to: a. inform them whether they have been successful in being awarded the contract b. provide an explanation of the assessment of the supplier's tender against the relevant award criteria, in accordance with the requirements of the Act c. where different to the supplier concerned, provide information in respect of the most advantageous tender submitted, including details of the assessment of this tender against the relevant award criteria and the supplier's name Once the assessment summaries have been provided to the suppliers that submitted Best and Final offers, NWL will also publish a contract award notice on the Central Digital Platform to commence the mandatory standstill period. Subject to completion of the mandatory standstill period, Stage 4 will end with NWL entering into preferred supplier stage with the preferred supplier Stage 5: Preferred supplier stage The highest scoring supplier will be invited to engage in further discussions with NWL as part of a preferred supplier stage. This stage will be used to finalise the draft contract terms and conditions, in accordance with the limitations set out in the Act. Stage 5 will end with NWL entering into the contract with the preferred supplier
CPV: IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support · Software package and information systems
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£2,500,000
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 award criteria (2)
- Quality
- Price
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 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
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 3 Jun 2026, 16:07 BST
- Last source update
- 4 Jun 2026, 14:59 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 2 Nov 2026
- Authority reference
NW3168- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-052475- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06acc1Find a Tender- Contract terms summary
45 Days.
- How it runs
Competitive Flexible Procedure Description
Stage 1 - Conditions of Participation (COP)
Stage 1 commenced with the issuing of this Tender Notice and the publication of the Conditions of Participation Document (COP) in NWL's Ariba Sourcing tool.
The document includes a COP questionnaire which all suppliers are required to complete and return in accordance with the procurement timetable and instructions within the document.
NWL will use this stage to confirm that neither the supplier, nor any related persons within its corporate group, associated persons relied on to meet the conditions of participation, or proposed sub-contractors are listed on the Cabinet Office debarment list. To the extent that any such entities are listed on the debarment list, NWL will consider whether to exclude the supplier from participating in this procurement in accordance with its obligations under the Act.
In addition, NWL will consider whether any supplier or related persons within its corporate group, associated persons relied on to meet the conditions of participation, or proposed sub-contractors are excluded or excludable suppliers, and before NWL determines that a supplier is an excluded or excludable supplier, it will provide the supplier reasonable opportunity to make representations and provide evidence as is proportionate in the circumstances.
If the supplier is an excluded or excludable supplier only by virtue of an associated person or proposed sub-contractor, NWL will notify the supplier of its intention to exclude the supplier and provide the supplier with reasonable opportunity to replace the associated person or sub contractor.
If as a consequence of this process NWL excludes the supplier from participating in this procurement or is aware of an associated person or sub-contract having been replaced, it will give notice of this fact within 30 days of its decision to the Procurement Review Unit (PRU).
NWL will also undertake a review of the completed COP with reference to any information held on the Central Digital Platform. Responses to any conditions of participation will be assessed in accordance with the selection process and any criteria as set out in the tender notice and described in this document.
The assessment of these responses will identify the top 5 suppliers to be invited to participate in Stage 2.
Stage 1 will complete with suppliers being notified in writing of whether or not they have been successfully shortlisted to participate in Stage 2. Suppliers not invited to stage 2 will be provided with a written explanation of the reasons why they have not been shortlisted to participate in Stage 2.
Suppliers should note that NWL reserves the right to re-assess any response to the conditions of participation at any stage of this procurement, including in light of any new relevant information that comes to NWL's attention.
Stage 2 - Invitation to Submit Initial Tenders
Stage 2 commenced with the notification, inviting those suppliers which have successfully been shortlisted at Stage 1 of this Procurement to submit initial tenders and the publication of this document.
This document includes a request for initial tenders which all suppliers are required to complete and must be submitted in accordance with the Procurement Timetable and instructions set out in this document and any additional information provided.
Following the deadline for submission of initial tenders, NWL will assess initial tenders in accordance with the assessment process and award criteria set out in the Tender Notice and described in this document. The assessment process will identify which suppliers are to be selected to participate in the negotiation/dialogue stage as set out in Stage 3.
Once the assessment of initial tenders has concluded, suppliers will be notified in writing whether they have successfully been invited to Stage 3. Any suppliers not invited to participate in Stage 3 will be provided with reasons in writing to explain why they have not been successful.
Stage 3 - Invitation to Participate in Supplier Negotiations/Dialogue (Supplier Presentations)
Stage 3 will commence with the notification inviting suppliers that have successfully passed Stage 2 to attend a Supplier Presentation (virtually, via MS Teams).
The notification will also provide details of any new information made available to suppliers at this stage in this Procurement. The notification will also have further detail around the question, dates and required attendees.
Stage 4 - Invitation to Submit a Best and Final Offer (BAFO)
Stage 4 will commence with the issuing of a letter inviting suppliers that have been successfully shortlisted at Stage 3 to submit their Best and Final Offers.
Best and Final offers must be submitted in accordance with the Procurement Timetable and instructions set out in this document and any additional information provided.
After the deadline for submission of best and final offers, NWL will reconsider, in respect of each supplier that submitted, whether the supplier or any related persons within its corporate group, associated suppliers relied on to meet the conditions of participation, or proposed sub-contractors, are excluded or excludable suppliers and will consider whether to disregard the best and final offer submitted in accordance with its obligations under the Act.
If the supplier is an excluded or excludable supplier only by virtue of an associated supplier or proposed sub-contractor, NWL will notify the supplier of its intention to disregard its tender and provide the supplier with a reasonable opportunity to replace the associated supplier or sub-contractor.
If as a consequence of this process NWL disregards a tender from an excluded or excludable supplier or is aware of an associated supplier or sub contractor having been replaced, it will give notice of this fact within 30 days of its decision to the Procurement Review Unit (PRU).
NWL will conduct an assessment of all Best and Final Offers in order to identify the supplier which has submitted the most advantageous tender in accordance with the assessment methodology and award criteria set out in the Tender Notice and described in this document. In carrying out this assessment, NWL will disregard any final tender from a supplier who does not satisfy the Conditions of Participation.
Once the assessment has concluded, NWL will provide an assessment summary to all suppliers that submitted a Best and Final offer to:
a. inform them whether they have been successful in being awarded the
contract
b. provide an explanation of the assessment of the supplier's tender against
the relevant award criteria, in accordance with the requirements of the Act
c. where different to the supplier concerned, provide information in respect
of the most advantageous tender submitted, including details of the
assessment of this tender against the relevant award criteria and the
supplier's name
Once the assessment summaries have been provided to the suppliers that
submitted Best and Final offers, NWL will also publish a contract award
notice on the Central Digital Platform to commence the mandatory standstill
period.
Subject to completion of the mandatory standstill period, Stage 4 will end
with NWL entering into preferred supplier stage with the preferred supplier
Stage 5: Preferred supplier stage
The highest scoring supplier will be invited to engage in further discussions with NWL as part of a preferred supplier stage. This stage will be used to finalise the draft contract terms and conditions, in accordance with the limitations set out in the Act. Stage 5 will end with NWL entering into the contract with the preferred supplier
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 22 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline
- 22 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Applicants are asked to note that this procurement process will be conduced electronically with all documents and communication being managed through the Northumbrian Water eSourcing Spend Management portal called 'Ariba' (s1.ariba.com ↗)
Expressions of interest from this notice must be sent to the e-mail address [email protected] before the deadline date of the 22th June 2026 at 12:00hrs. Once expression of interest has been received that contains the details below, applicants will be given access to the Ariba portal within 48
hours from request. This portal will contain all the tender documents associated with this procurement that are available at the time. An email link will also be provided to the email address you provide to access the portal. When sending expression of interest, applicants must provide the following
information: 1) Full company name 2) Main contact details of the person who will be given access to the Ariba portal - Name, job title, E mail address
and telephone number. (The deadline for return of the completed Tenders is the 1st July 2026 at 12noon)
Timeline
3 Jun 2026 → 1 Dec 2026 · 4 dates- Tender notice published141 days ago3 Jun 2026, 16:07 BST
- Submission deadline122 days ago22 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Today22 Oct 2026
- Award decision expected byin 12 days2 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 40 days1 Dec 2026
Notice history
2 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 3 Jun 2026- Tender notice published3 Jun 2026, 16:07 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published4 Jun 2026, 14:59 BSTUK4
Published amendments (1)
Updated version of specification added 04/06/2026 v1.2. Deadline for return of the completed Tenders is now the 1st July 2026 at 12noon.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (5)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: https://s1.ariba.com/
- Bidding documents and specifications
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender