Official UK procurement notice
Site Investigation Survey Framework
Authority: THAMES WATER UTILITIES LIMITED
What is being bought4 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThames Water intends to establish a Framework Agreement to appoint suitably qualified suppliers to deliver site investigation surveys and associated deliverables across its operational area. The Framework will enable Thames Water (and, where applicable, permitted person and including main contractors) to call off individual surveys and/or programmes of surveys on an as‑needed basis during the Framework term.
This Framework is intended to cover both infrastructure and non‑infrastructure projects, which may take place on Thames Water sites, private or public land, and/or within highways and road environments.
Thames Water reserves the right to refine the award criteria. Please note that that deadline for asking for access to the PSQ & submitting of the 5 March 2026.
- How the procedure runs: Suppliers will be invited to submit for PSQ, following which then are evaluated to confirm eligibility and shortlist bidders progressing to the ITN stage. The ITN is then issued, followed by a clarification window so all bidders have consistent information before preparing submissions. Once ITN responses are received, Thames Water completes a full evaluation covering commercial, technical and legal aspects, and then down-selects to a smaller group for negotiation. Negotiation and final clarification follow, giving suppliers the opportunity to improve and optimise their proposals where appropriate "this maybe more than 1 round". The process concludes with internal approvals, contract finalisation and award. This approach is designed to be clear and proportionate for bidders, while allowing iterative engagement where it genuinely adds value and ensuring a transparent, value-focused selection process.
CPV: Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services · Geotechnical engineering services · Global navigation and positioning systems (GPS or equivalent) · Ground investigation services · Subsurface surveying services · Survey services · Surveying services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework
- Call-offs
- every call-off is a further competition among the appointed suppliers
- Framework period
- 3 yrs 9 mo · up to 7 yrs 9 mo from 30 Jun 2026
Published description of the framework
Thames Water will establish a non exclusive Framework Agreement for the provision of site investigation surveys and associated deliverables, split into four Lots
- Lot 1 Above ground surveys
- Lot 2 Below ground surveys
- Lot 3 Ground Investigation
- Lot 4 Multidisciplinary surveys, combining requirements across Lots 1-3
The Framework will operate as a mechanism to appoint capable suppliers by Lot and then commission specific requirements via call-off contracts during the Framework term using a defined pricing and selection process.
Supplier appointment and governance
Suppliers will submit bids by Lot and will be evaluated based on the combined scoring methodology . Suppliers may bid for one or multiple Lots. Lot structure will be retained for governance and call-off eligibility, while enabling Thames Water to procure integrated requirements where needed (particularly under Lot 4).
Pricing approach under the Framework
Services will be priced using either an activity‑based schedule or a schedule of rates, depending on the value and complexity of the services required.
Lots and requirements (4)Procurement structure
4 lots · all with a published value · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Above Ground SurveysRenewalPublished value£6,204,000
Lot 1 covers delivery of above ground surveys and associated outputs to support feasibility, optioneering, design development, consents and construction planning across Thames Water's operational area. Surveys will be undertaken on live operational sites and project locations and delivered in line with the Standard Requirements for methodology, data, reporting and deliverables
Core survey types
Core means survey types you would expect to require on most commissions to establish a safe, buildable baseline for design, consents and construction planning
- Laser scanning
- Topographical surveys
- Drone surveys
- Measured building surveys
- Photogrammetry
Optional survey types
Optional means survey types required when triggered by site conditions, risk, stakeholder needs or a specific design decision, but they may be common for certain asset types
- LiDAR surveys
- Aerial photography
- 360 photo surveys
- Satellite surveys
- Mobile mapping
- Geodetic control
- Infrared (thermal) imaging
- Hydraulic surveys
- Hydrographic surveys including bathymetric
- Instrumentation and monitoring
- Structural and building condition surveys
- Land mapping
- GPS RTK
- Engineering
Lot #2Below Ground SurveysRenewalPublished value£4,488,000
Lot 2 covers below ground surveys focused on utility detection, mapping and condition assessment to support safe design and delivery and reduce strike and delay risk across Thames Water's operational area. Outputs will be provided in line with the Standard Requirements for methodology, data, reporting and deliverables
Core survey types
Core means survey types you would expect to require on most commissions to establish a safe, buildable baseline for design, consents and construction planning
- PAS 128 utility surveys (or a direct European equivalent)
- Detailed manhole surveys
- CCTV drainage surveys
- Electromagnetic locating or EM scanning
- High Density Array GPR
Optional survey types
Optional means survey types required when triggered by site conditions, risk, stakeholder needs or a specific design decision, but they may be common for certain asset types
- Cable identification
- Pumping station drop tests
- Bridge deck scanning
- Connection surveys
- Line and level surveys
- Concrete scanning
- Rebar scanning
- Chamber Scanning
Lot #3Ground InvestigationRenewalPublished value£2,508,000
Lot 3 covers ground investigation services to support geotechnical and geoenvironmental understanding for design, consents and construction planning across Thames Water's operational area. Outputs will be delivered in line with the Standard Requirements, with appropriate safety, quality and data controls
Core survey types
Core means survey types you would expect to require on most commissions to establish a safe, buildable baseline for design, consents and construction planning
- Geotechnical and geoenvironmental ground investigation
- Electromagnetic (EM)
Optional survey types
Optional means survey types required when triggered by site conditions, risk, stakeholder needs or a specific design decision, but they may be common for certain asset types
- Microgravity surveys
- Vibration or acoustic surveys
- Metal detection
- Unexploded ordonnance (UXO) surveys
Lot #4Multidisciplinary SurveysRenewalPublished value£8,800,000
Lot 4 covers integrated multidisciplinary survey programmes where Thames Water requires a single provider to plan, sequence and deliver surveys spanning multiple disciplines across Lots 1-3, producing consolidated outputs in line with the Standard Requirements for methodology, data, reporting and deliverables.
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 (2)
- Techniqual: 60%
- Commercial: 40%
Published award criteria (2)
- Techniqual
- Commercial
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Site Investigation Survey Framework” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: each call-off is a further competition, so the pricing contest starts after appointment.
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
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 6 Feb 2026, 16:16 GMT
- Last source update
- 23 Feb 2026, 10:14 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 19 Jun 2026
- Authority reference
FA2381- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-011131- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-064a8cFind a Tender
- How it runs
Suppliers will be invited to submit for PSQ, following which then are evaluated to confirm eligibility and shortlist bidders progressing to the ITN stage.
The ITN is then issued, followed by a clarification window so all bidders have consistent information before preparing submissions. Once ITN responses are received, Thames Water completes a full evaluation covering commercial, technical and legal aspects, and then down-selects to a smaller group for negotiation.
Negotiation and final clarification follow, giving suppliers the opportunity to improve and optimise their proposals where appropriate "this maybe more than 1 round".
The process concludes with internal approvals, contract finalisation and award. This approach is designed to be clear and proportionate for bidders, while allowing iterative engagement where it genuinely adds value and ensuring a transparent, value-focused selection process.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 12 Mar 2026, 10:00 GMT
- Appointment period ends
- 12 Mar 2026, 10:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 27 Feb 2026, 17:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
If you would like access to the PSQ documents, please fill out this form, thank you.
Timeline
6 Feb 2026 → 30 Jun 2026 · 6 dates- Tender notice published262 days ago6 Feb 2026, 16:16 GMT
- Latest notice published245 days ago23 Feb 2026, 10:14 GMT
- Clarification questions by241 days ago27 Feb 2026, 17:00 GMT
- Admission / appointment period ends228 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown12 Mar 2026, 10:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by129 days ago19 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts119 days ago30 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
2 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 6 Feb 2026- Tender notice published6 Feb 2026, 16:16 GMTUK4
- Tender notice published23 Feb 2026, 10:14 GMTUK4
Published amendments (1)
The enquiry deadline changed to 27 February 2026 at 17:00, and the Submission deadline changed to 12 March 2026, at 10 a.m.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender