Official UK procurement notice
Teddington Direct River Abstraction (TDRA) Tunnelling Main Works Contract (MWC)
Authority: THAMES WATER UTILITIES LIMITED
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionDesign, build, test and commission of the following two main components:
i) A recycled water conveyance tunnel from Mogden Sewage Treatment Works (STW) to Teddington. A new approximately 4.2km long tunnelled conveyance route approximately 3.5m internal diameter (ID) would be driven using a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) and constructed to connect a new Tertiary Treatment Plant (provided by others) in Mogden STW to the proposed outfall on the riverbank of the River Thames upstream of Teddington Weir. The tunnel would have four shafts.
ii) River abstraction and transfer to the existing Thames Lee Tunnel (TLT): The river abstraction would be located approximately 175m upstream of the proposed new outfall. The abstracted river flow would be conveyed to the TLT through a smaller diameter (up to 2.2m ID) pipe installed using a pipe jacking technique.
The scope will include, but not be limited to:
Construction Design activities
Architectural
Building M&E
Civils and Structural engineering including earthworks
Enabling works
Drainage
Geotechnical
Ground movement impact
Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Control and Automation (MEICA) including a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system
Hydraulic Modelling
Materials durability
Renewables / Carbon mitigation
Rivers and Watercourses
Traffic & Highways
Shafts & Tunnels
Utilities
Disposal of excavated material
The NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract comprise two stages, with a decision point as to whether to proceed to construction between Stages One and Two. If the decision point is passed, then a Notice to Proceed (NTP) will be issued.
Stage One, also known as the Early Contractor Involvement stage, will provide construction related support to the Client during its planning process, which comprises an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO). Using the DCO reference design (provided by others) as a constraint to the scope, the TDRA Tunnelling MWC will develop the design for construction, which will be integrated with construction planning, into the subsequent Stage Two, being the delivery / construction phase.
The decision gate to proceed to Stage Two will be dependent on a number of matters, including: 1) An accepted design that meets the requirements of the contract; 2) agreement on a target price; and 3) the granting of the DCO. The agreement of a target price for Stage Two will be constrained by the Client's budget and will be developed in accordance with a Pricing Information Schedule appended to the contract. The Pricing Information Schedule will include an exhaustive list of specific "Adjustment Events" which may adjust the target price for Stage Two.
Subject to the Client issuing a NTP, Stage Two will commence with an initial period to comply with any secondary consenting issues, followed by mobilisation to commence construction. Following construction, a testing and commissioning phase will be required with a scheduled target date of Water Available for Use (WAFU) of 31 March 2033.
- How the procedure runs: Requests to Participate Stage This Tender Notice invites a request to participate from Applicants. Having reviewed the Tender Notice, all Applicants wishing to participate in the TDRA Tunnelling MWC competition will need to demonstrate in their submissions that they meet the Conditions of Participation set out in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire Pack (PSQ Pack) and complete a Non-Disclosure/Confidentiality Agreement. Applications will be submitted via the contracting authority's eSourcing portal as described in the PSQ Pack - Part 1 Instructions to Applicants. The contracting authority will assess the Applicant's submissions in three stages. In stage 1, compliance and eligibility checks will be undertaken (on a pass/fail basis); in stage 2, there will be an assessment of financial capacity and technical ability to perform the contract (on a pass/fail basis); and for those submissions that pass stages 1 and 2 there will be a scored technical ability assessment that will include a pass/fail threshold and result in an overall score for each Applicant that will be used to determine which Applicants will be selected to participate in the next stage of the tendering process. Scored submissions will be ranked from highest to lowest and, subject to the procedure set out in the PSQ Pack (Part 1, paragraphs 4.6.22 and 4.6.23), the contracting authority intends to invite the Applicants of the top four (4) highest scoring submissions to tender for the TDRA Tunnelling MWC contract. Invitation to Tender (ITT) Stage The contracting authority will share with the shortlisted Applicants an Invitation to Tender (ITT) against which such Applicants will be invited to submit a tender. Tender submissions will be evaluated in accordance with the objective criteria set out in the ITT. Negotiation Stage The contracting authority may engage in negotiations with tenderers as set out further in the ITT. Records of any negotiations and agreements reached will be kept by the contracting authority. For the avoidance of doubt, the contracting authority reserves the right to award the contract without any negotiation, on the basis of the most advantageous tender submitted at the ITT Stage. Best and Final Offer Stage Following any negotiation stage, the contracting authority also reserves the right to invite tenderers to submit a best and final offer (BAFO), as explained further in the ITT. Following the submission of any BAFO's, the contracting authority will complete the tender evaluation process and award the TDRA Tunnelling MWC to the most advantageous tender in accordance with the objective criteria set out in the ITT.
CPV: Construction work
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1CancelledPublished value£242,000,000
- Economic & financial standing
As set out in the PSQ Pack, Part 2 Section 4.2.
The estimated value of the contract is stated at May 2024 prices and excludes any estimate for inflation over the life of the contract.
- Technical & professional ability
As set out in the PSQ Pack, Part 2 Section 4.2.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
TWUL will assess PSQ Responses in accordance with the Assessment Methodology published in the PSQ Pack to identify eligible Applicants that have met the Minimum Standards and to shortlist the four highest scoring Applicants. It is intended that the top four Applicants will be invited to Tender, however, the actual number of Applicants invited to Tender could be higher or lower than four depending on whether the scenario arises that is set out in PSQ Pack Part 1, paragraphs 4.6.22 and 4.6.23 of the PSQ Pack.
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)
- Price: Price sub-criteria and associated weightings will be developed prior to tender invitation and set out in the ITT. Indicative criteria: - Baseline preliminary prices - Schedule of Rates / lump sums for ECI period - Fee Percentage
- Quality: Quality sub-criteria and associated weightings will be developed prior to tender invitation and set out in the ITT. Indicative criteria areas: • Approach to tunnelling (including supply chain inputs) • Delivery Methodologies within DCO constraints • Key ECI People and approach to collaboration • Health, Safety and Wellbeing • Approach to the ECI phase • Approach to risk mitigation in the ECI phase • Use of modern methods of construction and technology in delivery • Stakeholder approach in ECI stage and DCO examination • Approach to mitigating environmental impact (incl. reduced carbon impact, sustainability) • Risk mitigation proposals in delivery • Social value
- Economic & financial standing
As set out in the PSQ Pack, Part 2 Section 4.2.
The estimated value of the contract is stated at May 2024 prices and excludes any estimate for inflation over the life of the contract.
- Technical & professional ability
As set out in the PSQ Pack, Part 2 Section 4.2.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
TWUL will assess PSQ Responses in accordance with the Assessment Methodology published in the PSQ Pack to identify eligible Applicants that have met the Minimum Standards and to shortlist the four highest scoring Applicants. It is intended that the top four Applicants will be invited to Tender, however, the actual number of Applicants invited to Tender could be higher or lower than four depending on whether the scenario arises that is set out in PSQ Pack Part 1, paragraphs 4.6.22 and 4.6.23 of the PSQ Pack.
- 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
- Works
- Notice status
- Cancelled
- 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
- 28 May 2025, 17:58 BST
- Last source update
- 27 Aug 2026, 17:44 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 2 Oct 2026
- Authority reference
SO2267- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-028281- Latest notice
- Procurement termination notice (UK12)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05286cFind a Tender
- How it runs
Requests to Participate Stage
This Tender Notice invites a request to participate from Applicants. Having reviewed the Tender Notice, all Applicants wishing to participate in the TDRA Tunnelling MWC competition will need to demonstrate in their submissions that they meet the Conditions of Participation set out in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire Pack (PSQ Pack) and complete a Non-Disclosure/Confidentiality Agreement.
Applications will be submitted via the contracting authority's eSourcing portal as described in the PSQ Pack - Part 1 Instructions to Applicants. The contracting authority will assess the Applicant's submissions in three stages. In stage 1, compliance and eligibility checks will be undertaken (on a pass/fail basis); in stage 2, there will be an assessment of financial capacity and technical ability to perform the contract (on a pass/fail basis); and for those submissions that pass stages 1 and 2 there will be a scored technical ability assessment that will include a pass/fail threshold and result in an overall score for each Applicant that will be used to determine which Applicants will be selected to participate in the next stage of the tendering process.
Scored submissions will be ranked from highest to lowest and, subject to the procedure set out in the PSQ Pack (Part 1, paragraphs 4.6.22 and 4.6.23), the contracting authority intends to invite the Applicants of the top four (4) highest scoring submissions to tender for the TDRA Tunnelling MWC contract.
Invitation to Tender (ITT) Stage
The contracting authority will share with the shortlisted Applicants an Invitation to Tender (ITT) against which such Applicants will be invited to submit a tender. Tender submissions will be evaluated in accordance with the objective criteria set out in the ITT.
Negotiation Stage
The contracting authority may engage in negotiations with tenderers as set out further in the ITT. Records of any negotiations and agreements reached will be kept by the contracting authority.
For the avoidance of doubt, the contracting authority reserves the right to award the contract without any negotiation, on the basis of the most advantageous tender submitted at the ITT Stage.
Best and Final Offer Stage
Following any negotiation stage, the contracting authority also reserves the right to invite tenderers to submit a best and final offer (BAFO), as explained further in the ITT.
Following the submission of any BAFO's, the contracting authority will complete the tender evaluation process and award the TDRA Tunnelling MWC to the most advantageous tender in accordance with the objective criteria set out in the ITT.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 7 Jul 2025, 11:00 BST
- Submission deadline
- 7 Jul 2025, 11:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 20 Jun 2025, 11:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx ↗
This link will take interested parties to the Registration of Interest page. Completing the Registration of Interest form will then provide access to the secure site containing the Procurement Specific Questionnaire Pack (PSQ Pack) and submission portal.
Timeline
28 May 2025 → 2 Oct 2026 · 6 dates- Tender notice published28 May 2025, 17:58 BST
- Clarification questions by20 Jun 2025, 11:00 BST
- Submission deadline7 Jul 2025, 11:00 BST
- Latest notice published58 days ago27 Aug 2026, 17:44 BST
- Contract starts23 days ago2 Oct 2026, 00:00 BST
- Award decision expected by22 days ago2 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
Notice history
3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 28 May 2025- Tender notice published28 May 2025, 17:58 BSTUK4
- Procurement termination notice published27 Aug 2026, 17:44 BSTUK12
- Status changed to cancelled27 Aug 2026, 17:44 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| supplier not published | — | 6 Jul 2026 | CancelledThames Water Utilities Limited (TWUL), acting as a private utility, is voluntarily publishing this Procurement Termination Notice to inform the market that it has decided not to proceed with the award of the Teddington Direct River Abstraction (TDRA) Tunnelling Main Works Contract (MWC). Whilst private utilities are not required to publish a Procurement Termination Notice under Section 55 of the Procurement Act 2023, TWUL is publishing this notice voluntarily in the interests of transparency and to provide market certainty. Following further design development, technical assessments, site investigations and stakeholder engagement, TWUL has reviewed its procurement strategy for delivery of the TDRA project. As a result of that review, TWUL has concluded that the project should be delivered through a single consolidated Main Works Contract incorporating both the tunnelling works and the tertiary treatment plant (TTP) works. The revised approach materially differs from the procurement structure originally advertised and, accordingly, TWUL has decided to discontinue the current procurement and commence a new procurement process. TWUL currently anticipates commencing a new procurement process for a single consolidated TDRA Main Works Contract towards the end of 2026. Reason for the Change: Following ongoing design development, technical assessments and stakeholder feedback, a number of updates have been made to the project design. As a result of this work, we've refined our procurement strategy and will now deliver the project through a single construction package. The change in the way we are procuring contractors for the project is a result of design development and technical assessments, which means we want to take a different approach to help manage construction risk in a live operational environment like Mogden Sewage Treatment Works. These changes have improved the scheme's safety, viability and operability, whilst also reducing potential impacts on local communities and the surrounding environment. The single consolidated package approach will allow for: • A single party to own the phasing and logistics of the construction stage, which is partly located in a constrained area of an operational site. • Manage interfaces between critical assets that were in close proximity to each other. • Allows the Contractor to own the design with more independence, providing the flexibility to make decisions for the best of the project without having to manage proposed Contractor change through a multi-party change and baseline/design acceptance process. • Reduce requirement for Client oversight and approval. • Greater commercial certainty between all parties: including single programme, float management, cross contract exposure removed, simplified governance, clarity in defects/liabilities. • Construction Design & Management (CDM) Regulation compliance simplified and aligned to best practice. |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Procurement termination notice Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender