Estimated Value
Up to £120,000,000
Deadline
3 November 2026
24 days remaining
Published
8 October 2026
Type
Not specified
Overview
NWL is seeking to set up a framework for the provision of commercial services relating predominantly to the capital investment on both infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects and programmes. The services are required to support AMP8 and AMP9 delivery to deliver commercial services across both Northumbrian Water and Essex & Suffolk Water operating regions, including supporting our range of enterprise and in-house delivery models, and major projects.
The scope may include (but not limited to) NEC contract management, cost and value management, commercial assurance, risk management, programme support, specialist advisory support and cost intelligence support. NWL's approach to the Commercial Services framework is based on a multi-lot structure.
The lots are organised by services, organisation size and/or region. The proposed lot structure and associated services are set out in this Tender Notice and the associated tender documents.
Key points
- Commercial administration and assurance
- NEC Contract management
- Project management support
- Target cost validation and assurance
- Estimating and Planning Enhanced commercial services will be the provision of commercial services at portfolio, programme or project level, with the Consultant acting as the principal commercial advisor to the Client's Project Manager throughout the project lifecycle. Enhanced commercial services will support asset investment at project level and shall include, but are not limited to:
- Commercial leadership and governance
- Cost and financial management including budget forecasting and business financial updates
- Procurement and contracting strategy
- Risk and change management
- Strategic project/contract management
- Reporting and performance management
- Stakeholder and programme support The Consultant may be requested to provided administration support for the Clients contract management system.
Key points
- Commercial leadership and strategy advice
- Procurement and contract management
- Cost planning and cost control
- Commercial governance and assurance
- Risk, change and opportunity management
- Supplier and stakeholder management
- Reporting and management information
- Data insight
- Estimating, Planning and Integrated Project Controls
- End to end managed service provision (optional scope) The Consultant shall provide strategic commercial and regulatory advice and value-add services to support the Client's investment programme, major projects and broader business objectives. These services shall include the development and review of business cases, investment submissions and supporting commercial justifications to enable informed decision-making and support with securing internal governance approvals.
Key points
- Commercial administration and assurance
- NEC Contract management
- Project management support
- Target cost validation and assurance Enhanced commercial services will be the provision of commercial services at project or programme level, with the Consultant acting as the principal commercial advisor to the Client's Project Manager throughout the project lifecycle. Enhanced commercial services will support asset investment at project level and shall include, but are not limited to:
- Commercial leadership and governance
- Cost and financial management including budget forecasting and business financial updates
- Procurement and contracting strategy
- Risk and change management
- Strategic contract management
- Reporting and performance management
- Stakeholder and programme support
Key points
- Commercial administration and assurance
- NEC Contract management
- Project management support
- Target cost validation and assurance Enhanced commercial services will be the provision of commercial services at project or programme level, with the Consultant acting as the principal commercial advisor to the Client's Project Manager throughout the project lifecycle. Enhanced commercial services will support asset investment at project level and shall include, but are not limited to:
- Commercial leadership and governance
- Cost and financial management, including budget forecasting and business financial updates
- Procurement and contracting strategy
- Risk and change management
- Strategic contract management
- Reporting and performance management
- Stakeholder and programme support
Key points
- preparation, review and assurance of cost estimates throughout the project lifecycle;
- independent review and validation of supplier estimates, target costs, quotations, forecasts and outturn costs;
- cost benchmarking using relevant internal and external cost information;
- development and maintenance of benchmark rates, cost models, cost curves and estimating tools;
- market intelligence and analysis of relevant supply-chain, labour, commodity, inflation and delivery conditions;
- affordability assessments, option appraisals and strategic investment planning;
- analysis of quantities, rates, allowances, risk, assumptions and cost drivers;
- comparison of cost positions across projects, programmes and successive project iterations;
- reconciliation of delivered scope and outturn cost against estimates, target costs and earlier cost positions;
- identification and evidence-based explanation of material cost movements;
- data analysis, reporting and management information;
- support for business cases, regulatory submissions, investment submissions and governance approvals; and
- provision of specialist estimating, benchmarking, data analysis and Cost Intelligence resources through individual call-off contracts. The Consultant shall work in accordance with the Client's standards, processes, systems and governance requirements. This shall include applying agreed cost classifications, scope definitions, yardsticks, measurement rules, project attributes and version controls to ensure cost information remains traceable, comparable and suitable for reuse. The Consultant shall provide suitably qualified and experienced personnel with relevant construction, infrastructure and water-industry capability. The proposed resources shall collectively demonstrate competence in cost estimating, cost assurance, benchmarking, market analysis, data analytics, affordability assessment and strategic investment planning.
Regulations cited
- The Procurement Act 2023
Additional details
Suppliers are expected to offer flexible, scalable resourcing solutions that can support both strategic and project-level delivery to meet programme demands across both regions. NWL welcomes interest from organisations of all sizes, including suppliers who may not currently operate within the water sector or who do not have large established delivery teams.
The Client requires the provision of specialist commercial services to support the development and delivery of the Clients Major infrastructure programmes and projects within both the Northumbrian Water and Essex & Suffolk Water operating regions. This lot is for SMEs only.
An SME is defined by The Procurement Act 2023 as: "Fewer than 250 staff, and either turnover less than £44 million or balance sheet total less than £38 million." Successful Consultants must be able to operate in both the Northumbrian Water and Essex & Suffolk operating areas. The Consultant shall act as an integrated extension of the Client's commercial team and other directorates within NWL, providing but not limited to, commercial leadership, risk management, NEC contract administration, procurement support, cost assurance and governance services to support the successful delivery of complex capital projects.
The services shall support projects from initial concept and business case development through procurement, delivery, commissioning and close-out, ensuring effective commercial control, value optimisation and compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements. The Consultant shall provide, but not limited to, the following services: • Commercial leadership and strategy • Procurement and contract management • Cost planning and cost control • Commercial governance and assurance • Risk, change and opportunity management • Supplier and stakeholder management • Reporting and management information • Data insight The Consultant shall provide strategic commercial advisory and value-add services to support the Client's investment programme, major projects and broader business objectives. These services shall include the development and review of business cases, investment submissions and supporting commercial justifications to enable informed decision-making and support with securing internal governance approvals.
AI AnalysisMembers
Requirements, key tasks and tips for reading this tender — included with Tendarix membership.
£4.99/month after a 7-day free trial. Cancel anytime before it ends and you pay nothing.
Likely incumbents
Suppliers who won similar work from this buyer in the last 5 years.
- 1
ZENITH MECHANICAL SERVICES LIMITED
£290,000
total awarded
- 2
DFP SERVICES LIMITED
£290,000
total awarded
- 3
SWH ELECTRICAL SOLUTIONS LTD
£75,000
total awarded
- 4
PHS HOME SOLUTIONS LIMITED
£75,000
total awarded
- 5
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE MEDIA LIMITED
£9m
total awarded
ZENITH MECHANICAL SERVICES LIMITED is the most likely incumbent based on recency and category match. To win, bidders typically need a clearly differentiated proposition or a price advantage.
Before you bid, buyers check
two years of filed accountsyour financial standingturnover vs contract valueyour Companies House recordcash flow for 30-day termscredit scores and ratios
Actions
Start free trialto open noticeCreate an account and start a 7-day free trial to open the buyer’s own notice and tender documents, plus fit scoring and the Bid Writer. Then £4.99/month — cancel anytime.
Open Bid WriterIndependent software, web & cloud studio. We design, build and grow digital products that quietly outlast their category.
How to Apply
Step-by-step submission guide
Submission Portal
Find a Tender
Open the original notice
Click the button below to view the full notice on Find a Tender Service (FTS)
Check the procedure type
The "Procedure" section tells you if it's Open (one stage) or Restricted (SQ then ITT). This changes how you apply
Access the eSourcing portal
FTS notices link to the buyer's eSourcing platform — register there to access documents
Complete the Selection Questionnaire
Higher-value contracts often require an SQ first — this pre-qualifies you before the full bid stage
Submit electronically
Upload your completed response through the eSourcing platform before the closing date and time
FTS contracts are above UK procurement thresholds. Late submissions are strictly rejected — submit at least 24 hours before the deadline to avoid portal issues.
Useful Resources
Create an account and start a 7-day free trial to open the buyer’s own notice and tender documents, plus fit scoring and the Bid Writer. Then £4.99/month — cancel anytime.
Buyer Profile
NORTHUMBRIAN WATER LIMITEDKey Dates
Published
8 October 2026
Submission deadline
3 November 2026
Notice type
tender
Source
find a tender
Related Tenders
Background support, orchid house thirsk 2027-2032
Thirteen Housing Group Ltd are currently out to tender for the provision of background support services at Orchid House, Thirsk. Suppliers that would like to take part in this tend
Large format, out of home advertising - north shields transport hub
North Tyneside Council invites tenders for the provision, management, maintenance and sales of Large Format, Out of Home (OOH) advertising at the North Shields Transport Hub Screen
Evaluation services: events & participation programme (2026-2029)
The North East MSA intends to appoint a single supplier to deliver independent evaluation services for the Events & Participation Programme (2026-2029). The appointed supplier will
Teleradiology reporting services
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) are seeking to appoint a single supplier to provide Teleradiology Reporting Services. The Trust operates across two large