PRO004756-Services-Framework- Specialist Design Development Partners

United Utilities (UU) is looking to appoint Specialist Design Development Partners (DDP) in order to provide essential design development support to increase capacity, develop outline and if required detailed design packages in conjunction with the UU, and then secure all required third party approvals and be issued for construction. The Specialist DDP will engage in a service contract focused on providing essential resources to develop the Strategic Solutions Identification Partner’s / UU’s ‘High level solution’ to outline design, and if required detailed designs, for design & build, build-only and Rainwater management (RWM) projects.

This task requires the Specialist DDP to predominantly focus on translating the given high-level solution into practical and effective design outputs, therefore, the Specialist DDP’s expertise in design will be pivotal in bridging the gap between the Strategic Solution Partner’s conceptual deliverables into tangible, executable deliverables. The Specialist Design Development Partners – Design Packages, will support the company’s delivery of both infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects in AMP8 and AMP9.

The design package can be either a discrete design package, for example to provide a structural design of a reinforced concrete tank with the required outputs being the calculations, a rebar schedule and supporting drawing(s) or it could be to develop a high level solution into an outline and / or detailed design where the Specialist DDP is responsible for all elements of that design, including but not limited to acting as Principal Designer under CDM. Where the Specialist DDP are responsible for a discrete package and supporting others responsible for all elements of the design they shall be provided with a detailed scope and a list of the required outputs .

Where the Specialist DDP are responsible for all elements of the design the Specialist DDP's role will be scoped through the NEC4 Engineering Works Information (EWI) to ensure clarity and efficiency in the design process. The Specialist DDP will take predefined outputs delivered from the previous phase, for example Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), layouts, data sheets, etc, and use them as the basis for developing comprehensive outline design, and if required detailed design, deliverables.

These design deliverables should align closely with the original objectives and specifications provided, ensuring that the final designs are both relevant and functional. The DDP will ensure that all designs are carried out in line with ISO 9001 and the employers standards and specifications The Specialist DDP will excel in conducting refined cost-benefit analyses to maximize financial efficiency while maintaining an interactive collaboration with UU, the Strategic Solutions Partner’s and build only contractor teams for actionable insights.

The process should also involve a thorough assessment of lifecycle costs, proactive stakeholder involvement to ensure alignment with wider project objectives, and third party approval requirements, and a commitment to pioneering sustainable and innovative solutions. Through established performance metrics, the aim is to deliver designs that are not only cost-effective but also environmentally responsible, fulfilling the extensive objectives of our projects.

The Specialist Design Development Partners – framework will support the Company’s delivery of Rainwater Management Solutions Projects in AMP8 and AMP9. Primary responsibilities will be to develop stipulated high level design solutions into outline and /or detailed design and produce design packages ready for delivery via the companies’ Rainwater Delivery Partners.

The Rainwater Design Development Partners will be responsible for one or more of four areas- • Cumbria • Lancashire • Greater Manchester • Merseyside and Cheshire The current programme indicates that there will be c8000 ,interventions required across the whole network area, however it should be noted that the programme will remain fluid as part of PR24 and as such may realise as many as 15,000 interventions. The Company’s Rainwater Management Strategy places emphasis on the value of rainwater.

The strategy interacts with the upper catchments and our estates, to our drainage areas and networks and ultimately our wastewater treatment works. Managing rainwater using this philosophy aligns to CaST approach techniques.

This strategy is underpinned by a Sustainable Drainage philosophy to recycle and re-use rainwater, manage it at source (close to where it falls), convey it on the surface and attenuate it on the surface to ‘slow the flow’. This approach supports both sustainable drainage and water efficiency; increasing headroom across the wastewater business and reducing demand for potable supply through recycling and cultural change whilst monetising and delivering multi capital benefits, delivering blue green infrastructure to communities across the North West.

By delivering rainwater management, we reduce our reliance upon building conventional and carbon intensive storage tanks and increase our ability to deliver an adaptive plan. This ensures best value outcomes for customers.

Some of the packages of work within this programme are not innovative in isolation but are innovative in the scale at which they are being proposed to be delivered. This means the strategy unlocks easy and scalable solutions for the Company across its household and non-household base and associated impermeable areas in collaboration with retailers.

To support ‘Our Future Plan’ the strategy may need to be adaptive and delivered across multiple asset management planning periods or integrated as a methodology within a place-based planning approach. The strategy has been designed in parallel and aligned to the Drainage and Wastewater Management Plan (DWMP). This ensures that the strategic direction as outlined within our long-term plans is used as the basis for developing the detail within this plan, and refined and tailored to ensure that short- to medium term strategic objectives are delivered as part of the long term plan.