Scottish Water has gone out to tender with a framework contract for business change delivery services worth up to an estimated £35 million.

The water company is looking to award a multi supplier Business Change Delivery framework to support delivery and implementation of long-term business change.

Suppliers appointed to the framework will work alongside Scottish Water to ensure change impacts are identified, understood and implemented. They will also be required to work in partnership with the utility’s Digital & Transformation Strategic Partners.

Scope of services to be provided under the wide-ranging framework include:

• involvement in evaluating the arrangements and overseeing the transition as necessary to ensure successful implementation and embedding of new ways of working
• assess readiness for change and develop a change management plan
• train employees on how to effectively manage and adapt to change.
• provide expertise in change readiness implementation planning
• change communications strategy to enable business change success
• provide expertise in benefits management and realisation of benefits
• bring water utility expertise
• provision of ongoing support to the Transformation Management Office, together with an effective governance structure to co-ordinate program/project management delivery

Scottish Water said suppliers’ ability to improve internal capability in order to shape the management of business change and improve the method in which it is developed and delivered across the business will be essential to the success of the multi-supplier framework.

The ability to transfer knowledge and capability to develop internal capacity will be key to the success of suppliers on the framework. The water company’s intention is to gain knowledge of industry best practice whilst also improving its own internal capability. Suppliers must be able to demonstrate a willingness and ability to support these key objectives.

The water company said the process of business change management will focus on transitioning individuals, teams, and partners using appropriate methods and approaches intended to change how people, process and systems interact that transform how Scottish Water operates.

The role of Business Change Delivery Partner will require suppliers to partner with Scottish Water to provide best-practice business change expertise that will improve the success rate of change projects and programs.

It will also enable knowledge transfer to Scottish Water to support a greater business change internal capability. The Partner will be esponsible for overseeing business change projects and programs from start to finish, including planning, and setting timelines ensuring all stakeholders are engaged and informed.

The Business Change Delivery Partner may also be responsible for supporting Scottish Water on the creation and delivery of major change and transformation programs, as a result of technology-enabled change - typically delivered by Scottish Water’s technology delivery partners.

Business Change Assurance suppliers appointed to the framework will be required to support formal and informal reviews at the project, program, or portfolio level to provide a critical challenge to projects, programs, and/or the portfolio against agreed criteria.

Value excluding VAT: £35,000,000

Initial contract term is two years with up to three further annual extension options.

Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate is 20 March 2023 – click here to access the tender documentation.