Northumbrian Water has gone out to tender with a contract to put a leakage detection framework agreement worth an estimated £2.5 million.

The water company is looking to put framework agreements in place with up to 3 suppliers for leakage detection services. The firm’s leakage strategy is built around the industry recommendations focused around the core principles of PALM; Prevent, Aware, Locate and Mend.

The framework agreement partners will be required to support the strategy for the remainder of AMP7 - future awards on the framework going into AMP 8 may be a combination of fixed work packages with a clear scope of work and acceptance criteria, or a model where appropriate resources will be requested to work in certain NWL regions within its operating area in the North. NWL’s Essex and Suffolk operating areas are not in scope for the Framework Agreement.

Northumbrian is seeking prospective framework agreement partners to bring extensive knowledge of leakage detection, incorporated with their AI platforms.

Services partners would be required to provide expert advice on how best to use market products or their own products, as well as the necessary skills to work as part of a blended team to locate leaks, prioritise leaks and use technology to drive efficiencies.

NWL’s preferred working arrangements would be to operate as a blended squad with team members from its operational leakage teams as well as its analysts, performance managers and Leakage Strategy Manager as part of the Leakage Strategy team.

Key attributes the company is looking for in partners are to support NWL in providing an easy, timely and high-quality active leak detection service. NWL will also require partners to provide advice on how to best and fully utilise the features of leakage products it already has to support its goal of realising maximum business value over the coming years.

Partner capabilities would include the following resources as a minimum:

• Leakage Technician/s or Operational Team - on site technician/s to locate leaks
• Data Analysts
• Data Team Leaders
• Delivery and Account Managers

Key technologies that would be required to supplement the service offering include:

• Highly accurate AI and data driven service
• Privately-operated AI to differentiate leak noises from other sounds and leak sizing.

Initial contract term is three years with a further potential two year extension option.

Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate is 23 October 2023 – click here to access the tender documentation.