The Association of North East Councils, trading as the North East Procurement Organisation, has awarded a major framework contract for water retail services with an estimated value of £120 million.
NEPO used a two-stage, restricted procedure when the framework was first tendered in September 2024 beginning with a selection questionnaire to shortlist organisations followed by invitations to tender.
One of the key mandatory criteria at the questionnaire stage was that interested suppliers would be required to hold a valid Water Supply and Sewerage Licence with the appropriate retail authorisation issued by Ofwat at the time of tendering and throughout the lifetime of the framework agreement.
Scope of the framework agreement also includes the provision of Automatic Meter Reading and associated services and systems, together with assisting in the reduction of consumption and supporting users’ efficiency schemes.
Anglian Water Business (National) Ltd has been awarded the contract – the only organisation who tendered for the work.
Initial framework contract term is 36 months commencing 1st April 2025, with the option to extend for a further 12 months- NEPO anticipate that theframework will be renewed prior to its conclusion.
NEPO is governed by the following 12 North East local authorities:
- Darlington Borough Council
- Durham County Council
- Gateshead Council
- Hartlepool Borough Council
- Middlesborough Council
- Newcastle City Council
- North Tyneside Council
- Northumberland CountyCouncil
- Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council
- South Tyneside Council
- Stockton on Tees Borough Council
- Sunderland City Council
The Gateshead-headquartered organisation also intends to make the framework agreement available for use by a number of other public sector bodies, including Government departments non-departmental public bodies, NHS bodies, other Local Authorities and educational establishments.