United Utilities has launched a market engagement exercise to assess the capability of suppliers to deliver a comprehensive, integrated supply and support service for flow measurement consumables and associated equipment, together with telemetry/logging systems.

The requirement covers the supply of genuine OEM products, supply of consumables and spares, together with associated installation services and technical support, across a wide range of manufacturers including:

• ABB
• Arad
• Bermad
• Diehl
• EuroMag
• Honeywell/Elster
• Itron
• Katronic
• Radcom (Halma)
• Sensus
• Siemens

The water company is asking interested suppliers to confirm their capability in relation to the following requirements:

• Supply of flow meters, pulse units, transmitters, batteries, cables and ancillary consumables
• Support for legacy and end-of-life equipment
• UK-wide delivery capability, including urgent and next-day requirements
• The ability to deliver the majority of required items within 5 working days
• Demonstrable stockholding of commonly used items (not solely order-on-demand)
• Installation services
• Technical advice across multiple OEM systems, including electromagnetic flow meters

According to United Utilities, analysis of historical spend indicates that while some items are available via established frameworks and can offer cost savings, only a limited proportion of requirements are both commercially advantageous and operationally viable via these routes.

The majority of requirements are subject to constraints including lead times, minimum order requirements, stock availability, and multi-OEM compatibility, the water company says.

While United Utilities' preference is for a single supplier capable of delivering a fully integrated service, the market engagement is seeking to understand whether such a capability exists within the market.

The utility wants to determine whether the market can provide a supplier capable of delivering a comprehensive, integrated solution covering the full scope of requirements, including availability, responsiveness, and technical support.

The outcome of the market engagement exercise will inform United Utilities' procurement strategy and may result in either:

• a competitive procurement or
• a compliant direct award where market capability is not demonstrated

Current estimated start and end contract dates are 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2027 with a further possible extension up to 31 December 2034

Estimated publication date of a formal tender notice is 1 July 2026, with a tender submission deadline of 11:59pm on 29 July 2026.

United Utilities is asking interested suppliers to review a Procurement Policy Note (PPN) document for full details of the requirement and provide responses to capability questions it contains

Click here to download the PPN document