Thames Water has launched a market engagement exercise aimed at encouraging third parties proposals for solutions covering water resources, demand management or leakage services for consideration in the Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP29) process.

The water company says the solutions will help it meet its future water needs and will be evaluated according to the bid assessment framework principles.

All third parties who express an interest in responding to the engagement will be treated in accordance with the principles within Thames Water’s Bid Assessment Framework (BAF) - the BAF provides clarity to third parties regarding how bids will be assessed

ncouraging third parties to submit bids for solutions covering water resources, demand management and leakage services that create value for customers is very important to Thames Water Utilities Ltd.

Engagement deadline is 31 March 2027. Current estimated start and end contract dates are 30 June 2027 to 30 June 2032.

The Procurement Act 2023 does not apply to water supply options – however Thames Water says it is keen to ensure maximum publicity for its requirements and that the process is open to competition.

Any suppliers who would like to respond to this must request an initial Preliminary Screening Survey (PSQ1) by using the contact details available at https://www.thameswater.co.uk/about-us/suppliers/procurement. Interested suppliers will need to indicate whether they are proposing a water supply or demand management/leakage services solution.

Failure of a bidder to provide the required information, make a satisfactory response to any question, or supply notice referred to in its response to the survey or any clarification within the specified timescale may mean that the bidder will not be invited to participate further in the process.

Third parties may contact Thames Water at the above address at any time to register their interest. However the water company is flagging up that at Thames Water's discretion a proposal may be considered for inclusion within the WRMP34 process rather than the WRMP29 process, depending on the point in the process at which the proposal is received.

“Proposals which are clearly beneficial, robust and which are smaller in terms of volume of water delivered (Ml/d) are more likely to be considered for inclusion in our programme sooner in the planning process”,  the water company says.

At the qualification stage, registered applicants who are proposing water resources solutions may either qualify individually or as part of a consortium/joint venture with other registered applicants.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, Thames Water will not be responsible for any costs, charges or expenses incurred by applicants and does not accept liability for any costs, charges or expenses incurred by applicants, irrespective of the outcome of any process, or if any process is cancelled or postponed.

Suppliers are asked to note that the client may be Thames Water or another company within the Kemble Water group structure.

Click here to access Thames Water’s Water Resources Management Plan 24, associated Water Resources Management Plan tables and further information about future supply requirements, its supply area, its existing water resources system, customers and the current and forecast water demand.