Contractors sought for £2.8bn water frameworks

Yorkshire Water has launched the procurement process for two frameworks worth a combined £2.8 billion.

The two frameworks will deliver water and wastewater asset investment over the next 10 years.

The first framework – worth up to £1.3 billion – will see Yorkshire Water establish a Storm Overflow Alliance to support its capital investment period.

The alliance will consist of a minimum of one solutions design consultant and three contractors. It will cover the “design, planning, management and delivery of assets associated with combined sewer overflows”.

Yorkshire Water’s tender document adds: “This will include new assets, renewals, modification, maintenance, and refurbishment.

“Alliance partners may also be required to provide expertise, guidance, support and resources in design, planning, management, and delivery of extensions to water networks, sewerage networks and sewer rehabilitation works, and pumping stations.”

The framework will initially cover AMP8 with the option of being extended to cover AMP9. Yorkshire Water anticipates the alliance will spend £500 million for AMP8, with a projected £800 million set aside for AMP9.

Meanwhile, the second framework – worth £1.5 billion – covers non-infrastructure work. The framework is split into two lots. The first lot includes the delivery of non-infrastructure complex works, covering projects typically valued between £1 million and £35 million, however there will be no upper threshold.

The second lot is for minor work, covering projects between £100,000 and £1 million.

Both lots will include between three and six delivery partners.

The tender document adds: “[Yorkshire Water] is compiling its strategy for PR24, working in collaboration with stakeholders and regulators to confirm the capital projects and programmes that will need to be undertaken, and the investment available.

“It is anticipated the main tranches of work will be Storm Overflow Programme outputs.

“Project delivery may be required prior to the start of the regulatory period, Yorkshire Water anticipates instructing work to be carried out before the start of AMP8 to assist the transition from the current AMP7 programme into the next regulatory programme.”