UK Public Sector Contracts & Tenders

As part of its commitment to reducing water demand and leakage, United Utilities is seeking to engage with the market to better understand the availability and capability of suppliers able to provide specialist onsite support associated with enforcing access to customer premises for the repair of customer‑side leaks. Under Section 75 of the Water Industry Act 1991, United Utilities has a statutory duty to ensure that leakage is repaired as quickly as possible. While established processes exist to notify customers and to support eligible vulnerable customers with leak repairs, there are occasions where access is denied and unresolved leakage presents a continued risk to the environment, third‑party property, and the water network. In such circumstances, United Utilities may obtain a court‑issued warrant to gain access. United Utilities own operational teams will undertake the physical leak repair works; however, additional support is required to coordinate and manage the safe, lawful, and proportionate execution of the warrant onsite.

United Utilities Laboratory Services require a courier service for the transportation of samples from sites across the Company to the central Laboratory at Lingley Mere (Warrington) on a daily basis. It is a requirement of OFWAT (The Water Services Regulation Authority) that the Company constantly undertakes analysis of water/waste water samples from various sample points throughout the North-West Region. Water Quality Officers, Network Owners, Wastewater Operatives, Trade Effluent Officers, Agricultural Advisors and Project Staff obtain the samples requiring analysis. Samples are left at drop off points for collection by the dedicated courier in a refrigerated van. Samples need to be transported under refrigerated conditions to ensure that they are maintained at a temperature of between 2 and 7 degrees centigrade. It is a requirement to maintain evidence that this has been achieved to enable United Utilities to adhere to regulatory requirements with respect to the transportation of accredited samples under the Environment Agency's Monitoring Certification Scheme (MCERTs), Drinking Water Test Specifications (DWTS) and ISO 17025. On collection, the courier takes the samples to a Sample Registration Centre (SRC) or directly to Lingley Mere Laboratories Sample Reception. An additional dedicated courier service is then required to operate between the SRC's and the Laboratories at Lingley Mere, where required. Consignment Notes or Delivery Notes detailing the sample load carried and all other required information to the Laboratory at Lingley Mere are part of the hand-over procedure at the SRCs and the Laboratory. These are currently in paper form, the Company would like to move this to an electronic format, where reports should consist of (minimum requirement): • Sample bottle barcode number • crate barcode number • vehicle registration • collection date and time • collection location • time samples dropped off • location of sample drop off Route optimisation will also be a requirement of the tender, with bidders expected to demonstrate how routes will be optimised to ensure efficiency, reliability, and timely delivery of samples while maintaining required temperature controls. Detailed dates and milestones will be share in the tender documentation. Deadline for CoPQ submission: 10/03/2026

United Utilities requires a framework supplier to provide 6 monthly routine, MCERTS‑compliant sampling, laboratory analysis and reporting for 24 Odour Control Units (OCUs) across 11 Industrial Emissions Directive ‑ permitted wastewater sites. Odour Control Units (OCUs) are treatment systems, and the associated assets are installed and operated by United Utilities as part of its AMP8 and AMP9 environmental obligations set out by the Environment Agency to capture and treat odorous and corrosive gases before they are released to the atmosphere.

The Company is inviting bidders to participate in this tender for the provision of activities to support a water efficiency programme aimed to provide services to customers to reduce water consumption and subsequently the achievement of business performance commitments (as outlined in the introduction). The programme consists of the provision of: • Water home audits for domestic customers including finding and fixing leaks; installation of water devices and provision of behavioural change advice. All leak repairs and fitting of devices should be completed at the time of the audit • Provision of an online water survey to allow customers to assess their current water consumption and identify ways to save • Provision of water saving devices for the water audit programme and for use at UU water saving events (Flow regulators, buffaloo bags, tap aerators and more). • Water business audits including finding and fixing leaks; installation of water devices and provision of behavioural change advice. All leak repairs and fitting of devices should be completed at the time of the audit

The Bioresource and Energy Services team require non-intrusive tank capacity and sediment assessments of Anaerobic Digesters using Lithium chloride as a trace element to comply with Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016 implementing the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) every 5 years, which takes an integrated approach to controlling pollution to air, water, and land from industrial activities. We require the supplier to develop methodology to determine the effective volume of an anaerobic digester over a short period of testing time. The effective volume should be calculated from the lithium concentration once it reaches a steady and consistent level. The calculation for effective volume should be based on the dose of lithium chloride added, the concentration of lithium, and the background concentration established before the test is initiated. The results of the data should establish the following, and be presented within a report: Mixing efficiency Hydraulic retention time (HRT) Short‑circuiting or dead zones Sediment/grit accumulation The lithium chloride is to be dosed into each digester’s feed line, or other suitable position. Prior to the dosing of lithium chloride, initial samples should be taken from each digester in order to establish the background lithium concentrations. Samples should be taken from designated sampling points, identified during a pre-test site visit.

The supplier will engage in a service contract, focused on providing Leakage Detection in line with the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED). EA BAT guidance dictates that the scope for LDAR is sources of leakage of Volatile Organic Carbon (VOC’s) including methane. (Biological waste treatment: appropriate measures for permitted facilities - 11. Emissions control - Guidance - GOV.UK) The following type of assets are included but not limited to the LDAR scope; · Double membrane roofs (air blower vent) · Roof and cover fixings · Pressure relief valves and vents · Feeding and digestate separation units · Gas pipes · Conveyors and presses · Compressor · Combined heat and power plant (methane slippage) · Gas upgrading plant · Reception storage · Digestate storage · Pits and sumps, for example condensate pits Testing Method The Bioresource and Energy Services team require surveys to detect fugitive emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) and other substances to air including methane. The LDAR survey methodology must fully comply with EA guidance Biological waste treatment: appropriate measures for permitted facilities (2024) Section 11.9 - Leak Detection & Repair and currently utilise the Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) hand held camera method to enable visualisation of gas leaks with quantification of emission rate and emission concentration.

At United Utilities, it is our commitment to supply great water to homes and businesses, removing and treating wastewater behind the scenes. We are developing our infrastructure in response to climate, population and lifestyle changes so we can deliver a service customers can rely on now and in the future. Section 82 mandates the continuous monitoring of water quality upstream and downstream of storm overflows and wastewater treatment assets, with the objective of improving transparency, compliance, and environmental outcomes. The CWQM programme is a major transformation initiative requiring significant investment in technology, installation capability, ecological and hydrological planning, and real-time data assurance. United Utilities requires a Supplier capable of delivering a robust monitoring solution that integrates with UU’s existing telemetry, data platforms, operational processes, and regulatory reporting frameworks, ensuring accurate monitoring and near-real-time data availability. United Utilities are looking to procure the end-to-end delivery, operation, and assurance of Continuous Water Quality Monitoring (CWQM) across United Utilities’ (UU’s) waste water network, in accordance with the requirements of Section 82 of the Environment Act and the CWQM Interim Technical Standard, as updated from time to time. Under the Agreement, a CWQM Supplier shall provide all goods, works and services, including but not limited to: • All hardware, including sondes, remote telemetry units, batteries, fixings, kiosks and other installation options; • Design & Installation process including all associated works including all associated works required to install/maintain equipment such as (but not limited to): land clearance, civils work and surveys; • Data acquisition and provision; • Maintenance and calibration; • System integration with the Company’s systems; • Reporting capabilities; and • Any other goods and services required to ensure continuous, accurate, reliable, and regulatory-compliant monitoring at designated upstream and downstream locations.

United Utilities ae seeking alternate ways to dispose of and/or treat its raw sludge for circa 100,000 tonnes per annum. The requirement of this DPS will be in 3 lots: Lot 1: Sludge Disposal and/ or Restoration In this lot the Company's is sourcing supplier's who can dispose of a set volume of its raw sludge per annum. Lot 2: Sludge Treatment In this lot the Company's is sourcing supplier's who could treat a set volume of its raw sludge per annum in line with the Biosolids Assurance Scheme (BAS). Lot 3: Sludge Storage In this lot the Company's is sourcing storage capacity in either an outdoor hard standing area or roof covered storage area for its Biosolids (treated sludge). Sludge would be stored over a number months before being transferred to its final destination by the Company. Applicants are required to submit their response to the DPS Questionnaire by 12PM 01/07/2024 to be assessed prior to the first round of mini-competitions/ awards estimated to be run in July 2024

United Utilities is procuring a Dynamic Market for Management Consultancy services. This is to provide a compliant route to market for consultancy-led services and consultant resources that support and deliver business requirements.

To ensure compliance with the Environment Act and planning regulations, United Utilities needs to procure Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units. These units represent certified ecological enhancements that offset habitat loss caused by development activities. Securing these units is essential for meeting statutory obligations, avoiding project delays, and maintaining our organisation’s reputation for environmental responsibility. The scope includes sourcing government registered BNG units from approved providers to deliver measurable biodiversity improvements in line with legal and sustainability commitments. This purchase supports our strategic objectives by enabling project delivery without risk of non-compliance for Biodiversity Net Gain.