Award

Regulatory Assurance

SCOTTISH WATER

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

01 May 2025 at 09:46

Tender

04 Nov 2024 at 15:15

Summary of the contracting process

Scottish Water has engaged in a procurement process under the title "Regulatory Assurance," aiming to secure independent assurance for its medium-term business plan for the years 2027 to 2033. This process falls under the "Business and management consultancy services" category and is categorised as a service. The assurance work is crucial as it forms part of Scottish Water's submission to its regulator, the Water Industry Commission Scotland. The stage of this process has progressed to awarding, with the contract secured by Binnies UK Limited. The procurement method employed was selective, utilising a negotiated procedure. The contract, valued at £250,000, requires completion of services by a specified timeline between 2025 and 2026, located within the UK, specifically Scotland. The tender process was initiated in November 2024 with a submission deadline of December 2024.

The tender for "Regulatory Assurance" presents significant business growth opportunities, especially for firms specialising in regulatory compliance, business consultancy, and data analysis/assertion within the utilities sector. This procurement requires firms to possess a robust track record in handling assurance for regulated businesses, with particular emphasis on understanding the water sector's technical and regulatory landscape. Businesses capable of providing impartial, conflict-free assessments with comprehensive feedback mechanisms stand to benefit. The contracted services require engaging with external stakeholders and demonstrating a clear strategy to manage conflicts of interest, thus opening doors for seasoned consultancy services to enhance their portfolio and credibility in large-scale regulatory collaborations.

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Notice Title

Regulatory Assurance

Notice Description

This involves the assurance of Scottish Water's medium-term (SR27) business plan, covering the period from 2027 to 2033. The business plan will set out Scottish Waters investment plans together with the outcomes that we propose to deliver for our customers, communities and the environment, as well as the underlying evidence that we have prepared to support those plans. The information in Scottish Water's business plan submission will be used by the Water Industry Commission Scotland (WICS), Scottish Water's independent economic regulator, in the preparation of its Final Determination. While the business plan is Scottish Water's plan, WICS need to have confidence in the integrity of the data and commentary within it. If WICS have concerns over the impartiality or quality of the assurance report, this would undermine / reduce the value of the assurance to Scottish Water. Therefore, it is essential that the third-party assurance undertaken on the plan is completely impartial.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Context This involves the assurance of Scottish Water's medium-term (SR27) business plan, covering the period from 2027 to 2033. The business plan will set out Scottish Waters investment plans together with the outcomes that we propose to deliver for our customers, communities and the environment, as well as the underlying evidence that we have prepared to support those plans. The information in Scottish Water's business plan submission will be used by the Water Industry Commission Scotland (WICS), Scottish Water's independent economic regulator, in the preparation of its Final Determination. While the business plan is Scottish Water's plan, WICS need to have confidence in the integrity of the data and commentary within it. If WICS have concerns over the impartiality or quality of the assurance report, this would undermine / reduce the value of the assurance to Scottish Water. Therefore, it is essential that the third-party assurance undertaken on the plan is completely impartial. The timelines for when the assurance work is required is between March and May 2025 for the draft business plan and between October and February 2026 for the final business plan. These dates are fixed due to the submission dates set out by WICS for both plans. Areas which require assurance are: * Draft and Final Business Plan Data tables, in particular examining whether Scottish Water has prepared these in line both the business plan guidance and definitions set out by WICS and that they are fully consistent with the accompanying commentary prepared by Scottish Water; * Review of the robustness of the systems and processes used to produce the information; * Identification of the key assumptions made by Scottish Water in preparing its data tables and review of the reasonableness and materiality of those assumptions; and * Assurance of the accuracy, completeness and comprehensiveness of the data. In addition, Scottish Water requires that its independent assurer: * Is able to demonstrate that it is free from any conflicts of interest and/or that where any actual or perceived conflicts of interest may arise as a result of its appointment, that the assurer can put in place measures/arrangements to manage those conflicts of interest for the duration of the appointment; * Is able to demonstrate the impartiality of its approach to the assurance of the business plan; * Provides timely efficient feedback on the Draft Business plan to allow Scottish Water to make improvements in its data, evidence and/or processes ahead of the Final Business plan submission; * Provide draft and final assurance reports to both Scottish Water and Water Industry Commission Scotland (WICS), setting out both the work that has been undertaken, any factors which prevented and/or impeded the assurer from undertaking its role as it might reasonably have expected, and the assurer's findings. In addition to the above matters, there will be a requirement to engage directly with external stakeholders, including the WICS, to respond to questions on the draft and final assurance reports, including providing further explanation of the assurer's work, findings and/or other matters arising within the terms of reference of their appointment, as is reasonably required. In order to facilitate the assurer in its role, Scottish Water shall grant the assurors any necessary and timely access to premises, assets, systems, data, working papers, other records and relevant personnel associated with the carrying out of Scottish Water's regulated activities. Scottish Water shall supply the assurors with any information relevant to the assurance process including all material assumptions underpinning the data submission as well as access between the assurors and the financial auditors. Scottish Water shall not be required to do anything which is outside their control, or to do, or allow the assurors to do, anything which would materially disrupt Scottish Water's business. Our requirements The independent assurers should be able to demonstrate a track record in the following areas: * Independent Third-Party Assurance provision for regulated businesses; * Assurance for Business Plan submissions for regulated businesses; * Experience of working with regulated water companies; * Relevant knowledge of technical, commercial and regulatory aspects of the water sector.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04b3c5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018308-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security


CPV Codes

79410000 - Business and management consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 May 20259 months ago
Submission Deadline
5 Dec 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
7 Feb 20251 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SCOTTISH WATER
Contact Name
Amy Phillips
Contact Email
amy.phillips@scottishwater.co.uk
Contact Phone
+44 8000778778

Buyer Location

Locality
GLASGOW
Postcode
G33 6FB
Post Town
Glasgow
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM3 West Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM34 North Lanarkshire
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland

Local Authority
North Lanarkshire
Electoral Ward
Stepps, Chryston and Muirhead
Westminster Constituency
Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

BINNIES

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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