Award

TD2248 - Forensic Water Investigation Services

DERBY CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

04 Mar 2025 at 10:48

Award

19 Feb 2025 at 15:27

Summary of the contracting process

Derby City Council is looking to award a contract for Forensic Water Investigation Services under the title "TD2248 - Forensic Water Investigation Services." This falls within the investigation services category and is pertinent to the Derby City region, with the location code UKF11. This procurement process is in the Award stage as of 4 March 2025. The contract is to be directly awarded to Cadantis Forensics Associates Ltd, bypassing a call for competition, as it falls outside the scope of the directive. The contract duration is three years with two potential twelve-month extensions, contingent on budget approval processes, following a 10-day standstill period which commenced on 19 February 2025.

This tender offers a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in forensic water investigation services, particularly those adept in handling billing challenges with water wholesalers and retailers. Cadantis Forensics Associates Ltd's unique expertise, including their high success rate in appeals and comprehensive knowledge of water industry regulations, makes them a preferred contractor. SMEs involved in specialised water forensic analysis and related services, especially those with a proven track record of technical, policy, and legal proficiency in water claims, will find this tender to be a valuable prospect for business growth and industry engagement. The involvement of Derby City Council, a regional authority, underscores the importance of local expertise and robust service delivery in public contracts.

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Notice Title

TD2248 - Forensic Water Investigation Services

Notice Description

Derby City Council requires a contract for forensic water investigation services. Derby City Council intends to engage with Cadantis Forensics Associates Ltd for a new contract to replace its existing agreement for the provision of water forensic services. The council has published this VEAT notice and intends to award a contract to Cadantis Forensics Associates Ltd following a 10 day standstill period from this notice and also subject to our budget approval process. The initial term will be three years duration with two options to extend by twelve months if required.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Derby City Council currently has a contract for Forensic water investigation services. The council is proposing to contract with Cadantis Forensics Associates Ltd who offer water forensic investigation services. This service is conducted by water surveyors and analysts who's primary service is to challenge water wholesalers and retailers over the way they have historically charged and are currently charging customers. Incorrect billing is an ongoing issue that Derby City Council want to tackle. It is proposed to directly award a contract to Cadantis Forensics Associates Ltd without prior publication of a call for competition in the official journal of the European Union. In taking this route to market the Council hereby issue this VEAT notice. The contract term will be three years with two optional one year extensions if required.

Options: The initial term will be three years duration with two options to extend by twelve months if required to ensure any potential change can be effectively managed without high risk to business continuity.

Procurement Information

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in OJEU, as the procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive. The council is proposing to contract with Cadantis Forensics Associates Ltd for Forensic water investigation services as this is the only contractor that can provide this level of service. The council requires forensic water investigation services. Cadantis Forensics Associates Ltd can offer a high level of service and have developed an understanding of the property portfolio. To change supplier now would impact ongoing appeals. The service offered exceeds other suppliers, entering the largest amount of technical water claims in the UK market. They are different to other competitors as they challenge on three fronts - technical, policy and legal. This includes the following: *Cadantis provide a full forensic service and do not just focus on bill validation works. *Using specialist knowledge of the Water (Scotland) Act 1980, Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, Water Industry Act 1991 (and prior Acts), sewers for adoption, sewerage and drainage law, water company charging policy and schemes of charges to achieve the largest refunds for clients. *They have informal precedents set with Severn Trent Water which means they can in most cases force them to refund outside of their standard policy. An example includes the water company attempting to limit the refund to one year as per their internal policy but Cadantis Forensics Associates Ltd would challenge for full restitution. *Cadantis Forensics has a 98% record of success when they go to appeal. *All accounts managers are ex water company employees and therefore have a wealth of water industry knowledge. It is proposed to directly award a contract to Cadantis Forensics without prior publication of a call for competition in the official journal of the European Union. In taking this route to market the Council hereby issue this VEAT notice. The contract term will be three years with two optional one year extensions if required. The Council will observe a 10 day standstill period.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04e430
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007778-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

79720000 - Investigation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£382,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Mar 202511 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
19 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
DERBY CITY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@derby.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
DERBY
Postcode
DE1 2FS
Post Town
Derby
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF11 Derby
Delivery Location
TLF11 Derby

Local Authority
Derby
Electoral Ward
Darley
Westminster Constituency
Derby South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CADANTIS FORENSICS ASSOCIATES

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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