Planning

P&C Framework

NORTHUMBRIAN WATER LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

14 Apr 2026 at 08:08

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Northumbrian Water Limited is initiating a pre-market engagement process for their planned Productivity, Collaboration, and Automation Enablement Framework. The process is currently in the planning stage and seeks to explore supplier capabilities to inform future commercial options without committing to procure or calling for competition. Located in Pity Me, UKC14, Northumbria House, the buying organisation caters to the private utility sector. This engagement exercise is due by 5th May 2026 and aims to help shape a multi-supplier framework, highlighting opportunities for partnership in areas like Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and intelligent automation. The framework, anticipated to commence on 1st April 2027 with potential renewal till 2033, signifies Northumbrian Water's strategic interest in strengthening governance and automating end-to-end processes across multiple enterprise platforms.

Businesses specialising in IT services such as consulting, software development, Internet, and support are encouraged to participate, as the framework offers significant opportunities for growth through collaboration on modern work capabilities and automation. Companies, particularly SMEs and VCSEs, with experience in large and regulated organisations can leverage the £1.8 million framework to enhance their service offerings and secure a position as a trusted partner. By engaging in this tender, they can help Northumbrian Water maximise value from technologies like Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and various automation tools, facilitating the transition to efficient, integrated systems and measurable outcomes using tools like Power BI. Therefore, suppliers capable of providing scalable and secure integration and automation solutions are well-suited to compete in this framework.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

P&C Framework

Notice Description

Description Pre- Market Engagement Notice: Productivity, Collaboration and Automation Enablement Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) is undertaking a pre-market engagement exercise to help us understand supplier capability, delivery approaches and partnering models to support our productivity, collaboration and automation landscape. This engagement is intended to inform potential future commercial options and does not constitute a commitment to procure, nor a call for competition. Purpose of Engagement NWG want to understand what services and partner models are available in the market to potentially set up a future multi-supplier framework and help us maximize value from: 1. Microsoft 365 (productivity and collaboration) 2. Power Platform (solution and workflow enablement) 3. Intelligent automation (including UiPath and Microsoft automation capabilities such as Power Automate Cloud & Power Automate Desktop) 4. The insight and reporting layer required to measure adoption and benefits (Power BI / Microsoft Fabric where appropriate) We are interested in suppliers who can work as a trusted partner alongside our teams, helping us improve adoption, strengthen governance, and demonstrate measurable value over time (not just deliver one-off pieces of work). Strategic intent NWG wants to build a repeatable, enterprise-grade capability for modern work and automation. We are looking for partners who can help us: * Improve adoption and effective use of tools (not just deploy features). * Put in place practical governance and support models so solutions are safe, supportable and scalable. * Use the right automation approach for the right job, including: - Power Automate for workflow automation - Microsoft Copilot agents/agent extensions where appropriate (agents that use approved knowledge and can take approved actions in workflows) - UiPath where RPA is genuinely required * Move towards end-to-end automation and orchestration for complex processes, including long running workflows and human approvals where needed. * Make outcomes measurable (adoption, performance and benefits), using Power BI / Fabric where it helps. Our processes run across a wide application estate. We are interested in automation and orchestration that can work end to end across multiple enterprise platforms (for example Oracle, ServiceNow, Maximo, Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), and other business systems), as well as Microsoft 365. Where possible, we prefer API/connectors and reusable integration patterns, with UI automation where unavoidable. We are also interested in secure integration and supporting components "behind the scenes" (including Azure where needed) to keep solutions reliable at scale. Framework intent - NWG is exploring a potential multi supplier framework to provide access to a broad range of specialist skills, with the ability to call off support as needed through outcome focused work packages and/or embedded delivery models alongside NWG teams. The final scope, structure and commercial approach may be refined based on this engagement. Areas of Interest (Non-Exhaustive) Suppliers are invited to share high level information on capability and experience across the following areas (non exhaustive): 1. Microsoft 365 optimisation and governance (e.g. Teams, SharePoint, Viva) 2. Power Platform development and governance (Power Apps, Dataverse, Power Automate) 3. Workflow automation and orchestration (Power Automate and integration-led approaches) 4. RPA and intelligent automation (UiPath/Power Automate Desktop), including guidance on when RPA is justified 5. Agent based automation in the Microsoft ecosystem (Copilot agents/extensions) and how this is governed safely (NWG is not seeking unmanaged AI tools; Copilot agents must operate within approved knowledge sources, governed actions, and auditable workflows) 6. End to end process orchestration across systems, including long running processes, exceptions and human approvals 7. Adoption, change, upskilling and knowledge transfer (so NWG ownership increases over time) 8. Value realisation and measurement (dashboards/KPIs/benefits reporting using Power BI/Fabric where appropriate) Supplier Response Please submit a short capability overview (maximum 4-6 slides or 3 pages) covering: * Your relevant service offerings (aligned to the 8 capability areas above) * Examples of similar work in large and/or regulated organisations * Your typical engagement model(s) (e.g. outcome based, embedded teams, managed service, call off approach) * How you would support adoption, governance and value realisation (high level) To help us compare responses, please also answer these three short prompts (on a single page): 1. How do you decide between Power Automate, Copilot agents, API-based automation and RPA (UiPath)? 2. Provide one example of an end to end process you've supported across multiple platforms, and how you handled exceptions and approvals. 3. What does "good" look like for governance and support in production (high level)? This information will help NWG shape requirements and consider appropriate commercial models.

Planning Information

pre-market engagement exercise to help us understand supplier capability, delivery approaches and partnering models to support our productivity, collaboration and automation landscape. This engagement is intended to inform potential future commercial options and does not constitute a commitment to procure, nor a call for competition.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-068184
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033530-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,800,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Apr 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
5 May 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NORTHUMBRIAN WATER LIMITED
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
PITY ME
Postcode
DH1 5FJ
Post Town
Durham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC41 Durham
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
County Durham
Electoral Ward
Framwellgate and Newton Hall
Westminster Constituency
City of Durham

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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Areas of Interest (Non-Exhaustive) Suppliers are invited to share high level information on capability and experience across the following areas (non exhaustive): 1. Microsoft 365 optimisation and governance (e.g. Teams, SharePoint, Viva) 2. Power Platform development and governance (Power Apps, Dataverse, Power Automate) 3. Workflow automation and orchestration (Power Automate and integration-led approaches) 4. RPA and intelligent automation (UiPath/Power Automate Desktop), including guidance on when RPA is justified 5. Agent based automation in the Microsoft ecosystem (Copilot agents/extensions) and how this is governed safely (NWG is not seeking unmanaged AI tools; Copilot agents must operate within approved knowledge sources, governed actions, and auditable workflows) 6. End to end process orchestration across systems, including long running processes, exceptions and human approvals 7. Adoption, change, upskilling and knowledge transfer (so NWG ownership increases over time) 8. 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