This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

31 Jul 2026 at 18:04

Summary of the contracting process

The Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) has initiated a competitive flexible procedure to procure an Independent Monitor for South East Water, under tender ID PROC.0218. The procurement process, introduced on 31st July 2026, requires interested parties to submit their tenders by 7th September 2026 and participate in the Presentation and Interview Stage if shortlisted. This contract falls under the business services industry category, specifically encompassing law, consulting, and related services, with an active status. The procurement, valued at a gross amount of £6,000,000, covers multiple UK regions, including UKF, UKH, UKI, and more. Ofwat, based in Birmingham, seeks a contractor to help monitor and report the operational performance and resilience improvements of South East Water, following enforcement decisions and licence conditions mandated by Ofwat. The process is governed by legal requirements outlined in the Procurement Act 2023.

This tender provides substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in consulting, risk management, and regulatory compliance. It is particularly well-suited for organisations capable of offering scalable and independent assessment services, focusing on business performance improvement. The contract is open to SMEs and VCSEs, offering a chance to collaborate with a central government authority and potentially expand service offerings to other water utilities requiring similar oversight. With a projected contract period starting on 8th October 2026 and lasting two years, with options for extension up to 2030, successful bidders can leverage this opportunity for sustained growth and a solid reputation in public service support.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Independent Monitor - South East Water

Notice Description

Ofwat is procuring an Independent Monitor (IM) to monitor, assess and report South East Water's progress in delivering a turnaround in their operational performance and resilience. The scope of the Monitor's role is intended to be consistent with undertakings accepted by Ofwat in its enforcement decisions concerning water supply resilience and customer care during supply interruption incidents, and compliance with a licence condition requiring the company to hold two Issuer Credit Ratings that are Investment Grade Ratings. The IM will support Ofwat's monitoring of the company's delivery of remediation actions required under the undertakings, including the development and implementation of a Performance Improvement Plan. The IM will provide independent assessment of progress, governance, risk management and delivery confidence, identify material risks to compliance and delivery, and report findings to Ofwat. The IM will support proportionate, risk-based regulatory oversight, while maintaining clear accountability with the company for delivery of the required improvements. The scope is expected to evolve during the contract term in response to the company's performance, risk profile and progress against the undertakings. The monitoring approach must therefore be scalable, risk-based and proportionate. The IM will be appointed by Ofwat, act independently of the company and provide advice and recommendations to Ofwat only. The costs of the independent monitor will be met by the Company, and will not impact on customer bills.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d963
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072939-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£5,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£5,000,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
31 Jul 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
7 Sep 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
7 Oct 2026 - 8 Oct 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
WATER SERVICES REGULATION AUTHORITY (OFWAT)
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B5 4UA
Post Town
Birmingham
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG31 Birmingham
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England), TLL Wales

Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Ladywood
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Ladywood

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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