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Integrated Partnerships Framework

NI Water and its subsidiaries

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

16 Sep 2026 at 11:37

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

09 Sep 2026 at 17:43

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

03 Aug 2026 at 10:35

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Northern Ireland Water Limited is developing the IF109 Integrated Partnerships Framework to support its water and wastewater capital investment programme across Northern Ireland. The planned works and related services cover programme and project management, design, engineering, construction, commissioning and supporting activities. Four lots are envisaged: minor civil pipelaying for water and wastewater network installation and rehabilitation; minor civil works for assets such as tanks, reservoirs, pumping stations and treatment infrastructure; minor mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control, automation and process works; and major integrated civil, MEICA and process works for complex treatment, pumping, reservoir and network projects. The framework is intended to support regulatory compliance, service improvement, resilience, environmental performance and long-term sustainability, and may also be used by participating Northern Ireland public authorities and NI Water subsidiaries.

This procurement is at the planning stage: NI Water has stated its intention to procure and is still developing the strategy, commercial model, lotting and supplier allocation arrangements. It expects to use a selective competitive flexible procedure for an open framework, with awards made with or without reopening competition. The indicative programme expects a tender notice and participation-stage package on 14 October 2026, expressions of interest by 16 November 2026, pre-qualification notifications in Q1 2027, invitations to negotiate in Q1 2027 and framework award in Q4 2027. The framework is expected to run from 1 October 2027 to 30 September 2033, with possible extensions to 30 September 2039. Estimated total value is £10.5 billion excluding VAT (£12.6 billion including VAT); lot values excluding VAT are £150 million, £1.35 billion, £3.55 billion and £5.45 billion respectively. Evaluation will include conditions of participation, with further criteria to be confirmed.

The framework should suit contractors and consultancies able to deliver water and wastewater capital works at one or more scales, including smaller and medium-sized firms as well as major multidisciplinary infrastructure providers. Relevant strengths include underground pipelaying, network rehabilitation, civil engineering, treatment works, reservoirs, pumping stations, mechanical and electrical installation, instrumentation, control and automation, process engineering, design, construction, testing, commissioning and handover. Suppliers with the capacity to manage complex programmes, integrate several technical disciplines and work across operational water and wastewater assets will be well placed, particularly for the major works lot. Firms may prepare for a pre-qualification participation stage and should be able to demonstrate the conditions of participation that will be set out in the procurement documents. Market engagement is voluntary and will not determine eligibility.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Integrated Partnerships Framework

Notice Description

Northern Ireland Water (NI Water) intends to undertake a procurement for the establishment of the IF109 Integrated Partnerships Framework (IF109). The future framework is being developed to support delivery of NI Water's capital investment programme and will succeed the existing IF105 Integrated Partnerships Framework, which is due to expire in May 2028. The framework is intended to support delivery of the PC28 investment programme and future regulatory periods whilst securing the capacity, capability, flexibility, value for money and resilience required to deliver NI Water's future capital programme. The IF109 Integrated Partnerships Framework is expected to support a range of works and related services including programme and project management, design, engineering, construction, commissioning, and other supporting or ancillary activities necessary to support the successful delivery of NI Water's capital investment programme. The framework is intended to support delivery of NI Water's future investment priorities, including regulatory compliance, service improvement, resilience enhancement, environmental performance and long-term sustainability objectives. The IF109 Integrated Partnerships Framework is currently expected to comprise four lots covering Minor Civil Pipelaying Works, Minor Civil Works, Minor MEICA & Process Works, and Major Civil, MEICA & Process Works. Together, these Lots are intended to support the delivery of projects ranging from small-scale network investment and rehabilitation activities through to large-scale, complex, multidisciplinary capital programmes across NI Water's water and wastewater asset base. NI Water is currently developing the procurement strategy, commercial model, lotting structure, appointment methodology, supplier allocation arrangements and delivery arrangements for the framework. Consequently, aspects of the future framework and procurement approach remain subject to further development and ongoing market engagement activities. Indicative Programme and Key Activities: NI Water will engage with the market throughout the development of the framework and prior to commencement of the procurement process. The current indicative programme is outlined below for information only and may be revised. NI Water may further refine its procurement programme over the coming months. * Supplier Market Briefing Event - 7th October 2026 * Publish UK 4 Tender Notice & Issue Participation Stage Package - 14th October 2026 * Notify pre-qualified suppliers - Q1 2027 * Supplier Market Briefing Event - Q1 2027 * Issue Invitation to Negotiate - Q1 2027 * Framework Award - Q4 2027 * Publish the applicable award and contract notices in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023: Q4 2027

Lot Information

Minor Civil Pipelaying

Lot 1 is intended to support the delivery of pipelaying and network rehabilitation activities associated with below-ground water and wastewater infrastructure assets across Northern Ireland. Activities may include the design, investigation, installation, renewal, repair, rehabilitation, testing and commissioning of water distribution mains, wastewater sewers, rising mains, communication pipes and associated network assets. Typical project values are expected to range from PS0 million to PS3 million.

Renewal: The term of the Framework shall be for an initial term of six (6) years and can be extended at the sole discretion of NIW for a second, third and fourth term of two (2) years respectively. The term of the framework shall not exceed 12 years.

Civil Minor Works

Lot 2 is intended to support the delivery of civil engineering works across infrastructure and non-infrastructure assets where the principal delivery requirements are civil in nature. Activities may include the design, construction, refurbishment, testing and commissioning of tanks, chambers, reservoirs, pumping station civil works, treatment works civil infrastructure, building works and associated civil engineering activities. Typical project values are expected to range from PS0 million to PS10 million.

Renewal: The term of the Framework shall be for an initial term of six (6) years and can be extended at the sole discretion of NIW for a second, third and fourth term of two (2) years respectively. The term of the framework shall not exceed 12 years.

Minor MEICA & Process Works

Lot 3 is intended to support the delivery of MEICA-driven projects undertaken within operational water and wastewater treatment, pumping and process environments. Activities may include the design, manufacture, installation, integration, testing, commissioning, optimisation and replacement of mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control and automation systems, together with associated process engineering activities. Typical project values are expected to range from PS0 million to PS10 million.

Renewal: The term of the Framework shall be for an initial term of six (6) years and can be extended at the sole discretion of NIW for a second, third and fourth term of two (2) years respectively. The term of the framework shall not exceed 12 years.

Major Civil, MEICA & Process Works

Lot 4 is intended to support the delivery of large-scale, high-value and complex capital investment projects requiring integrated civil, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control, automation and process engineering capabilities. Typical projects may include the planning, design, construction, refurbishment, installation, testing, commissioning and handover of major water and wastewater treatment works, pumping stations, service reservoirs, network infrastructure and other strategic capital projects. Typical project values are expected to exceed PS1 million. NI Water anticipates that specific arrangements may apply to the award of higher-value and more complex projects within this Lot, including award in accordance with the objective supplier selection mechanism specified in the framework, further competition between eligible framework suppliers, or other allocation procedures expressly provided for in the framework documentation. Further details will be provided within the Participation Stage Package (PSP) documentation.

Renewal: The term of the Framework shall be for an initial term of six (6) years and can be extended at the sole discretion of NIW for a second, third and fourth term of two (2) years respectively. The term of the framework shall not exceed 12 years.

Planning Information

NI Water intends to undertake an initial supplier market engagement event on Wednesday 26th August 2026 as part of this preliminary market engagement exercise. The purpose of the event is to provide an overview of the proposed IF109 Integrated Partnerships Framework, communicate NI Water's emerging requirements, and provide suppliers with an opportunity to better understand the proposed procurement. NI Water may consider any feedback received through this engagement activity as part of the ongoing development of the procurement strategy. Additional market engagement activities may be undertaken where considered appropriate; however, NI Water reserves the right to determine the nature, scope and timing of any such activities. An initial market engagement session will be held by NI Water on Wednesday 26th August 2026 from 08:45 to 13:00, taking place online and in-person. Full joining instructions, including venue details (where applicable) will be provided directly to registered attendees. Suppliers wishing to attend (either in-person or virtually) should register their request by completing the online registration form, available via the link provided at the end of this notice, no later than 12pm on Monday 17th August 2026. Registration requests should include: Organisation name Contact name and email address Preferred attendance method (in-person or virtual) A brief description of the organisation's services and capabilities relevant to the delivery of Water & Wastewater Capital Works for NI Water Attendance will be limited to a maximum of one in-person representative per organisation. NI Water reserves the right to permit additional attendees where venue capacity allows. Please note that in-person attendance is subject to venue capacity. Once maximum capacity has been reached, any additional registrants will be invited to attend virtually. NI Water will take appropriate measures to ensure that participation in preliminary market engagement does not distort competition or result in any supplier obtaining an unfair advantage in any subsequent procurement process. Registration form: https://forms.office.com/e/vWhvVyWvkw

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d9ab
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087680-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

CPV Codes

45100000 - Site preparation work

45111200 - Site preparation and clearance work

45111240 - Ground-drainage work

45231100 - General construction work for pipelines

45231110 - Pipelaying construction work

45232150 - Works related to water-distribution pipelines

45232151 - Water-main refurbishment construction work

45232152 - Pumping station construction work

45232400 - Sewer construction work

45232410 - Sewerage work

45232411 - Foul-water piping construction work

45232420 - Sewage work

45232421 - Sewage treatment works

45232422 - Sludge-treatment works

45232423 - Sewage pumping stations construction work

45232424 - Sewage outfall construction work

45232430 - Water-treatment work

45232431 - Wastewater pumping station

45232440 - Construction work for sewage pipes

45232450 - Drainage construction works

45247270 - Reservoir construction works

45252100 - Sewage-treatment plant construction work

45252120 - Water-treatment plant construction work

45252126 - Drinking-water treatment plant construction work

45252127 - Wastewater treatment plant construction work

45252130 - Sewage plant equipment

45310000 - Electrical installation work

45351000 - Mechanical engineering installation works

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£10,500,000,000 Over £10B
Lots Value
£10,500,000,000 Over £10B
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Sep 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
14 Oct 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2027 - 30 Sep 2033 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NI Water and its subsidiaries
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT14 6TE
Postcode Area
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
TLN Northern Ireland
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Chichester Park
Westminster Constituency
Belfast North

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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