This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

03 Sep 2026 at 11:01

Summary of the contracting process

Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington, a public undertaking, is commissioning consultancy services to develop the Cheshire and Warrington Outline Water Plan. The work will create a strategic, place-based evidence base on water infrastructure and its relationship with local spatial, economic and infrastructure planning. It is intended to support an Independent Economic Review and engagement with the emerging North West Regional Systems Planner. The plan should identify where water infrastructure may need upgrading to support growth, and how flooding and drought can be addressed while supporting ecosystem services and farming resilience. This is a research and related consultancy assignment, classified under CPV 73000000, for delivery in Cheshire and Warrington within the United Kingdom.

The procurement has reached tender: the buyer invited offers through a below-threshold open competition. There is one lot. The deadline for enquiries was 10 September 2026 at 5pm, and the tender submission deadline is 24 September 2026 at 5pm. The contract is scheduled to run from 5 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. Its estimated value is £80,000 excluding VAT, or £96,000 including VAT. Electronic submission is allowed. Bids must first conform to the performance specification on a pass/fail basis. Qualifying bids are then assessed on technical merit and quality, weighted at 75%, and value for money, weighted at 25%. The opportunity is suitable for SMEs and VCSEs.

This opportunity suits consultancies able to combine strategic water planning with robust economic, environmental and infrastructure analysis. Relevant suppliers will need to build a clear evidence base, assess infrastructure requirements and constraints on growth, and connect water planning with local spatial and economic priorities. Experience of analysing flooding and drought risks, ecosystem services, farming resilience and the relationship between water investment and regional or local development would be valuable. The work also calls for effective engagement with public-sector and regional planning partners, including the emerging North West Regional Systems Planner, and the ability to turn complex evidence into an outline plan. Smaller businesses and voluntary, community or social enterprises are expressly considered suitable to compete.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Cheshire and Warrington Outline Water Plan

Notice Description

The newly established Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority (CWCA) has recently stated its intention to commission an Independent Economic Review (IER) for the subregion - setting out the evidence for the opportunities for and constraints on local growth. In support of this, it is vital to better understand where water infrastructure may require upgrades to support local ambition, and how we can better work together to ensure that flooding and drought are not impediments to growth whilst ensuring that wider ecosystem services and farming resilience are better supported. Simultaneously, the Water White Paper published in January 2026 committed Government to act on the Independent Water Commission recommendation, setting up Regional Systems Planning in England. DEFRA have set out an intention to pilot this through Regional System Planners (RSPs), established across each region of England with the aim of influencing both PR29 and other water system investment plans. Defra are keen for partnerships to pilot RSP governance and structures during this set-up year. and have set out that they only intend to provide high level direction on form. Within this context there is a significant opportunity to influence water planning, and ensure alignment with local growth and wider environmental ambitions. To support the IER along with engagement with the establishing North West RSP, ECW is seeking to appoint consultants to develop a strategic, place based evidence base and outline water plan that sits between national/regional water planning processes and local spatial, economic, and infrastructure planning.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f109
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083366-2026
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
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services


CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£80,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£80,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
24 Sep 20262 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
5 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
CHESHIRE & WARRINGTON LOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
WINSFORD
Postcode
CW7 1AH
Postcode Area
Crewe
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD6 Cheshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Cheshire West and Chester
Electoral Ward
Winsford Dene
Westminster Constituency
Mid Cheshire

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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