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SEMD Red Button Class 1 drivers

YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

21 Sep 2026 at 09:39

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Yorkshire Water Services Limited is exploring a service to provide qualified Class 1 tanker drivers for emergency water and wastewater operations under the SEMD Red Button response. The proposed service could supply up to 10 drivers, operating continuously across Yorkshire. Drivers may work as solo drivers from the buyer’s depot in south Leeds or as relay drivers taking over at cities, towns, villages and rural locations during incidents. The service covers emergency mobilisation, tanker operations and sustained driver availability, including replacement cover and management of driver hours during prolonged events. This is a personnel supply and emergency response service for a private water utility, with work delivered at locations across Yorkshire and potentially involving access to the buyer’s depot.

The procurement is at the planning stage: Yorkshire Water has set out an intention to procure and is seeking market input before starting a future competition. It is considering one service package for the driver provision. The proposed contract period is from 1 March 2027 to 31 March 2030, with a possible extension to 31 March 2032. The buyer has scheduled preliminary engagement, asking interested businesses to respond by 19 October 2026. Engagement will test whether mobilisation models, service levels, pricing arrangements, contract length, insurance, liability and performance measures are achievable. Options under discussion include mobilising up to 10 drivers within 12 hours, or phased mobilisation of three within six hours, three within nine hours and four within 12 hours.

This will suit driver agencies, logistics providers and emergency-response contractors able to maintain a resilient 24/7, 365-day service for a critical utility. The proposed workforce needs Category C+E licences with no more than six penalty points, Driver CPC, an EUSR Water Hygiene Card, NRSWA basic traffic-management qualifications and a Moffett licence. Drivers should have relevant experience with the required vehicle types, clean goods-vehicle records and suitable PPE. Suppliers should be prepared to manage fatigue, working hours, shift rotations, contingency drivers and rapid replacements, supported by a 24/7 duty-management function. Experience in utilities, tanker operations, emergency response or comparable critical services will be relevant. The buyer is also seeking views on CALM Network Training, tanker filling and water-quality sampling training, safety checks, onboarding, tracking and workforce-management technology.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

SEMD Red Button Class 1 drivers

Notice Description

Our initial proposed specification includes: Emergency Driver Provision: Ability to supply up to 10 qualified Class 1 drivers on a 24/7, 365-day basis. Drivers may be required to operate anywhere across Yorkshire as requirements may be as the Solo Driver from our depot in south Leeds or as a relay driver taking over operations at a location in Yorkshire such as Cities, Towns, Villages or other rural settings. Driver Competence and Compliance: Drivers must hold a Category C+E (Class 1) licence with no more than 6 penalty points, Driver CPC, EUSR Water Hygiene Card, NRSWA qualifications for basic traffic management, Moffett licence, relevant experience operating the required vehicle types, no goods vehicle-related convictions or endorsements, and appropriate PPE. Operational Resilience: Agencies must be able to manage driver hours and provide replacement drivers as required to maintain continuous tanker operations during prolonged incidents, ensuring uninterrupted service availability 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Areas for Market Engagement Discussion - Service Delivery Model Ability to meet the proposed Specification under either a Full Red Alert or Phased Red Alert options. Examples being Full mobilisation of up to 10 drivers within 12 hours of activation, Phased mobilisation of 3 drivers within 6 hours, a further 3 within 9 hours, and up to 4 additional drivers within 12 hours An alternative phased driver response structure that results in no less than 10 drivers within 12 hours of activation. Preferred delivery approach and any alternative mobilisation models the market would recommend. Geographic coverage and ability to support incidents anywhere across Yorkshire. - Driver Availability and Resilience Capacity to provide up to 10 qualified drivers at short notice. Approach to managing driver hours, fatigue and shift rotations during extended incidents. Availability of contingency and replacement drivers. - Driver Competence and Training Current availability of drivers holding the required qualifications and licences. Timescales and costs associated with obtaining any missing qualifications. Approach to Yorkshire Water specific training requirements, including CALM Network Training and Tanker Filling & Water Quality Sampling training. - Commercial Model Preferred pricing mechanisms, including standby, mobilisation and deployment charges. Impact of maintaining a dedicated emergency response capability on pricing. Any market considerations regarding contract length. - Operational Requirements Management of PPE, vehicle checks through YW system, compliance and safety requirements. Experience supporting utilities, emergency response or similar critical services. Requirements for depot access, inductions and onboarding. - Contract and Risk Appropriate performance measures and service credits. Insurance requirements and liability considerations. Key risks suppliers foresee in delivering the service and proposed mitigations. A 24/7 duty management function capable of receiving activations and managing escalations throughout an incident. Assurance of guaranteed service during periods of high national demand - Innovation and Market Feedback Suggestions to improve the specification or mobilisation requirements. Opportunities for technology-enabled workforce management, tracking and reporting. Any barriers to participation that Yorkshire Water should consider before commencing procurement. These topics should help determine whether the proposed SLAs are achievable, whether the market has sufficient qualified resources, and what commercial structure will provide the most resilient emergency response service.

Planning Information

If your company meet the required services listed please send an email with the subject "YWS SEMD Response Drivers" to FMandEnergyCommercialTeam@yorkshirewater.co.uk In your email please include: Company overview and relevant experience in supplying drivers. How aligned your company is with the current initial proposed specification and highlight areas you are not. YW may not be able to engage with all respondents and reserves the right to select a representative sample based on relevance and capability. Participation, or non participation, will not affect any future procurement process.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077602
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088956-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79620000 - Supply services of personnel including temporary staff

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Sep 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Mar 2027 - 1 Apr 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
YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES 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
LEEDS
Postcode
LS10 1AB
Postcode Area
Leeds
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE4 West Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE42 Leeds
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)
Local Authority
Leeds
Electoral Ward
Hunslet & Riverside
Westminster Constituency
Leeds South

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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