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Connectivity and Telecommunications Services

THAMES WATER UTILITIES LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

08 Oct 2026 at 10:26

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Thames Water Utilities Limited is considering a future procurement of connectivity and telecommunications services for its corporate, operational and Critical National Infrastructure environments. The potential scope covers strategic, fixed and mobile connectivity; voice and data; internet, wide area and local area networks; and remote connections to support lone workers at rural sites. It may also include resilient connectivity at operational and critical infrastructure locations, Internet of Things capability for remote operational technology devices, managed support and transition services. Delivery is expected across London and the South East. Thames Water is using preliminary market engagement to test the proposed service scope and sourcing strategy, including the operating model, service packaging, commercial approach and technology roadmap.

This is at the planning stage: Thames Water has announced an intention to procure and is conducting voluntary preliminary market engagement, not inviting tenders. Its aim is to understand market capability and innovation, validate the proposed scope, and explore service packaging, delivery and commercial models, contract structure, risk and performance measures. Suppliers interested in engaging are asked to request access to the engagement materials by 5 November 2026. The buyer expects the future contract to run from 27 September 2027 to 26 September 2032. The process may use a managed-service, single-provider or multi-lot approach; the structure and procurement method remain under consideration. Participation in engagement will not affect evaluation in any future procurement.

The engagement is relevant to telecommunications and network providers, managed-service operators and suppliers able to deliver connectivity across corporate and operational settings, including critical infrastructure. Thames Water is seeking views from suppliers with capability in fixed and mobile services, voice and data, internet and wide and local area networks, remote rural connectivity, and resilient networks for operational technology and Internet of Things devices. Suppliers able to support service transition and ongoing managed operations may also be well placed to contribute. The buyer is particularly interested in market capacity, delivery models, innovation and technology roadmaps, implementation considerations and transition timescales, alongside views on packaging, commercial models, contract risk and performance measures. The engagement can help shape the eventual service design; it is not itself a competitive tender.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Connectivity and Telecommunications Services

Notice Description

Thames Water is undertaking preliminary market engagement to inform the potential future procurement of connectivity and telecommunications services, supporting its corporate, operational and Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) environments. The anticipated scope may include: - Strategic connectivity and telecommunications services - Fixed and mobile connectivity - Remote connectivity for the safety and efficiency of lone resources working on rural sites - Voice and data Services - Internet, wide area, and local area network services - Resilient connectivity for operational and CNI locations (including Internet of Things (IoT) capability for remote Operational Technology (OT) devices) - Associated managed support and transition services The future procurement will be informed by Thames Water's Communication Services Sourcing Strategy, including its proposed operating model, service packaging, commercial approach and future technology roadmap. The purpose of this engagement is to: - Understand current market capability - Gather input on delivery models and innovation and technology roadmaps - Validate the proposed service scope and strategy - Explore potential service packaging, delivery and commercial models, including managed service, single provider and multi-lot approaches. - Understand supplier perspectives on contract structure, risk, and performance measures - Understand market capacity, implementation considerations and likely transition timescales Suppliers interested in participating should follow the Engagement Process set out below. Participation is voluntary and will not influence any future procurement evaluation. This notice is issued for information only and does not constitute a call for competition. Thames Water reserves the right to alter the procurement timetable and approach.

Planning Information

If you want access to the Market Engagement materials related to this project, please fill out this form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/fj145mv6AM

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07836c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095054-2026
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

50 - Repair and maintenance services

64 - Postal and telecommunications services

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

CPV Codes

50330000 - Maintenance services of telecommunications equipment

64200000 - Telecommunications services

72400000 - Internet services

72710000 - Local area network services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
27 Sep 2027 - 26 Sep 2032 Over 5 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
THAMES WATER UTILITIES 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
READING
Postcode
RG1 8DB
Postcode Area
Reading
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ16 Berkshire West
Delivery Location
TLI London, TLJ South East (England)
Local Authority
Reading
Electoral Ward
Thames
Westminster Constituency
Reading Central

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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