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Bioresource Treatment

Scottish Water

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

14 Oct 2026 at 08:43

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Scottish Water is exploring bioresource treatment and recycling or recovery services for sludge generated across Scotland. The work covers treatment of around 90,000 wet tonnes of sludge a year, equivalent to 22,000 tonnes of dry solids, with facilities provided by suppliers; treatment may take place at more than one location. The service may also include treatment of liquid imports. Suppliers would need to transport material to appropriate recycling or recovery destinations and provide transparent records. Scottish Water is considering all suitable treatment and recovery approaches and is open to suppliers offering the whole service or only part of it, including multi-source arrangements. The scope includes handling seasonal and emergency volumes and ongoing performance improvement.

This is at the planning stage: Scottish Water is conducting market engagement to understand supplier capabilities and operational models and shape its procurement strategy. Suppliers are invited to share information by 28 October 2026; this is an engagement date, not a tender deadline. The buyer may then discuss relevant experience and supporting information with respondents. A further notice is expected on 30 January 2027. The proposed contract is expected to run for four years, with a possible further four years of extensions; delivery is assumed to begin in early 2028, and the term may change in line with Scottish Water’s long-term plan. Estimated annual spend is approximately £6 million, and the overall estimated value is £48 million. The eventual scope remains subject to market engagement.

This market engagement is useful preparation for sludge-treatment and waste-recovery operators, including suppliers able to provide only part of the service or collaborate in a multi-source model. Scottish Water is looking for suppliers with suitable treatment facilities, contingency import storage, capacity to accept vehicles of all sizes, and operations that can receive imports seven days a week. Suppliers should be able to respond flexibly to seasonal peaks, emergency requests potentially at any hour, and ad hoc loads, while maintaining imports during planned maintenance. Full recycling or recovery must meet regulatory requirements, with transparent records and transport arrangements. Suppliers recycling material to agriculture will need BAS accreditation covering treatment, transport, storage and land application. Relevant water or waste-treatment experience, geographic coverage, service capabilities, resource planning, reporting, innovation and collaborative working are relevant to demonstrating fit. SME status is requested as part of engagement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Bioresource Treatment

Notice Description

Scottish Water is seeking to better understand the market for Bioresource treatment and recovery/recycling services including supplier capabilities and operational models. This engagement is intended to inform Scottish Waters's understanding of the market and help develop the procurement strategy.<br/><br/>Scottish Water is interested to hear from suppliers who can supply all or part of the service and will consider multi source options when developing the procurement strategy.

Lot Information

Lot 1

1. Bioresource Treatment
To provide treatment and recycling or recovery for approximately 90,000 wet tonnes of sludge, equivalent to 22,000 tonnes of dry solids, per annum. This is the total estimated volume to be treated and treatment does not need to be limited to one location.

Suppliers must provide their own facilities for treatment. Import storage must provide contingency capacity in the event of equipment or process failure. The service must be able to accept vehicles of all sizes, operate with full transparency, and provide import capability seven days a week.

All types of suitable treatment and recycling/recovery options will be considered.

The scope may also include the requirement to treat liquid imports.

2. Seasonal & Emergency Response
The service must be flexible enough to accept increased volumes during periods of higher cake production, with the potential to receive imports 24 hours a day in an emergency. It must also be able to accept ad hoc loads from alternative origins, and planned maintenance must not affect imports.

3. Recycling/Recovery
The service must provide full recycling or recovery in accordance with regulatory requirements, including transport to the relevant recycling or recovery locations and full transparency across all records. Where material is recycled to agriculture, BAS accreditation will be required for treatment, transport, storage and application to land.

4. Performance and Continuous Improvement
Improved outcomes will be achieved through effective performance management, reporting, innovation, resource planning and collaborative working with Scottish Water.

5. Contract Duration
The proposed contract duration is four years, with the option for a further four years' worth of extensions, assuming delivery begins in early 2028. The overall contract term will be determined by delivery of Scottish Water's long-term plan.

The proposed duration is indicative at this stage and may be adjusted prior to the procurement.

6. Estimated Value
Estimated annual spend is approximately PS6m per annum, comprising of sludge treatment and recycling/recovery activities. The final scope will be confirmed following market engagement and may be adjusted prior to procurement.

7. Information Required from Interest Suppliers
Company Name
Primary Contact
Contact Details (Email/Phone)
Detail Relevant Service Offerings/Capabilities
Location of Services and Geographical Coverage
Previous Experience in the Water/Waste Treatment Sector
SME Status

8. Market Engagement
Interested parties should submit the information requested and register their interest to thomas.watson@scottishwater.co.uk no later than 28th October 2026. Scottish Water may subsequently engage with respondents to discuss relevant experience and supporting information in more detail.

Scottish Water will manage this process in an open and transparent manner to maximise the potential benefits. Participation or non-participation in informal discussions will neither preclude participation in, nor provide any advantage or disadvantage to, suppliers in any subsequent procurement process.

Direct or indirect canvassing of any Scottish Water representative concerning this procurement, or any attempt to obtain information relating to this Prior Information Notice outside of the formal process described in this document, may result in disqualification from this procurement and may be taken into consideration in future procurement activities.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078707
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096772-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning 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

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

90513800 - Sludge treatment services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£48,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Jan 20274 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
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
Scottish Water
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
GLASGOW
Postcode
G33 6FB
Postcode Area
Glasgow
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM3 West Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM34 North Lanarkshire
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland
Local Authority
North Lanarkshire
Electoral Ward
Stepps, Chryston and Muirhead
Westminster Constituency
Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch

Further Information

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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