---
title: "Ofwat Innovation Fund delivery partner 2025-30"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-049d6e"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-049d6e"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-049d6e.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-049d6e.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "WATER SERVICES REGULATION AUTHORITY (OFWAT)"
published: "2025-05-15"
---

# Ofwat Innovation Fund delivery partner 2025-30

Buyer: WATER SERVICES REGULATION AUTHORITY (OFWAT)  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-049d6e

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## Summary

The public procurement process led by the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) focused on the Ofwat Innovation Fund delivery partner for the period 2025-2030 is now complete. This procurement was classified under the public utilities sector and covered a wide scope including the Core Innovation Fund, Water Efficiency Lab, and an Evaluation Programme. Conducted via an open procurement method, the process involved awarding three lots: Core Innovation Fund and WEL delivery, Implementation programme, and Evaluation. Key awards were made on 31st March 2025, with Nesta, Isle, and ICF Consulting Services Ltd securing the respective lots. The delivery locations span the UK regions of UKG31, UKI, and UKI32.

This tender presents significant opportunities for different types of businesses to contribute to essential utility services and innovation within the sector, specifically those specializing in public utility services and project evaluation. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) like Nesta and Isle have successfully engaged, emphasizing the potential for businesses that can drive innovation and efficient project implementation. The different lots encourage diverse expertise: from core service delivery to evaluation programmes, which benefits enterprises capable of proposing quality-driven solutions at competitive prices. Overall, this procurement opens avenues not only for immediate project engagement but also for establishing long-term partnerships within Ofwat's initiatives.

## Notice

We are looking to appoint delivery partners to support Ofwat in delivering the Ofwat Innovation Fund and aspects of the Water Efficiency Fund in AMP 8 (the asset management planning period which runs from April 2025-March 2030). This is a continuation of the existing Innovation Fund which was established in 2020 and the introduction of a new Water Efficiency Fund (WEF) of which this Invitation to Tender is concerned with only two aspects: the Water Efficiency Lab (WEL) - an annual competition similar to the Innovation Fund but focused solely on water efficiency, and the evaluation of the Water Efficiency Campaign (WEC), which is the other part of the two components that make up the WEF. We are looking for delivery partner support in three distinct but linked areas: Lot 1: Core Innovation Fund and WEL delivery Lot 2: Implementation programme Lot 3: Evaluation

### Lot Information

Lot 1: Core Innovation Fund and WEL delivery

Lot 1: Core Innovation Fund and WEL delivery Lot 1 is broken down into the following services (detailed descriptions follow): 1. Water Breakthrough Challenge rounds 6-7 2. Water Discovery Challenge round 2 3. Water Efficiency Lab rounds 1-2 4. Collaborative Challenge programme 5. Monitoring of live projects and project closedown 6. Programme governance 7. Marketing and communications 8. Data collection to inform AMP 8 evaluation The overall budget range for the initial two-year contract for Lot 1: Core Innovation Fund and WEL delivery is 4,400,000-5,800,000 The overall budget for 3-5 of the period will be determined towards the end of year 2 is 6,500,000-8,700,000

Renewal: 3 year extension following review in year 2

Lot 2: Implementation programme

The Innovation Fund aims to support the adoption and roll-out of innovative products, services and concepts. We expect most water companies will see the benefits of adopting successful innovations with no further support from Ofwat. However, throughout our engagement with companies in 2023/24 we have understood that it can take many years for companies to adopt an innovation and there have been suggestions that part of the fund should be targeted to help speed up implementation of new products, services and concepts. The Supplier and Ofwat will work closely together with the sector to determine what an effective implementation programme could look like. The programme will focus on accelerating the adoption and scaling of innovations awarded funding through the Ofwat Innovation Fund but also to support innovation implementation more generally across the sector. Co-design and delivery of new programme to support the acceleration of adoption and scaling of innovations across sector. Timetable to be agreed with the Supplier in line with the capacity of the sector to engage in design of the programme, but work expected to start in 2025. The overall budget range for the initial two-year contract for Lot 2: Implementation programme is 500,000-800,000 The possible budget in years 3-5 of extension period for Lot 2: Implementation programme is 800,000-1,100,000

Renewal: 3 years

Lot 3: Evaluation

Lot 3 is broken down into the following services 1. AMP 7 Evaluation: Delivery of an impact and Value for Money (VfM) evaluation programme before the end of 2027 2. Delivery and coordination of AMP 8 evaluation activity. The overall budget range for the initial two-year contract for Lot 3: Evaluation is 600,000-900,000 The overall value in years 3-5 of the period will be determined towards the end of year 2 and could be in the range of 800,000-1,100,000

Renewal: 3 year extension

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021944-2025 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large, SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 15 May 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 20 Nov 2024 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 30 Mar 2025 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £18,400,000 |
| Lots value | £35,500,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £18,400,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | WATER SERVICES REGULATION AUTHORITY (OFWAT) |
| Locality | BIRMINGHAM |
| Post town | Birmingham |
| Postcode | B5 4UA |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands |
| ITL 3 | TLG31 Birmingham |
| Local authority | Birmingham |
| Electoral ward | Ladywood |
| Westminster constituency | Birmingham Ladywood |
| Delivery location | TLG31 Birmingham, TLI London, TLI32 Westminster |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 3 |
| Supplier names | ICF CONSULTING SERVICES; ISLE; NESTA |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 65 - Public utilities

### Codes

- 65000000 - Public utilities

## Release History

- 15 May 2025 at 15:58 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021944-2025
- 30 Sep 2024 at 10:09 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031140-2024
- 24 Sep 2024 at 16:10 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030529-2024

## Notice URLs

- http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit
- https://www.mytenders.co.uk/
- https://www.mytenders.co.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA24607

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-049d6e. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-049d6e.json.