Southern Water has initiated a market engagement exercise ahead of the anticipated tendering process for an AMP8 contract, seeking business management consultancy services to support its long-term strategic goals. The water utility has issued a Request for Information (RFI) from potential suppliers, aiming to establish a framework panel of expert consultants.
The RFI engagement, as detailed in the preliminary market engagement notice, is intended to inform Southern Water’s sourcing strategy and the future management of the consultancy framework. This pre-tender exercise is not a call for competition but rather a step towards understanding the current market landscape for business management consultancy services.
Southern Water has outlined key service areas within the scope of the planned contract, covering economic and regulatory advisory, operational planning, and long-term delivery strategy design, including PR29 business plan development and price control structuring.
Additionally, the utility is looking for consultancy expertise in:
- Change management; end-to-end management of defined activities, training, people process and system improvement, HR organisational design / operating model, lean processes portfolio, programme and change management, culture and behaviour change, business change for operational improvement, performance, KPI development, productivity
- Procurement consultancy services; procurement and commercial strategic advice across all of the functions core disciplines; Procurement AMP Long
- Financial consultancy services; mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, corporate financing, tax, financial management, cash management, strategies, finance processes, investments, fund management, risk management, costing reviews, internal audit, general accounting, finance legal advice
Southern Water intends to engage suppliers who can provide insights into best practices and industry innovations in these domains.
The anticipated contract duration is from 2 March 2026 to 3 March 2031.
