Welsh Water, also known as Dŵr Cymru, has launched a tender for a wastewater network services framework valued at £497.6 million. This initiative involves the construction of water and sewage pipelines across Wales over a term of up to eight years, spanning the eighth asset management period (AMP8) and extending into the early stages of the ninth (AMP9).
The framework aims to deliver "customer-focused services for planned, reactive, emergency, and maintenance works" on Welsh Water's wastewater infrastructure. It is divided into five regional and operational lots, each with an initial term of four years, with the possibility of four one-year extensions at Welsh Water's discretion.
Breakdown of lots and allocated budgets
Lot 1: Hereford, Powys, and Gwent – Wastewater network operating services
- Value: £12M
- Scope: Services include 24/7/365 standby operations, planning and scheduling, cyclic desilting, CCTV inspections, flood and pollution response, maintenance and minor repairs of mechanical CSO screens, minor sewer rehabilitation, and developer services.
Lot 2: Southwest, Swansea, Valleys, and Cardiff – Wastewater network operating services
- Value: £42.4M
- Scope: Tasks mirror those of Lot 1, encompassing full-time standby services, scheduling, desilting, CCTV investigations, pollution incident response, CSO screen repairs, sewer rehabilitation, and developer-related activities.
Lot 3: South Wales, Hereford, and Powys – Wastewater repair and maintenance
- Value: £131.2M
- Scope: Responsibilities include wastewater apparatus repair and maintenance, 24/7/365 standby service, planning and investigation, on-site investigation works, sewer rehabilitation, working on or near live pressurised pipelines, maintenance and minor repairs of mechanical combined sewer overflow (CSO) screens, developer services and sewer adoption activities.
Lot 4: North Wales – Wastewater network repair, maintenance, and operating services
- Value: £90.4M
- Scope: Wastewater network apparatus repair and maintenance, 24/7/365 standby service, planning and scheduling provision; on-site investigation works, sewer rehabilitation; working on or near live pressurised pipelines, wastewater network operating services, cyclic desilting activity, CCTV investigation, response to flooding and pollution incidents, maintenance and minor repairs of mechanical CSO screens, developer services and sewer adoption activities.
Lot 5: All-Wales repair, maintenance, and network operating services in north
- Value: £221.6M
- Scope: Wastewater network apparatus repair and maintenance, 24/7/365 standby service; planning and scheduling provision, on-site investigation works, sewer rehabilitation, working on or near live pressurised pipelines, wastewater network operating services, cyclic desilting activity, CCTV investigation, response to flooding and pollution incidents, maintenance and minor repairs of mechanical CSO screens, developer services and sewer adoption activities.
Contractors can apply for multiple lots but can only be awarded one. The number of suppliers for each lot has not been disclosed. Applications are due by January 10, with invitations to participate scheduled for February 14.
Earlier this year, Welsh Water also sought contractors for a £752 million Water Network Alliance contract aimed at enhancing its water network infrastructure.
