Northern Ireland Water Launches £10.5 Billion Engineering Framework Tender

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 16, Northern Ireland Water launched the procurement for the IF109 Integrated Partnership Framework, with a total estimated value of £10.5 billion (excluding VAT), covering construction and renovation works for water supply, wastewater treatment and associated pipe networks across Northern Ireland. The framework is divided into four lots, covering pipeline construction, civil engineering, mechanical, electrical and automation systems, and large-scale integrated works. It is scheduled to commence in October 2027, with an initial term of six years, extendable up to September 2039.

The four lots respectively cover water supply and drainage pipeline laying and renewal, minor civil engineering works, minor mechanical, electrical and process engineering, and large-scale integrated works. Lot 1 includes water mains, sewer pipes, pressure pipes and rehabilitation of existing networks, with individual works typically not exceeding £3 million; Lot 2 covers tanks, reservoirs, pumping stations, water treatment facilities and building civil engineering works, with individual works typically not exceeding £10 million. Lot 3 includes mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control and automation systems for water treatment facilities, as well as related equipment installation, renewal and commissioning.

Lot 4 undertakes large-scale integrated water engineering works, involving the construction and renovation of wastewater treatment plants, water treatment plants, pumping stations, distribution reservoirs and strategic pipeline infrastructure, with scope covering design, procurement, civil construction, mechanical and electrical installation, process integration and commissioning and handover. Northern Ireland Water plans to select contractors through the framework agreement and award implementation contracts either by direct allocation or through mini-competition within the framework, depending on the specific project.

This procurement is expected to select up to 18 contractors. Bidders may apply for all four lots, but a single contractor may be awarded a maximum of three lots. The procurement adopts a competitive flexible procedure. In the first stage, technical capability, personnel resources and project delivery experience are assessed through a qualification questionnaire, after which qualifying enterprises are invited to enter subsequent negotiation procedures. The deadline for submitting applications is 15:00 on November 18, 2026. The framework will replace the IF105 Integrated Partnership Framework, which is scheduled to expire in May 2028.