Northern Ireland Water has begun procurement of a framework worth an estimated £10.5bn excluding VAT to deliver its capital investment programme.
The Integrated Partnerships Framework (IF109) is planned to run for an initial six years from 1 October 2027 to 30 September 2033. NI Water can extend the agreement through three further two-year periods, giving it a potential maximum term of 12 years.
Four work packages
The framework is intended to replace NI Water’s existing IF105 arrangement, which is due to expire in May 2028. It will support the organisation’s PC28 investment programme and later regulatory periods.
The procurement covers programme and project management, design, engineering, construction, commissioning and related services. It is divided into four lots:
- Minor civil pipelaying, valued at an estimated £150m excluding VAT, covering work on water and wastewater network assets. Typical projects are expected to be worth up to £3m.
- Minor civil works, valued at £1.35bn, covering assets including tanks, reservoirs, pumping station civil works, treatment works infrastructure and buildings. Typical projects are expected to be worth up to £10m.
- Minor mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control and automation (MEICA) and process works, valued at £3.55bn. This lot will cover systems and process engineering for treatment, pumping and operational environments, with typical projects of up to £10m.
- Major civil, MEICA and process works, valued at £5.45bn. This lot is aimed at large and complex projects, generally expected to exceed £10m, although projects between £1m and £10m may also be included where their scale or complexity warrants it.
The total framework value is estimated at £12.6bn including VAT.
Supplier and participating-body arrangements
Up to 18 suppliers will be appointed. Bidders can apply for all four lots, but no individual supplier can be awarded more than three.
The framework is also intended to be available to NI Water subsidiaries and other participating authorities. These may include local councils, Northern Ireland government departments, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
The tender notice was published on 16 October. The deadline for supplier enquiries is 4pm on 12 November, while requests to participate must be submitted by 3pm on 18 November. NI Water currently estimates that the award decision will be made on 1 October 2027.