Deadline: 3 September 2026. All submissions must be made via the SAP Ariba portal. Contract start is expected July 2027 following evaluation. The framework runs for 4 years with four optional 1-year extensions (maximum 8 years).
Framework Overview
Anglian Water Services Limited has published a competitive tender for a Debt Collection Services Framework valued at up to £13.5 million excluding VAT. The framework covers the full spectrum of household debt recovery — from first-placement collections through to court-stage placements and trace & collect services for customers who have moved without settling their account.
The model is commission-led: suppliers are remunerated as a percentage of recovered debt rather than on a fixed-fee basis. This is standard practice in regulated utility debt recovery and means suppliers with strong digital engagement capabilities and field compliance records are best placed to compete. The framework is structured across six lots, with Anglian Water likely to appoint multiple suppliers per lot to provide resilience and competitive pressure.
Why this matters for suppliers: Water sector debt collection is a specialist market — Ofwat's customer protection rules, the Vulnerability Code of Practice, and strict compliance requirements mean this is not a generic debt recovery contract. Suppliers bidding need demonstrated experience working with regulated utility customer bases, robust vulnerable-customer protocols, and the operational infrastructure to handle court-stage accounts and trace work. With a commission model and an 8-year potential term, this is a significant long-term relationship opportunity with one of the UK's largest water companies.
The 6 Lots
| Lot | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Standard Debt Placements — First and second placement collections on standard household accounts |
| 2 | Financially Vulnerable Customers — Collections for customers identified as financially vulnerable, requiring enhanced customer care protocols |
| 3 | Third Placement with Mandatory Field Visits — Late-stage collections requiring in-person engagement at customer premises |
| 4 | Court Account Placements — Management and collection of accounts with existing County Court Judgements (CCJs) |
| 5 | Trace & Collect (Standard) — Locate and recover debt from customers who have moved without settling their account (standard accounts) |
| 6 | Trace & Collect (Court) — Locate and recover debt from customers with court-stage accounts who have vacated their registered address |
Procurement Details
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Notice Reference | 072600-2026 |
| Contracting Authority | Anglian Water Services Limited |
| Framework Value | £13,500,000 excluding VAT |
| Lots | 6 (suppliers may bid for multiple lots) |
| Pricing Model | Commission-led (percentage of recovered debt) |
| Submission Portal | SAP Ariba |
| Published | 31 July 2026 |
| Submission Deadline | 3 September 2026 |
| Contract Start | July 2027 (estimated) |
| Initial Term | 4 years |
| Maximum Term | 8 years (4 + 4 × 1-year extensions) |
| Source | Find a Tender (UK) |
Key Points for Bidders
- Commission-led model — no fixed fee; earnings depend on recovery performance
- Six lots — suppliers can bid across multiple lot categories
- Vulnerable customer lot (Lot 2) requires demonstrated compliance with Ofwat's Vulnerability Code of Practice
- Court accounts (Lot 4) and trace & collect (Lots 5–6) require specialist legal and tracing capability
- Field visit requirement on Lot 3 demands regional operational infrastructure
- Up to 8-year framework term — long-term contract relationship with Anglian Water
- Submission via SAP Ariba portal only — ensure registration before the deadline
Who Should Bid
This framework will appeal to established debt recovery agencies with a track record in regulated utility or public-sector collections. The vulnerable customer lot in particular requires evidenced protocols and staff training — generic commercial debt collectors without utility sector experience are unlikely to meet the quality threshold. Trace & collect specialists with investigative databases and field teams are well positioned for Lots 5 and 6.
Unlike infrastructure or engineering tenders, this is not a supply-chain opportunity for civil or mechanical contractors. It is squarely a professional services framework for debt recovery, compliance, and customer engagement specialists operating in the regulated water sector.
Full Tender Intelligence — WIH Members
WIH members receive SAP Ariba portal access guidance, supplier eligibility criteria, evaluation weighting, and direct procurement contacts for Anglian Water frameworks. Register at waterindustryhub.com to access the full tender brief and submission checklist.
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