What Is a Water Sector Framework?
A framework agreement is a procurement vehicle that allows a water company to pre-qualify and appoint a shortlist of suppliers, then call off individual contracts from that list without running a full tender each time. Frameworks typically run for two to four years and cover defined categories of works, goods or services — from civil engineering to mechanical and electrical, from consultancy to chemicals supply.
For suppliers, getting on a framework is the essential first step to accessing recurring revenue from water companies. Most major capital delivery and operational maintenance contracts in the water sector are awarded through frameworks rather than one-off tenders. If you are not on the relevant frameworks, you cannot bid for the work.
The AMP8 investment cycle (2025–2030) is one of the most significant in the sector's history, with Ofwat's Final Determination requiring total expenditure across the sector of around £96bn. Most of this spending will flow through multi-year frameworks established by individual water companies and collaborative procurement vehicles. Now is the time to build your framework presence.
Types of Water Sector Framework
The Procurement Act 2023 — What Changed for Water Suppliers
The Procurement Act 2023 came into force on 24 February 2025 and replaced the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 as the primary legislative framework governing how regulated utilities — including water and sewerage companies — procure goods, works and services above threshold values.
Key changes that affect suppliers bidding for water sector frameworks include:
- Central Digital Platform: All above-threshold notices — including Prior Information Notices (PINs), Contract Notices and Contract Award Notices — must now be published on the Cabinet Office's central digital platform, accessible via find-tender.service.gov.uk. This creates a single point of reference for all regulated procurement.
- Preliminary Market Engagement (PME): Water companies now have a formal obligation to publish a notice when they undertake pre-market engagement with potential suppliers. PME notices signal that a framework is being developed — tracking these gives suppliers advance warning of opportunities before the formal tender is published.
- Open Frameworks: A new type of framework that must allow new suppliers to join at set intervals (at least every five years). This creates an ongoing route onto established frameworks for suppliers who were not ready or eligible when the framework was first established.
- Faster debrief rights: Unsuccessful bidders now have stronger rights to obtain feedback on their submission, which is important for improving future bids.
- Supplier exclusion register: A new central register of excluded and debarred suppliers. Maintaining a clean compliance record is essential.
Step-by-Step: How to Get on a Water Sector Framework
The Water Industry Registration Scheme (WIRS) and Achilles UVDB are the primary pre-qualification platforms used by UK water companies. Registration requires submitting documentation covering health and safety (including ISO 45001 or equivalent), quality management (ISO 9001), environmental management, financial standing and insurance. Allow 4–12 weeks for assessment. WIRS registration is a pre-condition for most water company framework applications — without it, your PQQ submission will not progress.
Register on the Find a Tender Service (find-tender.service.gov.uk) and set keyword alerts for your target categories. Also monitor the supplier portals used by your target water companies — Jaggaer, Delta eSourcing, SAP Ariba and Bravo Solutions are commonly used across the sector. The Water Industry Hub tenders page (waterindustryhub.com/tenders.html) aggregates live water sector framework opportunities and Preliminary Market Engagement notices.
Under the Procurement Act 2023, water companies must publish a PME notice before running a major framework procurement. Responding to PME gives you the chance to shape the specification, understand the buyer's priorities and signal your company's capability before the formal tender opens. PME responses are not scored — there is no downside to participating.
The SQ (formerly PQQ) is the first formal stage of a framework procurement. It assesses your technical capability, financial standing, health and safety record and policy compliance. Scores at SQ stage determine which suppliers are shortlisted to receive the Invitation to Tender. WIRS/UVDB membership significantly reduces the burden of SQ completion as much of the required information is already verified.
The ITT is the scored bid. Evaluation criteria typically cover technical methodology, mobilisation planning, relevant experience, health and safety, sustainability and social value, and price (often on a quality:price split of 60:40 or 70:30). Water company ITTs are detailed documents — allow significant time (4–8 weeks is typical) for a high-quality response.
Appointment to a framework does not guarantee work — it qualifies you to receive call-off invitations. Many frameworks use a 'further competition' mechanism, where appointed suppliers compete on price and specific delivery plans for each call-off contract. Maintaining strong relationships with buyer contact teams and demonstrating delivery capability from early call-offs is essential to growing your framework income.
Pre-Qualification Requirements: What Water Companies Typically Require
While requirements vary between water companies and framework categories, most SQ/PQQ stages will assess the following:
- WIRS or UVDB registration: Usually mandatory. Some water companies accept alternative pre-qualification evidence but this is the exception.
- ISO 9001 (Quality Management): Required for most works and services frameworks. UKAS-accredited certification is preferred.
- ISO 14001 (Environmental Management): Required for most civil and M&E frameworks. Companies without ISO 14001 may be excluded at SQ stage.
- ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety): Replaced OHSAS 18001. Required for most frameworks involving site works.
- Financial standing: Minimum annual turnover requirements vary by framework size. Audited accounts for the last two to three years are standard. Turnover requirements of 1–2× the estimated annual framework value are common.
- Public Liability Insurance: Minimum limits vary — £5m, £10m and £20m limits are typical for different framework categories. Some water companies require higher limits for major civil works.
- Employers' Liability Insurance: Statutory minimum £5m, typically required at £10m+.
- Relevant experience: Typically two to three comparable contract references, often requiring evidence of work for regulated utilities.
- Social value and sustainability: Increasingly a scored SQ criterion, not just an ITT consideration. Net zero commitments, social value measurement frameworks and Supply Chain Sustainability School membership are commonly referenced.
PAS 91:2013+A1:2017 is the British Standards Institution's pre-qualification questionnaire standard for construction. Many water company frameworks use PAS 91-aligned SQs, which reduces duplication across multiple tender applications. If you regularly bid for civil engineering frameworks, ensuring your PAS 91 documentation is current and in good order will save significant time.
Which Portals Do Water Companies Use?
Water companies use a range of e-tendering platforms. The most commonly used across the sector include:
- Jaggaer (formerly BravoSolution): Used by several major water companies for their supplier portal and tender management. Register early — portal registration is separate from WIRS.
- Delta eSourcing: Widely used across the public sector including some water companies and Local Authorities relevant to wastewater infrastructure.
- SAP Ariba: Used by some larger water companies for both procurement and supplier management.
- Bravo Solutions / Tradex: Used across the utilities sector.
- Find a Tender Service (FTS): Mandatory for all above-threshold notices from 24 February 2025. All water sector frameworks above threshold must be published here. find-tender.service.gov.uk
- Contracts Finder: The government's free portal for below-threshold opportunities and voluntary publication. Useful for monitoring smaller call-off contracts.
Common Mistakes Suppliers Make
Framework Readiness Checklist
- WIRS or UVDB registration active and up to date
- ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 certified (UKAS-accredited where possible)
- Audited accounts for the last two to three financial years available
- Public liability and employers' liability insurance at appropriate limits
- Two to three recent, comparable contract references with referees confirmed
- Social value measurement approach documented (e.g. Social Value Portal or equivalent)
- Supplier portal registrations active for each target water company
- Find a Tender Service alerts configured for your categories
- WIH tenders page bookmarked for water-sector-specific monitoring
Monitoring AMP8 Framework Opportunities
The bulk of AMP8 capital delivery will flow through frameworks established between 2024 and 2027. Most water companies are either in the process of establishing their AMP8 supply chain frameworks or have already done so. Key actions for suppliers now:
- Monitor the Find a Tender Service for Preliminary Market Engagement notices — these signal frameworks that are in development and are your earliest opportunity to engage.
- Check each target water company's supplier portal for upcoming framework events and supplier days.
- Follow Water Industry Hub Intelligence (waterindustryhub.com/news.html) for reporting on framework awards, pre-market engagement and supply chain developments across all 17 water and sewerage companies.
- Track the Water Industry Hub frameworks page (waterindustryhub.com/frameworks-won.html) for confirmed framework appointments and framework winners, which indicates where frameworks have already been awarded.
Track Water Sector Framework Opportunities on WIH
7,845+ verified UK water sector suppliers — plus live tender tracking, framework award intelligence and AMP8 procurement news updated regularly.
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Water Industry Hub® is an independent intelligence platform for the UK water sector. This guide is for general information purposes only. Procurement requirements vary between water companies and framework categories — always refer to the specific tender documentation for each opportunity. Updated July 2026.