Section one: Contracting entity
one.1) Name and addresses
THAMES WATER UTILITIES LIMITED
Reading
RG1 8DB
Contact
Thames Water
marketengagement.sesro@thameswater.co.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKJ11 - Berkshire
Companies House
0236666
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
one.6) Main activity
Water
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO) Preliminary Market Engagement 2025
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 45000000 - Construction work
two.1.3) Type of contract
Works
two.1.4) Short description
As part of Thames Water's ongoing programme of preliminary market engagement for the South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO) project, this notice is intended to inform interested parties about upcoming engagement opportunities and to encourage them to register their interest to participate. Please note that this is not a call for competition.
Contractors and investors are invited to express their interest in participating in a series of engagement activities including a spring market engagement event scheduled for 17th March 2025, to be held at a central London venue.
The engagement will help develop a wider understanding of the delivery of the project from both a construction and investment perspective by showcasing two large scale future opportunities:
Infrastructure Provider (IP): The IP will be responsible for taking forward the design, building, and financing the majority of assets within the SESRO project.
Main Works Contractor (MWC): To construct and commission the assets under a target price contract, working initially with TW and then the IP once the IP contract is awarded.
This engagement presents an opportunity for Thames Water to collaborate with the market in refining its procurement approach and contracting terms. Additionally, it aims to encourage cross-party discussions that align the project's development with market trends, taking into account the perspectives of both MWCs and investors.
To access the link to register your interest in market engagement for SESRO, please refer to Section VI.3 Additional Information.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 43123000 - Tunnelling machinery
- 43320000 - Construction equipment
- 45112000 - Excavating and earthmoving work
- 50000000 - Repair and maintenance services
- 63712320 - Tunnel operation services
- 65100000 - Water distribution and related services
- 65320000 - Operation of electrical installations
- 66000000 - Financial and insurance services
- 71000000 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Meeting the water resource supply-demand balance to ensure resilient supplies during droughts is becoming ever more challenging with increasing pressures from climate change, population growth, societal expectations and increasing environmental aspirations.
In response, OFWAT has established RAPID comprising the three water industry regulators: Ofwat, the Environment Agency and Drinking Water Inspectorate - to support and oversee the development of SROs in order to secure long-term drought resilience on behalf of customers while protecting the environment and benefiting wider society.
The South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO) is a new storage reservoir which would be sited in the Upper Thames catchment, south-west of Abingdon in Oxfordshire. SESRO is envisaged as a regional asset and is being developed by Thames Water on behalf of three water companies - Thames Water, Affinity Water and Southern Water. The reservoir would be filled with water pumped from the River Thames during periods of high river flow. When river levels drop, or demand for water increases, water would be released under gravity back into the River Thames, for re-abstraction downstream. The reservoir would help to protect supplies and manage future water quality issues created by a changing climate as well as offering regional and local benefits, including environmental and biodiversity improvements and public access and recreation.
The project involves construction of the new bunded reservoir with a capacity of up to 150Mm3 and a surface area of approximately 7km2.
The reservoir is needed to be operational by 2040.
To read more about the SESRO project, please visit the following link:
https://thames-wrmp.co.uk/projects/sesro/
two.2.14) Additional information
The CPV codes set out in this PIN are included to give an indication of the likely scope of works and services. TWUL does not guarantee that all the activities referenced by the CPV codes will form part of any future tender notice(s), nor is the list exhaustive of all activities which may be included in any procurement process under this project.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
1 October 2025
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
All organisations who wish to register for market engagement 2025 for the SESRO project should complete the registration of interest by using the web link - https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/SESRO-Registration-of-interest/
If you have any further questions, please email marketengagement.sesro@thameswater.co.uk
By completing and submitting the registration form you confirm that you consent to Thames Water processing and sharing your data for the purposes of this market engagement event and all subsequent correspondence and engagement specifically related to market engagement activity associated with the development of the SESRO Project. We will always treat your personal details with the utmost respect and never sell them to or share them with other third-party organisations for marketing or sales purposes.