Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Derby City Council
The Council House - Corporation Street
Derby
DE12FS
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKF11 - Derby
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
TD2248 - Forensic Water Investigation Services
Reference number
TD2248
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79720000 - Investigation services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Derby City Council requires a contract for forensic water investigation services. Derby City Council intends to engage with Cadantis Forensics Associates Ltd for a new contract to replace its existing agreement for the provision of water forensic services.
The council has published this VEAT notice and intends to award a contract to Cadantis Forensics Associates Ltd following a 10 day standstill period from this notice and also subject to our budget
approval process.
The initial term will be three years duration with two options to extend by twelve months if required.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £65,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKF11 - Derby
Main site or place of performance
Derby City
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Derby City Council currently has a contract for Forensic water investigation services.
The council is proposing to contract with Cadantis Forensics Associates Ltd who offer water forensic investigation services. This service is conducted by water surveyors and analysts who's primary service is to challenge water wholesalers and retailers over the way they have historically charged and are currently charging customers. Incorrect billing is an ongoing issue that Derby City Council want to tackle.
It is proposed to directly award a contract to Cadantis Forensics Associates Ltd without prior publication of a call for competition in the official journal of the European Union. In taking this route
to market the Council hereby issue this VEAT notice. The contract term will be three years with two optional one year extensions if required.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The initial term will be three years duration with two options to extend by twelve months if required to ensure any potential change can be effectively managed without high risk to business continuity.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in OJEU, as the procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive. The council is proposing to contract with Cadantis Forensics Associates Ltd for Forensic water investigation services as this is the only contractor that can provide this level of service.
The council requires forensic water investigation services. Cadantis Forensics Associates Ltd can offer a high level of service and have developed an understanding of the property portfolio. To change supplier now would impact ongoing appeals. The service offered exceeds other suppliers, entering the largest amount of technical water claims in the UK market. They are different to other competitors as they challenge on three fronts -
technical, policy and legal. This includes the following:
•Cadantis provide a full forensic service and do not just focus on bill validation works.
•Using specialist knowledge of the Water (Scotland) Act 1980, Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, Water Industry Act 1991 (and prior Acts), sewers for adoption, sewerage and drainage law, water company charging policy and schemes of charges to achieve the largest refunds for clients.
•They have informal precedents set with Severn Trent Water which means they can in most cases force them to refund outside of their standard policy. An example includes the water company attempting to limit the refund to one year as per their internal
policy but Cadantis Forensics Associates Ltd would challenge for full restitution.
•Cadantis Forensics has a 98% record of success when they go to appeal.
•All accounts managers are ex water company employees and therefore have a wealth of water industry knowledge.
It is proposed to directly award a contract to Cadantis Forensics without prior publication of a call for competition in the official journal of the European Union. In taking this route to market the
Council hereby issue this VEAT notice. The contract term will be three years with two optional one year extensions if required. The Council will observe a 10 day standstill period.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2025/S 000-005914
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
TD2248
Title
TD2248 - Forensic Water Investigation Services
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
19 February 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Cadantis Forensics Associates Ltd
4 Oak Tree Park, Burnt Meadow Road
Redditch
B98 9NW
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKG12 - Worcestershire
Companies House
10701910
Internet address
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £65,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £65,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Derby City Council
The Council House, Corporation Street
Derby
DE1 2FS
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Derby City Council
The Council House, Corporation Street
Derby
DE1 2FS
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Derby City Council
The Council House, Corporation Street
Derby
DE1 2FS
Country
United Kingdom