Scope
Reference
TC2407
Description
Thames Water is seeking to significantly improve its ability to detect leakage and bursts across its trunk mains network, where current monitoring coverage remains limited. This lack of visibility restricts early detection and response, increasing the risk of water loss, asset failure, and service disruption. To address this, Thames Water intends to roll out a Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) fibre sensing solution, with the ambition of achieving near-100% coverage across its trunk mains estate.
DAS technology offers the potential to transform network monitoring by converting fibre optic cables into thousands of acoustic sensors, enabling continuous, real-time detection of leaks, bursts, and third-party interference over long distances. The solution must be scalable, cost-effective, and capable of integrating with Thames Water's existing systems and operational workflows.
Thames Water is interested in identifying potential service providers who can propose solutions that directly address this challenge. Providers will need to demonstrate how their approach will deliver reliable coverage, actionable insights, and long-term value. Key considerations include deployment strategy, data quality, system integration, and support for future enhancements in predictive maintenance and leakage reduction. The successful partner(s) will play a critical role in helping Thames Water achieve its strategic goal of near-total trunk main monitoring coverage through fibre sensing.
Thames Water reserves the right to refine the award criteria. Please note that that deadline for asking for access to the PSQ & submitting of the PSQ is Monday, 2 March 2026, at 10 am.
Total value (estimated)
- £7,000,000 excluding VAT
- £8,400,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2031
- Possible extension to 30 June 2034
- 8 years
Description of possible extension:
Thames Water envisages that the contract will be awarded for an initial term of 3 years with options to extend by 1 year or longer, up to a maximum overall term of 8 years.
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
Thames Water reserves the right to:
• Extend the contract beyond the initial 2 year term through one or more extension periods, up to a maximum contract end date of 30 June 2034.
• Procure additional quantities of the DAS fibre sensing solution, associated hardware, software licences, analytics modules, and related support services where these are consistent with the scope and purpose of the original contract.
• Implement further deployments across additional trunk main routes as operational priorities evolve, subject to the overall contract value and term limits.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 35125100 - Sensors
- 50334110 - Telephone network maintenance services
Contract locations
- UKI - London
- UKJ - South East (England)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
23 February 2026, 5:00pm
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
12 March 2026, 5:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
To gain access to this PSQ, please fill out the details in for link;
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
1 June 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical - Functionality of proposed solution | Meeting all the mandatory functional requirements. Meeting all or most of the desirable functional requirements (written response). |
Quality | 45% |
| Technical - Functionality of proposed solution | Meeting all the mandatory functional requirements. Meeting all or most of the desirable functional requirements (Presentation). |
Quality | 25% |
| Commercial | Additional Commercial Responses regarding: Payment Terms, Service Levels, and additional value drivers. |
Quality | 20% |
| Commercial - Total Price of solution for the remainder of the AMP8 period (to 31 Mar 2030) | Price of solution for the contract period. |
Price | 10% |
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Special regime
Utilities
Competitive flexible procedure description
This procurement will be conducted using the Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Utilities Contracts Regulations.
Following publication of this notice, suppliers will be invited to complete a Pre Selection Questionnaire (PSQ). The PSQ will assess legal, financial, and technical capability against the stated conditions of participation.
After evaluation of PSQ submissions, Thames Water will shortlist suppliers to participate in the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) stage. The ITN is expected to commence in March 2026.
Shortlisted suppliers will be required to submit detailed technical and commercial proposals. Thames Water may invite suppliers to present their proposed solution to stakeholders to support clarification of their ITN responses.
Following evaluation of ITN submissions and presentations, Thames Water intends to complete supplier selection by June 2026.
Contracting authority
THAMES WATER UTILITIES LIMITED
- Companies House: 02366661
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNQQ-4647-DTCV
Clearwater Court
Reading
RG1 8DB
United Kingdom
Region: UKJ11 - Berkshire
Organisation type: Private utility