Section one: Contracting entity
one.1) Name and addresses
NORTHUMBRIAN WATER GROUP LIMITED
Northumbria House,Abbey Road, Pity Me
DURHAM
DH15FJ
Contact
Andriy Volkov
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKC14 - Durham CC
Companies House
02366703
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
one.6) Main activity
Water
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
NW2676 - Stream Data Portal
Reference number
NW2676
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Stream is a high profile, ambitious, sector-wide initiative with a mission to enable a scalable, repeatable approach to Open Data in Water.
Working as a collective comprised of 11 water companies and 5 partner organisations, Stream has already worked through a Blueprint phase to define the strategy and co-create an open data framework for the sector.
In early 2023 Stream was successful in securing further funding from the Ofwat Water Breakthrough Challenge Transform stream to support the Implementation phase and establish Stream as an operational open data platform for the water sector.
The implementation phase consists of an initial 10-month delivery stage to enable Stream to deliver both a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in December 2023 and 'Day-1' of the industrialised platform in Spring 2024.
Following the launch of the 'Day-1' platform, Stream will then focus on publishing additional open datasets to enable more complex use cases and develop additional user functionality. Stream will also develop a business plan to identify and develop new revenue models that will support the transition to a sustainable operating model after the current 2-year funding phase, hence the contract is 2 years (+2+1 years to extend; up to 5 years in total).
Stream aims to bring benefits to the water sector and beyond by establishing a widely accessible open data platform and associated governance and data standards, with a vision to unlock the potential of water data to benefit customers, society, and the environment.
As part of the implementation plan, there is a requirement to procure a data sharing platform capable of enabling the easy publication of data in both a centralised and decentralised manner as well as enabling data re-users to easily search, understand and access those datasets and share their findings to stimulate further innovation. By centralised we mean data uploaded to a central repository within the platform, while decentralised data will be data hosted by the individual companies, but still discoverable via the centralised search and data catalogue. We expect the centralised data to be mainly smaller volume, and less frequently updated, while more real time datasets are likely to follow the decentralised model. The platform must also enable both the sharing of fully open, public and shared data (as defined by the ODI Open Data Spectrum) and therefore will need to accommodate appropriate access controls under a range of licence types.
The data sharing platform shall form part of the scalable open data framework.
The platform will need to support the achievement of the following benefits across the water sector and beyond:
• Transparency with simpler regulation
• Collaboration becomes the default
• More engagement with stakeholders and innovators
• Simple experience for users, with a single interface
• Quicker to share innovation and best practice
• More efficient water companies and lower bills
• Improved data based decisions and better performance
The successful platform (solution) vendor shall have the following capabilities:
• Provide a robust project plan that demonstrates how an effective implementation can be achieved in a short timeframe (4-6 weeks)
• Provide a clear and realistic roadmap for the platform to demonstrate ongoing development and response to user feedback.
• Have a clear and easily understandable licence/pricing model that enables cost transparency and control by the client
• Ability to conform with the non-functional requirements
• Provide a good fit with the specified functional requirements with the minimum of customisation
• Demonstrate good client relationship management including robust support and maintenance arrangements
• Demonstrate how client lock-in is avoided by facilitating migration to another platform in the future
• Demonstrate a commitment to driving and facilitating the open data agenda and demonstrate experience of having successfully implemented similar with other clients
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £1,350,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 48700000 - Software package utilities
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Stream is a high profile, ambitious, sector-wide initiative with a mission to enable a scalable, repeatable approach to Open Data in Water.
Working as a collective comprised of 11 water companies and 5 partner organisations, Stream has already worked through a Blueprint phase to define the strategy and co-create an open data framework for the sector.
In early 2023 Stream was successful in securing further funding from the Ofwat Water Breakthrough Challenge Transform stream to support the Implementation phase and establish Stream as an operational open data platform for the water sector.
The implementation phase consists of an initial 10-month delivery stage to enable Stream to deliver both a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in December 2023 and 'Day-1' of the industrialised platform in Spring 2024.
Following the launch of the 'Day-1' platform, Stream will then focus on publishing additional open datasets to enable more complex use cases and develop additional user functionality. Stream will also develop a business plan to identify and develop new revenue models that will support the transition to a sustainable operating model after the current 2-year funding phase, hence the contract is for 2 years (+2+1 years to extend; up to 5 years in total).
Stream aims to bring benefits to the water sector and beyond by establishing a widely accessible open data platform and associated governance and data standards, with a vision to unlock the potential of water data to benefit customers, society, and the environment.
As part of the implementation plan, there is a requirement to procure a data sharing platform capable of enabling the easy publication of data in both a centralised and decentralised manner as well as enabling data re-users to easily search, understand and access those datasets and share their findings to stimulate further innovation. By centralised we mean data uploaded to a central repository within the platform, while decentralised data will be data hosted by the individual companies, but still discoverable via the centralised search and data catalogue. We expect the centralised data to be mainly smaller volume, and less frequently updated, while more real time datasets are likely to follow the decentralised model. The platform must also enable both the sharing of fully open, public and shared data (as defined by the ODI Open Data Spectrum) and therefore will need to accommodate appropriate access controls under a range of licence types.
The data sharing platform shall form part of the scalable open data framework, developed by Stream to enable innovators and other data re-users to use data to address key water sector challenges, such as the examples below:
• Preventing environmental incidents;
• Reducing absolute carbon emissions associated with water extraction, use, and treatment;
• Bringing down the cost of water, particularly for the most vulnerable customers;
• Catalysing innovation and new ways of working across the sector
The platform will need to support the achievement of the following benefits across the water sector and beyond:
• Transparency and openness with simpler regulation
• Collaboration becomes the default
• More engagement with stakeholders and innovators
• Simple experience for users, with a single interface and set of legal agreements
• Quicker to share Innovation, research and best practice
• More efficient water companies and lower bills
• Improved data based decisions and better performance
The successful platform (solution) vendor shall have the following capabilities:
• Provide a robust project plan that demonstrates how an effective implementation can be achieved in a short timeframe (4-6 weeks)
• Provide a clear and realistic roadmap for the platform to demonstrate ongoing development and response to user feedback.
• Have a clear and easily understandable licence/pricing model that enables cost transparency and control by the client
• Ability to conform with the non-functional requirements
• Provide a good fit with the specified functional requirements with the minimum of customisation
• Demonstrate good client relationship management including robust support and maintenance arrangements
• Demonstrate how client lock-in is avoided by facilitating migration to another platform in the future
• Demonstrate a commitment to driving and facilitating the open data agenda and demonstrate experience of having successfully implemented similar with other clients
Note: The funding available is for 2 years (including implementation), hence any proposed contract award is for 2 years (with options to extend for 2+1 years; up to 5 years in total). Therefore, the estimated values of £1,350,000 stated in Sections II1.5 and II2.6 reflect the full five (5) year period of contract.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £1,350,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
60
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
for up to 36 months
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: Yes
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
for up to 36 months
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents.
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents.
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents.
three.1.6) Deposits and guarantees required
If the Dunn and Bradstreet credit rating returns a rating of 'above average risk' or 'high risk', the contracting entity will request further financial information for review and a parent company guarantee may be required.
three.1.7) Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions governing them
Please see the terms and conditions in the procurement documents.
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.2) Contract performance conditions
These will be set out in the tender documents.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
four.1.4) Information about reduction of the number of solutions or tenders during negotiation or dialogue
Recourse to staged procedure to gradually reduce the number of solutions to be discussed or tenders to be negotiated
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.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
27 September 2023
Local time
3:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Tender must be valid until: 31 January 2024
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
Applicants are asked to note that this procurement process will be conducted electronically with all documents and communication being managed through the Northumbrian Water eSourcing Spend Management portal called 'Ariba'. Expressions of interest must be sent to the e-mail address andriy.volkov@nwl.co.uk before the deadline date of the 27th September 2023 (15:00). Once expression of interest has been received that contains the details below, applicants will be given access to the Ariba portal within 48 hours from request. This portal will contain all the tender documents associated with this procurement that are available at the time. An email link will also be provided to the email address you provide to access the portal. The deadline for return of the completed PQQ is the 9th October 2023 at 12.00 noon.
When sending expression of interest, applicants must provide the following information:
1) Full company name;
2) Main contact details of the person who will be given access to the Ariba portal - name, job title, email address and telephone.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
TBC
tbc
Country
United Kingdom