Planning

Winter Gritting - Pre-Market Engagement

  • Southern Water Services Limited

UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-032197

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-054851

Published 13 June 2025, 11:12am



Scope

Reference

Prj_

Description

Scope of Works -

Southern Water is seeking a supplier for winter gritting services across the whole of its region - Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and Isle of Wight. The supplier must be able to deliver a flexible service across operational sites whilst also having the ability to cover reactive requests for leaks in public areas.

The service must operate 7 days a week during the winter period, from October to April, and be temperature-triggered in response to pre-agreed thresholds (e.g. surface temperatures forecast below 0°C or as defined by Met Office data).

All vehicles used must be roadworthy, clean, and regularly maintained, fully licensed and MOT certified.

All drivers and personnel must hold a valid driving licence (appropriate categories) and be trained in winter maintenance procedures.

Vehicles must not move between fresh water and wastewater sites without a full decontamination to avoid cross-contamination.

The service delivery must be supported by a comprehensive digital Platform accessible to SW:

· Site-specific gritting maps and access details.

· Site and contact information.

· Live and historical job tracking with vehicle GPS.

· Job history and audit trail.

· Picture evidence of service delivery

· Automated time stamps for job start/finish.

· Communication logs for instruction and completion confirmation.

Routine Service -

· The Supplier shall provide a planned, temperature-triggered gritting service for: Access roads, Car parks, Footpaths, Other designated areas as per site-specific requirements.

· Snow clearance when required.

· Monitor weather forecasts (via Met Office or equivalent) and respond in line with pre-agreed gritting criteria.

· Perform gritting during off-peak hours (typically overnight or early morning) to reduce disruption.

· Ensure areas are treated.

Reactive Service -

· The Supplier shall provide a flexible, on-demand gritting service based on daily instructions issued by the SW.

· List of sites to be issued no earlier than 16:00 daily, requiring response that same evening/night.

· Provide precision hand gritting, particularly in high-risk areas (e.g. leak sites, uneven terrain, pedestrian walkways).

· Be capable of handling emergency and short notice gritting requests, including potential 24/7 availability during adverse weather events.

· Allow for site additions after initial list issue (e.g. newly reported leaks).

Jobs to be fully document via a communication portal, supplier to provided Gritting evidence, Leak location identification, photographic evidence, map marking or GPS location of affected area

Total value (estimated)

  • £2,000,000 excluding VAT
  • £2,400,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 3 October 2025 to 2 October 2029
  • Possible extension to 1 October 2033
  • 7 years, 11 months, 30 days

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 44113910 - Winter-maintenance materials
  • 34927100 - Road salt
  • 90620000 - Snow-clearing services
  • 90630000 - Ice-clearing services
  • 34144440 - Gritter vehicles
  • 44113900 - Road-maintenance materials
  • 14410000 - Rock salt
  • 14420000 - Sea salt

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Engagement

Engagement deadline

1 July 2025

Engagement process description

Please not this is not a call for competition

Note: If you are already registered on Southern Water's sourcing portal please go straight to Step 2 below

If you are unregistered please follow the instructions below to register

1. Register your company on the Jaggaer sourcing portal (this is required only once)

To register or log in please go to - https://southernwater.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html

Select the "Login or register to participate" link above and click the "Register Now" link on the home page

Accept the terms and conditions and click "Next"

Enter your correct business and user details

Note the username you chose and click "Save" when complete

You will shortly receive an email with your unique password (please keep this secure)

2. Respond to the PQQ/ITT

Login to the portal with your username/password

Click the PQQs open to all suppliers or ITTs open to all suppliers' link.

Click on the relevant PQQ/ITT


Participation

Particular suitability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)


Submission

Publication date of tender notice (estimated)

11 July 2025


Procedure

Special regime

Utilities


Contracting authority

Southern Water Services Limited

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBJQ-2231-ZRPG

Southern Water, Southern House

Worthing

Bn13 3NX

United Kingdom

Region: UKJ27 - West Sussex (South West)

Organisation type: Private utility