Scope
Reference
2025 0034
Description
Anglian Water seeks Client Side Commercial Assurance Services to strengthen governance, cost control, and compliance across capital and operational programmes. These services will ensure transparency, regulatory readiness, and defensible commercial decision-making.
Scope of Services
Cost Verification - Validate incurred and forecast costs for accuracy and compliance.
Risk Management - Identify and mitigate commercial risks affecting cost, programme, or compliance.
Contract Compliance - Ensure adherence to contractual terms and governance.
Value-for-Money Assessment - Confirm expenditure delivers optimal outcomes.
Change Control - Assure structured management of scope, cost, and programme changes.
Programme Control - Monitor alignment with milestones.
Market Intelligence & Benchmarking - Compare costs and supplier performance using internal/external data.
Regulatory & Business Plan Support - Assist with cost structures and regulatory submissions.
Supply Chain Oversight - Ensure Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers comply with obligations.
Expected Outcomes
Increased confidence in cost management and governance.
Improved risk identification and mitigation.
Transparent assurance reporting for executive and regulatory stakeholders.
Verified value-for-money across diverse projects.
Consistent, defensible cost forecasting and benchmarking.
Essential Requirements
Proven experience in commercial assurance within regulated infrastructure sectors.
Knowledge of NEC and similar contract forms.
Ability to work across multiple programmes and stakeholders.
Strong analytical, reporting, and commercial skills.
Experience in CAPEX, OPEX, carbon modelling, and regulatory business planning.
Key Activities
Review contractor proposals, payment applications, and variations.
Independent risk reviews and mitigation strategies.
Develop KPIs, benchmarking tools, and cost databases.
Support audits, dispute resolution, and change management.
Analyse market trends, inflation indices, and regional cost variations.
Provide whole-life cost modelling and business plan support.
Enhance capability through continuous improvement of tools and processes.
Reporting
Each project requires a structured report including:
Introduction & Purpose
Request Summary
Stakeholders
Methodology
Findings
Actions & Recommendations
Next Steps
Reports must be clear, evidence-based, and include visuals where appropriate.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £6,000,000 excluding VAT
- £7,200,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 30 April 2026 to 30 April 2031
- Possible extension to 30 April 2034
- 8 years, 1 day
Description of possible extension:
Anglian Water may elect at its sole discretion to extend this Agreement in whole or in part by 3 further periods of one year each or for any alternative periods and not expiring later than 8 years from the Effective Date
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
This Agreement covers broader commercial assurance services, including but not limited to:
a) Cost verification - the process of validating that incurred and forecast costs are accurate, justified and compliant with contractual requirements.
b) Risk management - the identification, assessment and mitigation of commercial risks that could impact cost, programme, compliance, or value delivery across the capital programme.
c) Contract compliance - ensuring that commercial activities adhere to the terms, conditions and governance requirements set out within the contract and related policies.
d) Value-for-money assessment - evaluating whether expenditure delivers optimal outcomes relative to cost, quality, and time.
e) Change control - the structured management and assurance of changes to scope, cost, programme, whilst ensuring that change has been properly authorised and managed in line with contractual obligations.
f) Programme control - monitoring and assuring the alignment of commercial activities with programme milestones
g) Market intelligence and benchmarking - using internal, external data and industry benchmarks to assess the competitiveness of costs and rates and, potentially, supplier performance.
h) Regulatory and Business Plan support - including assessing investments and evaluating cost structures in line with regulatory standards for efficiency and transparency; and providing support for addressing cost-related challenges.
i) Supply chain oversight - assuring the Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers operate in compliance with policies, contractual obligations and industry standards.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 79419000 - Evaluation consultancy services
Contract locations
- UKH - East of England
Framework
Maximum number of suppliers
Unlimited
Maximum percentage fee charged to suppliers
0%
Framework operation description
Pricing will be based on a rate card submitted by suppliers for defined roles. Contracts will be awarded on a Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) basis, considering both price and quality.
Award method when using the framework
Either with or without competition
Contracting authorities that may use the framework
Establishing party only
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
9 January 2026, 11:00pm
Tender submission deadline
23 January 2026, 11:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Please see the relevant RFI and RFP events using the above link. Please note, the RFI is stage 1 of this process.
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
15 April 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | Quality | 60% |
| Price | Price | 40% |
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Contracting authority
ANGLIAN WATER SERVICES LIMITED
- Companies House: 02366656
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PMZW-7779-DCNZ
Lancaster House Lancaster Way
Huntingdon
PE29 6XU
United Kingdom
Region: UKH12 - Cambridgeshire CC
Organisation type: Private utility