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£50m technical expert needed on £1.75bn Haweswater Aqueduct

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Suppliers have been alerted to a major utilities contract in the North of England, valued at £50 million.  

Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme. Credit: United Utilities.

United Utilities (UU) is seeking a technical advisor to support delivery of its £1.75 billion Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (HARP), a contract which is currently scheduled to run for 11 years.  

HARP seeks to replace all six tunnel sections along the length of the 110-km-long Haweswater Aqueduct pipeline serving Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester, which was built between 1933 and 1955. 

In 2005, UU engineers identified areas of concern that posed “a potential future risk to both water quality and supply” to these regions. 

This aspect of the major scheme aims to provide long-term water supply resilience to Manchester and the Pennines. 

The project will utilise a Competitively Appointed Provider (CAP), which is currently being procured using Ofwat’s new Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) approach.  

The regulator requires consultancy services to provide assurance around the costs and delivery of the programme.  

The consultant will act as an independent contractor to United Utilities, the CAP, and Ofwat, and will therefore owe a duty of care to all three companies. 

 

“UU views the role of the consultant as crucial to ensure objective, independent oversight of costs that may be passed on to customers and to provide robust scrutiny and assessment of the CAP’s management of project costs and delivery,” said the utilities company.  

Adding: “The agreement is anticipated to be in place for 11 years however, it will be in place for the time that is necessary for the consultant to fulfil its duties until completion of the CAP construction works and any subsequent cost reconciliation.” 

Suppliers interested in this contract can apply or find out more information via the government Contract Finder portal using ref: FTS 013809-2024, or via the Mercell (EU Supply) portal.  

The deadline for submissions is noon on 7 June.  

The estimated date for completed delivery is June 2035.  

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If you have a tip or story idea that fits with our publication, please contact the news editor rory@wavenews.co.uk 

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