Description
This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (PMEN) is in relation to Anglian Water Service Limited's (AWS's) intention to undertake market engagement activities rather than a specific contract or proposed procurement.
The SRO Fens Reservoir Market Launch Event (the "Event") forms a key part of AWS's market engagement strategy and marks a significant milestone for this critical national infrastructure project.
It offers an opportunity for the programme and the wider supply chain to connect and formally initiate market engagement. Parties are encouraged to register their interest for the Event that will take place on Monday 29th June 2026 via the link provided in this notice.
AWS is facing unprecedented challenges due to climate change, population growth and environmental constraints. These challenges include more frequent droughts, increased demand for water, and the need to reduce water abstraction from environmentally sensitive areas.
To address these challenges, AWS's Water Resources Management Plan 2019 (WRMP19) identified the Fens Reservoir (FR) as one of its Strategic Resource Options.
The reservoir will provide safe, resilient supplies of drinking water, as well as environmental, socioeconomic, leisure, and wellbeing benefits for the communities they serve. FR will be delivered to the benefit of both AWS and Cambridge Water (CWC) customers.
The FR and its associated assets (abstraction, treatment and transfers) are being progressed through the fast-tracked delivery framework overseen by the Regulators' Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID), and each is proposed to be a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) seeking consent through the Development Consent Order (DCO) regime.
Due to the size and complexity of the programme, Specified Infrastructure Project Regulations (SIPR) is the preferred delivery model for the reservoirs. SIPR was introduced by the UK Government in 2013 as a mechanism for an alternative approach to financing and delivering large and complex water and sewerage infrastructure projects.
Under SIPR, the Secretary of State (SoS) or Ofwat (under delegation from the SoS) may specify an infrastructure project for delivery under a "project licence" by a third party where certain conditions are met.
The FR at a high-level comprises the following infrastructure:
• Abstraction Intake Structures, and raw water transfers (open channel and pipelines);
• Inter-catchment treatment works for invasive, non-native species (INNS);
• Reservoir embankment, inlet/outlet tower, emergency drawdown, public facilities;
• Water Treatment Works providing wholesome treated water; and
• Pipeline Transfers to supply (AWS and CWC) service reservoirs.
The commercial and procurement strategy for the Main Works Contracts (MWC's) has significantly evolved over the last 12 months following periods of initial early market engagement, with a focus on refining the procurement approach, packaging options and Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) strategy. AWS is now ready to share preferred plans to the market and obtain feedback to help further refine the approach prior to planned MWC tender launch.
Please note that any dates included in the PMEN are only indicative at this stage.
Please note that this is not a call for competition. Participation or non-participation in this market engagement event will not influence the selection and/or award decision forming part of any future procurement process.