Yorkshire Water has gone out to tender with an AMP8 contract for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) unit acquisition services with an estimated value of £8 million.
The water company is looking to appoint a partner to provide Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) unit acquisition services in accordance with the Environment Act 2021.
The appointed partner will identify, secure, and acquire biodiversity units, including registration with DEFRA and Natural England. Services will include market engagement, habitat validation, reporting, and long-term compliance monitoring.
Yorkshire Water said the contract will support its AMP8 capital programme by ensuring timely and cost-effective access to biodiversity units across its development portfolio.
Current estimated start and contract dates are 15 December 2025 to 31 December 2029, with a further possible extension option to 31 December 2031. The contract may also include options to allow Yorkshire Water to purchase additional biodiversity units or related services during the contract term. The options may be exercised to meet changes in development demand, planning obligations, or regulatory requirements introduced under the Environment Act 2021.
Options may also include the ability to expand the scope of services to cover new habitat types, additional geographic areas, or extended monitoring and reporting activities where these remain consistent with the original contract objectives.
Deadline to submit requests to participate is 6:00pm on 4 November 2025. The procurement will be conducted via SAP Ariba, Yorkshire Water's e-procurement portal.
Suppliers not yet registered must complete registration prior to submission and all communications, clarifications, and tender submissions must be made through the SAP Ariba portal.Tenders submitted by email or post will not be accepted.
Suppliers who have not been invited to the tender but wish to participate are asked to email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it so that Yorkshire Water can issue an invitation via SAP Ariba.
The water company expects to make its award decision in December 2025. Contract commencement is anticipated in February 2026, following completion of the standstill period and final approvals.
Tenders will be evaluated on technical quality and capability, representing 50% of the total score. The quality assessment will be based on the responses to the Capability Questionnaire, covering the following areas:
- Habitat Portfolio - range, diversity, and accessibility of biodiversity units.
- Delivery Process - approach to sourcing, validation, and management of BNG units.
- Operational Flexibility - ability to adapt to market, policy and delivery changes.
- Project Experience - relevant experience managing BNG or habitat offset programmes.
- Registration & Assurance - compliance with DEFRA and Natural England standards.
- Sustainability & Social Value - contribution to environmental, social, and community outcomes.
Commercial proposals will represent 50% of the total score. The evaluation will assess total cost of purchase,including habitat unit costs and associated fees. The lowest evaluated total cost will receive the highest score, with other bids scored proportionally based on cost differentials. Yorkshire Water will also consider any costs reasonably expected to be incurred as part of the proposed delivery model, as set out in the ITT Commercial Evaluation methodology.
The procurement process will follow a single-stage structure combining a Selection Questionnaire (SQ) and Invitation to Tender (ITT), allowing suppliers to submit full participation responses at the same time. All documents, including evaluation criteria and supporting materials, will be made available via SAP Ariba.
During the defined tender period, clarification questions can be raised and answered via the portal to ensure transparency and equal access to information.
Responses will be evaluated in accordance with published criteria, covering technical capability, experience in biodiversity offsetting and habitat unit brokerage, regulatory compliance, delivery methodology, and commercial value.
Following initial evaluation, Yorkshire Water reserves the right to enter into negotiation or clarification with one or more tenderers to refine technical or commercial proposals, ensuring value for money and compliance with BNG regulations.
Click here to access the Yorkshire Water SAP Ariba Portal
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