NI Water is seeking early market engagement for the forthcoming procurement of an Integrated Partnerships Framework with a total estimated value of £12.6 billion including VAT. The utility intends to undertake a supplier market briefing event on Wednesday 7th October 2026 prior to issuing its Participation Stage Package to pre-qualify interested suppliers.

NI Water intends to undertake a further supplier market briefing event on Wednesday 7th October 2026 prior to issuing its Participation Stage Package to pre-qualify interested suppliers.

The water company intends to establish the IF109 Integrated Partnerships Framework (IF109) – the future framework is being developed to support delivery of NI Water's capital investment programme and will succeed the existing IF105 Integrated Partnerships Framework, which is due to expire in May 2028.

The framework is intended to support delivery of the PC28 investment programme and future regulatory periods whilst securing the capacity, capability, flexibility, value for money and resilience required to deliver NI Water's future capital programme.

The Framework is expected to support a range of works and related services including programme and project management, design, engineering, construction, commissioning, and other supporting or ancillary activities necessary to support the successful delivery of NI Water's capital investment programme.

It is also intended to support delivery of NI Water's future investment priorities, including regulatory compliance, service improvement, resilience enhancement, environmental performance and long-term sustainability objectives.

The IF109 Integrated Partnerships Framework is currently expected to comprise four lots covering:

• Minor Civil Pipelaying Works
• Minor Civil Works
• Minor MEICA & Process Works
• Major Civil, MEICA & Process Works.

Together, the Lots are intended to support the delivery of projects ranging from small-scale network investment and rehabilitation activities through to large-scale, complex, multidisciplinary capital programmes across NI Water's water and wastewater asset base.

NI Water is currently developing the procurement strategy, commercial model, lotting structure, appointment methodology, supplier allocation arrangements and delivery arrangements for the framework. Consequently, aspects of the future framework and procurement approach remain subject to further development and ongoing market engagement activities.

Current estimated start and contract dates are 1 October 2027 to 30 September 2033 with further possible extension options up to 30 September 2039. Estimated publication date of a formal tender notice is 8 October 2026 and estimated framework award decision date is 1 October 2027.

Scope of the Lots are as follows:

Lot 1. Minor Civil Pipelaying

Lot 1 is intended to support the delivery of pipelaying and network rehabilitation activities associated with below-ground water and wastewater infrastructure assets across Northern Ireland. Activities may include the design, investigation, installation, renewal, repair, rehabilitation, testing and commissioning of water distribution mains, wastewater sewers, rising mains, communication pipes and associated network assets. Typical project values are expected to range from £0 million to £3 million.

Lot 2. Civil Minor Works

Lot 2 is intended to support the delivery of civil engineering works across infrastructure and non-infrastructure assets where the principal delivery requirements are civil in nature. Activities may include the design, construction, refurbishment, testing and commissioning of tanks, chambers, reservoirs, pumping station civil works, treatment works civil infrastructure, building works and associated civil engineering activities. Typical project values are expected to range from £0 million to £10 million.

Lot 3. Minor MEICA & Process Works

Lot 3 is intended to support the delivery of MEICA-driven projects undertaken within operational water and wastewater treatment, pumping and process environments. Activities may include the design, manufacture, installation, integration, testing, commissioning, optimisation and replacement of mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control and automation systems, together with associated process engineering activities. Typical project values are expected to range from £0 million to £10 million.

Lot 4. Major Civil, MEICA & Process Works

Lot 4 is intended to support the delivery of large-scale, high-value and complex capital investment projects requiring integrated civil, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control, automation and process engineering capabilities. Typical projects may include the planning, design, construction, refurbishment, installation, testing, commissioning and handover of major water and wastewater treatment works, pumping stations, service reservoirs, network infrastructure and other strategic capital projects.

Typical project values are expected to exceed £1 million. NI Water anticipates that specific arrangements may apply to the award of higher-value and more complex projects within this Lot, including award in accordance with the objective supplier selection mechanism specified in the framework, further competition between eligible framework suppliers, or other allocation procedures expressly provided for in the framework documentation. Further details will be provided within the Participation Stage Package (PSP) documentation.

It is envisaged that the Framework can be used by Northern Ireland Water's subsidiaries and other participating authorities.

Deadline for submission of enquiries is 4:00pm on 10 November 2026 and deadline for requests to participate is 3:00pm on 16 November 2026.

NI Water intends to undertake  the  supplier market briefing event on Wednesday 7th October 2026 prior to issuing its Participation Stage Package to pre-qualify interested suppliers. The event will be delivered through a hybrid format, providing suppliers with the option to attend either in-person or virtually.

Participation in the supplier market briefing event in October is voluntary and will not be a condition of participation in, or otherwise affect a supplier's eligibility for, the subsequent procurement process.

The aim is to provide an update on the development of the proposed IF109 Integrated Partnerships Framework, including the emerging procurement strategy, commercial model, lotting structure, procurement process and indicative evaluation approach. The event will also provide suppliers with an opportunity to better understand NI Water's objectives for the future framework and upcoming procurement.

Information received through market engagement may be used by NI Water in developing the procurement process and documentation. Any confidential information supplied by participants should be clearly identified and accompanied by an explanation of the basis on which confidentiality is claimed.

However, NI Water cautions that it cannot guarantee confidentiality and may be required to disclose information in accordance with applicable information access legislation.

Suppliers wishing to attend the Supplier Market Briefing Event should register their request by completing an online registration form - deadline for registration is 12:00 noon on Tuesday 22nd September 2026.

Registration requests should include:

• Organisation name
• Contact name and email address
• Preferred attendance method (in-person or virtual)
• A brief description of the organisation's services and capabilities relevant to the delivery of Water and Wastewater Capital Works for NI Water

Attendance will be limited to a maximum of one in-person representative per organisation. NI Water will permit additional attendees where venue capacity allows.

In-person attendance is subject to venue capacity. Once maximum capacity has been reached, any additional registrants will be invited to attend virtually. All attendees, whether attending in person or virtually, will be provided with access to the same material information.

Full joining instructions, including venue details and virtual access arrangements, will be provided directly to registered attendees following confirmation of registration.

NI Water says it will take “appropriate measures to ensure that participation in market engagement activities does not distort competition or result in any supplier obtaining an unfair advantage in any subsequent procurement process.”

This may include making relevant information and materials available to all potential suppliers and allowing appropriate time for suppliers to prepare their submissions.

Click here to access the registration form for the market briefing event on 7^th October

Click here for further information, associated tender documents, submission address and any special instructions Suppliers must be registered on eTenders web portal to access tender documentation. Documents to be provided after the tender notice is published on 8 October.