Affinity Water has made a direct contract award for the supply of a No Dig Injection System and Solution to use for the repair of pipes with an estimated value of £727,992 excluding VAT.

The water company explained in a voluntary transparency notice that the direct award was made on the basis that the no dig system can only be obtained from Gateshead-based firm Origin Tech Ltd.

The contract was awarded without prior publication of a call for competition on the based on the

protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights - only Origin Tech can provide the no dig system and solution.