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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Grand Union Canal Transfer Scheme - Moving Water Together

AFFINITY WATER LIMITED · Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 30 Sept 2026, 05:52.

Opportunity overview

Affinity Water is the largest water-only supplier in the UK, serving over 3.8 million people across the southeast of England. With a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, and customer service, Affinity Water is committed to securing water supplies for future generations while protecting the environment. Our work includes reducing water leakage, promoting water efficiency, and engaging with communities to ensure a reliable and sustainable water future. The Grand Union Canal Transfer scheme has been designated a project of national significance, forming part of Ofwat's Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) programme. Affinity Water is looking to utilise a Competitively Appointed Provider (CAP) through a Design-Build -Finance (DBF) or Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain (DBFOM) model or variations thereof (including Design-Build-Finance-Maintain (DBFM)). The scheme facilitates strategic water transfer from the Midlands to the Southeast, leveraging existing canal infrastructure alongside new assets, including water treatment works, pipelines, pumping stations, and environmental mitigation works. This notice seeks market engagement from suitably qualified parties capable of delivering a secure, sustainable, and value-oriented solution for customers aligned with long-term national water resilience objectives.

Classification

  • CPV45000000 — Construction work
  • CPV65100000 — Water distribution and related services
  • CPV66100000 — Banking and investment services

Lots

  • Lot 1Value not stated

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
C-04328
Status
planning
Above Threshold
Yes
Main Procurement Category
works

Amendments

Entry 1
Id
040510-2025
Description
Contact info Update

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Special regime

utilities

Additional Procurement Categories

services

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
planning

Contract period

Ends
1 Jul 2057, 00:59
Starts
30 Sept 2028, 00:00

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKF
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 2
Region
UKG
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 3
Region
UKJ
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 4
Region
UKF
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 5
Region
UKG
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 6
Region
UKJ
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
45000000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Construction work
Entry 2
Id
65100000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Water distribution and related services
Entry 3
Id
66100000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Banking and investment services

Planning and budget

Documents

Entry 1
Id
039878-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Published
15 Jul 2025, 11:30
Entry 2
Id
040510-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Published
16 Jul 2025, 13:03

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Status
scheduled
Due
5 Sept 2025, 23:59
Description
Affinity Water Limited is issuing this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice as part of the early market consultation for the Grand Union Canal Transfer scheme (GUCT scheme), a nationally significant water infrastructure initiative. The southern section of this project is to be delivered under Ofwat's Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) programme, using a Competitively Appointed Provider (CAP) model. Affinity Water seeks to engage with market participants who may have the capability, experience, and interest in delivering the scheme through a Design-Build-Finance (DBF), Design-Build-Finance-Maintain (DBFM) or Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain (DBFOM) model. This early market consultation is a Request for Information (RFI) to help shape the commercial, technical, and delivery strategy of the project and inform the forthcoming procurement process. The project includes (but is not limited to): • Water Treatment Works • Pumping stations • Transfer pipelines • Canal enhancements • Environmental and mitigation measures • Long-term operation and maintenance services (if DBFOM is adopted) Affinity Water is looking to appoint a Competitively Appointed Provider (CAP) through an open, fair, and transparent competitive procurement process. Affinity Water anticipates that the CAP will be responsible for the design, build, and financing of the scheme, with options to include operation and maintenance for a defined contract term of 25 years. This Market Engagement is focused on: • Gauging market capacity and capability • Understanding potential delivery models and risks • Informing procurement strategy (DBF, DBFM & DBFOM) • Identifying innovations and barriers to entry The scope of this RFI includes: • Technical feasibility and constructability insights • Financing models, including private sector appetite and structures • Operations and maintenance considerations (where applicable) • Commercial risk allocation and delivery timelines • Market constraints or innovations • Environmental or regulatory factors Affinity Water encourages responses from: • Infrastructure investors and financiers • Construction and engineering firms • Operations and maintenance specialists • Joint ventures or consortia Please email guctscheme@affinitywater.co.uk to register/participate in the market engagement process. This notice is not a call for competition, a contract notice, or a commitment to procure. Affinity Water reserves the right to alter or terminate the market engagement process at any time without notice. Affinity Water is not liable for any costs or expenses incurred by any party in responding to this RFI. Submission of a response does not guarantee inclusion in any future procurement or prequalification process. Affinity water reserves the right to enter into further rounds of pre-market engagement. All future procurement opportunities will be published through the Central Digital platform (CDP). Affinity Water will process your personal data, such as your name and contact details, in accordance with its obligations under the UK General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018. Your personal data will be used for the purposes of reviewing your questionnaire and contacting you for further information only. Any information you provide may be shared with our Grand Union Canal Transfer scheme commercial partners.

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-COH-02546950
Name
AFFINITY WATER LIMITED

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKH23
Country
GB
Locality
Hatfield
Postal Code
AL10 9EZ
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Tamblin Way

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
privateUtility
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Description
Private utility

Identifier

Id
02546950
Scheme
GB-COH

Contact

Additional Identifiers

Entry 1
Id
PMRZ-1695-VBDV
Scheme
GB-PPON

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Hatfield · UKH23 · AL10 9EZ · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKF · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKG · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKJ · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-055f31-2025-07-16T13:03:04+01:00Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·