FA08-31 Commercial Services

NWL is seeking to set up a framework for the provision of commercial services relating predominantly to the capital investment on both infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects and programmes.

The services are required to support AMP8 and AMP9 delivery to deliver commercial services across both Northumbrian Water and Essex & Suffolk Water operating regions, including supporting our range of enterprise and in-house delivery models, and major projects.

The scope may include (but not limited to) NEC contract management, cost and value management, commercial assurance, risk management, programme support, specialist advisory support and cost intelligence support.

NWL's approach to the Commercial Services framework is based on a multi-lot structure. The lots are organised by services, organisation size and/or region. The proposed lot structure and associated services are set out in this Tender Notice and the associated tender documents.

Suppliers are expected to offer flexible, scalable resourcing solutions that can support both strategic and project-level delivery to meet programme demands across both regions.

NWL welcomes interest from organisations of all sizes, including suppliers who may not currently operate within the water sector or who do not have large established delivery teams.

The Consultant shall provide independent Cost Intelligence services across both the Client's Northumbrian Water and Essex & Suffolk Water operating regions. The services shall support the planning, development, procurement, delivery and close-out of AMP8 and AMP9 investment, including the Living Water Enterprise, Integrated Delivery Services, Major Projects and other strategic investments.

The Consultant shall provide an integrated, evidence-based cost capability that connects scope, quantities, specifications, assumptions and supporting evidence to the relevant cost position. The services shall support robust business cases, affordability assessments, investment submissions, target-cost development, programme forecasting and informed investment decision-making. These works will require the Consultant to work in an embedded and collaborative way with the Client's teams specifically but not limited to, Engineering and Regulatory teams.

The Consultant shall provide, but not be limited to, the following services:

• preparation, review and assurance of cost estimates throughout the project lifecycle;
• independent review and validation of supplier estimates, target costs, quotations, forecasts and outturn costs;
• cost benchmarking using relevant internal and external cost information;
• development and maintenance of benchmark rates, cost models, cost curves and estimating tools;
• market intelligence and analysis of relevant supply-chain, labour, commodity, inflation and delivery conditions;
• affordability assessments, option appraisals and strategic investment planning;
• analysis of quantities, rates, allowances, risk, assumptions and cost drivers;
• comparison of cost positions across projects, programmes and successive project iterations;
• reconciliation of delivered scope and outturn cost against estimates, target costs and earlier cost positions;
• identification and evidence-based explanation of material cost movements;
• data analysis, reporting and management information;
• support for business cases, regulatory submissions, investment submissions and governance approvals; and
• provision of specialist estimating, benchmarking, data analysis and Cost Intelligence resources through individual call-off contracts.

The Consultant shall work in accordance with the Client's standards, processes, systems and governance requirements. This shall include applying agreed cost classifications, scope definitions, yardsticks, measurement rules, project attributes and version controls to ensure cost information remains traceable, comparable and suitable for reuse.

The Consultant shall provide suitably qualified and experienced personnel with relevant construction, infrastructure and water-industry capability. The proposed resources shall collectively demonstrate competence in cost estimating, cost assurance, benchmarking, market analysis, data analytics, affordability assessment and strategic investment planning.