Firms are being sought for a £6bn build-only utilities framework in the North West.
Warrington-based United Utilities will hand out 17 contracts under the 10-year deal, which is part of a significantly expanded asset-management plan that could see the company’s portfolio of work reach £14bn by 2035.
Seven agreements will be allocated under the first lot, which covers non-infrastructure work, while a further 10 will be awarded for a second, infrastructure-based lot.
The non-infrastructure part of the framework, worth £1.7bn, involves the construction of water and wastewater treatment, pumping stations and storage, reservoirs, and bioresource and energy facilities.
Work is expected to include sludge treatment biodigesters, chemical dosing rigs, combined heat and power plants and access roads.
The infrastructure lot, with a value of £4.3bn, will relate to water and wastewater networks, pumping stations, storage and reservoirs.
It is likely to include the installation of pumps, screens and concrete in-situ tanks as well as sewer upsizing.
United Utilities said 10 to 15 companies were expected to be invited to tender for the first lot and 15 to 20 companies for the second.
It added that tenders may be submitted for all lots, but no more than one lot will be allocated to each tenderer.
Firms have until 25 September to submit their requests to participate, with shortlisted candidates expected to be invited to bid on 24 October.
The United Utilities procurement portal can be accessed here.
