CM3470 - DPC Programme Advisory

This Preliminary Market Engagement (UK2) notice is being issued to inform the market that Yorkshire Water Services Limited is undertaking early engagement with suppliers to support the development of the sourcing strategy for a Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) Programme Advisory Framework.

Yorkshire Water is progressing a pipeline of major infrastructure projects for delivery using the Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) delivery model. Under DPC, a competitively appointed provider designs, builds, finances and potentially operates major infrastructure assets under long-term contractual arrangements.

DPC projects are subject to regulatory oversight by Ofwat, including staged regulatory submissions demonstrating strategic case, procurement readiness, and value for customers before contracts can be awarded.

Yorkshire Water is therefore exploring the establishment of a multi-disciplinary professional services framework and/or strategic partnerships to support the development of bankable DPC projects capable of progressing through regulatory approvals and competitive procurement.

The framework may provide support across several disciplines, including:

• Technical advisory - engineering, design, environmental assessment, ecology, planning and technical assurance

• Commercial advisory - development of business cases aligned with the HM Treasury Five Case Model, procurement strategy, market engagement, commercial structuring, risk allocation, payment mechanisms and incentivisation structures

• Legal advisory - development of robust contractual arrangements for major infrastructure concessions, building on previous DPC and infrastructure projects, including specialist support in planning and infrastructure law

• Programme assurance - independent assurance of submissions and programme governance to ensure regulatory compliance and readiness for Ofwat/RAPID assessments and associated approval processes

The information gathered through this engagement will help shape the proposed scope, structure, commercial model and procurement approach for the framework.

This exercise is for information-gathering purposes only and does not constitute a call for competition. Participation in this engagement will not provide any advantage or disadvantage in any subsequent procurement process.

Suppliers interested in contributing to this market engagement are invited to express their interest in accordance with the instructions set out in this notice