Water distribution and related services

Tender description

Commercial Services is one of the largest trading organisations of its kind in the UK with a turnover currently in excess of 600 000 000 GBP per annum and employing over 800 people from its base in Kent. With its Schools Supplies Division set up over 70 years ago by Kent County Council, it has grown organically since then to supply an ever-increasing range of best value goods and services to other publicly funded organisations. These include local government, education establishments, the care sector and emergency services. LASER was established as part of Commercial Services in 1989, in response to the increasing competitiveness of the deregulated energy markets and now provides complete energy solutions to 160 Local Authorities and other Public Sector bodies throughout the UK. Kent County Council (the Contracting Authority) is the largest local authority in England covering an area of 3 500 square kilometres. It has an annual expenditure of over 1 000 000 000 000 GBP on goods and services and a population of 1 300 000. The Council provides a wide range of personal and strategic services on behalf of its residents, operating in partnership with 12 district councils and 289 parish/town councils. In accordance with best procurement practice, EU and UK Procurement Directives and Regulations, the Contracting Authority wishes to create a Framework Agreement (the Agreement) for Water Supply and Sewerage Services. The procurement process adopted by the Contracting Authority is based upon the ‘Open’ Procedure, as detailed in the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and the EU Combined Procurement Directive 2014/24/EU.