By Ashley Karen
United Utilities proceeded to the next significant step in the tender process for the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Program (HARP) contract by announcing three consortia to engage in the next stage.
The following candidates are requested to negotiate with United Utilities:
- HARP Community Connectors: including Acciona, Dragados and Iridium
- More Water: containing FCC Construcción, SNC-Lavalin, FCC Aqualia, Webuild and BeMo Tunnelling
- Strabag Equitix Consortium: including Equitix and Strabag
As reported, Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Program will be the largest infrastructure project launched by United Utilities since privatization.
The original aqueduct was finished in the 1950s to improve water supplies into Manchester and the Pennines from the Lake District. The scheme is going to observe the replacement of six tunnel sections through the 80-mile aqueduct route, assuring the stability of the asset for decades to come.
United Utilities has the aim to set a Competitively Appointed Provider (CAP) to design, build, finance and maintain the replacement of the six tunnels sections (nearly 50km) of the Haweswater Aqueduct. The next stage of the tender process will specify the selected bidder that will then be chosen as the CAP.
The Director of Strategic Programs at United Utilities, Neil Gillespie, pointed out: “This is a significant milestone on our long journey to replace an important part of our water infrastructure. There have been many years of careful planning to get us to this point and I am extremely proud of the whole team who have worked tirelessly to get us here.”
He continued: “We are embracing the new Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) delivery approach introduced by Ofwat who we have worked with closely over the last few years to develop the commercial arrangements for this model.”
“The new aqueduct will create a resilient water supply for our customers in Manchester and the Pennine region for many generations to come,” added Neil.
The CAP will provide the replacement of the six tunnel sections of the current Haweswater Aqueduct and links to existing multiline siphons between the tunnel sections and correlated facilities. In addition, The CAP will launch the commissioning and proceeding maintenance of these works for roughly 25 years after fulfilment.
