Northern Ireland Water (NI Water) has launched procurement for its IF109 Integrated Partnerships Framework, a major long-term purchasing programme designed to support delivery of its capital investment programme across water and wastewater infrastructure.

The framework will replace the existing IF105 arrangement, which is due to expire in May 2028. According to Smart Water Magazine, IF109 is being developed to provide the capacity, capability and supply-chain flexibility required to deliver NI Water’s PC28 investment programme and future regulatory periods.

NI Water is Northern Ireland’s principal water and sewerage service provider, responsible for supplying clean water and managing wastewater services across the region. Its infrastructure portfolio includes treatment works, pumping stations, reservoirs and extensive water and wastewater networks, making long-term capital investment and supply-chain capacity central to maintaining essential services.

For National Procurement, the scale of IF109 is particularly significant. The framework has an estimated value of £10.5 billion excluding VAT, with an initial six-year term from October 2027 and potential extensions taking the arrangement through to September 2039. The official procurement notice confirms that the value is shared across four lots covering the full range of capital works.

The lots span Minor Civil Pipelaying, Civil Minor Works, Minor MEICA and Process Works, and Major Civil, MEICA and Process Works. This creates opportunities across the supply chain, from network rehabilitation and pipelaying to major multidisciplinary projects involving mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control, automation and process engineering.

The framework is also intended to support smaller and specialist suppliers. Smart Water Magazine reports that all four lots are considered particularly suitable for SMEs, widening the potential supplier base for NI Water’s future capital programme.

Market engagement is already underway, with a supplier briefing scheduled for 7 October 2026 ahead of the expected formal tender notice. Requests to participate are due by 16 November, with NI Water targeting an award decision by 1 October 2027. The procurement process will be conducted through the eTenders NI portal.

The procurement also has a wider strategic dimension. By establishing a long-term framework rather than procuring individual projects in isolation, NI Water is seeking greater delivery capacity, resilience and value for money across future investment programmes. It also gives suppliers greater visibility of potential demand and allows specialist capabilities to be developed around a sustained infrastructure pipeline.

For the sector, IF109 represents a significant long-term procurement opportunity across Northern Ireland’s water infrastructure market. The framework provides potential work for major contractors, engineering specialists and SMEs while giving the supply chain greater visibility of future demand. For procurement professionals, it also demonstrates how long-term frameworks can support infrastructure resilience while creating a structured route to market for complex capital programmes.

Source: Smart Water Magazine / Northern Ireland Water / UK Government procurement notice