Published date: 16 July 2024

Awarded contract - This means that the contract has been awarded to a supplier.


Closing: 24 June 2024, 12pm

Contract summary

Industry

  • Research and development consultancy services - 73200000

Location of contract

Any region

Value of contract

£8,226

Procurement reference

CF-0328500D8d000003VQwdEAG

Published date

16 July 2024

Closing date

24 June 2024

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

1 July 2024

Contract end date

31 July 2024

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Call-off from a framework agreement

A mini-competition or direct purchase from a pre-established framework agreement.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

The current regulatory model and legislative framework were introduced in a major overhaul of the legislation in 2010, in response to infraction proceedings by the European Commission. The
regulatory model in Wales and England is the same, however there are subtle difference in
legislation, which were introduced by subsequent revisions and amendments. These regulations
replaced the 1991 regulations. Ten years on, it is not obvious what impact there has been on the
quality and sufficiency of these private water supplies.
As the legislation is no longer tied to Council Directive 98/83/EC, this driver for review and
enhancement is gone. The risks of not understanding what impact has been made during the ten
years, are that possible weaknesses will not be addressed and opportunities for improvement will
be missed. This information can be used to inform any potential future policy direction in this area to
protect those relying on a private water supply from associated health risks.
The Drinking Water Inspectorate (the Inspectorate) collates water sampling results for private water
supplies from local authorities, together with summary information on supply risk assessments and
copies of notices served to secure wholesome and/or sufficient supplies, where they have been
provided. The data returns from local authorities also constitute a national register of the private
water supplies in England and Wales, including details of their supply type, location and use.

Research aims

The aims of the initial project were to understand for Wales and England separately;
1. What impact the legislative framework for private water supplies has had on the
protection of the health of consumers through securing safe and sufficient supplies,
and
2. How the regulatory model and legislative framework could be improved.

Award information

Awarded date

16 July 2024

Contract start date

1 July 2024

Contract end date

31 July 2024

Total value of contract

£8,226

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

Water Research Centre Limited

Address

Spring Lodge, 172 Chester Road, Helsby, Cheshire, England WA6 0AR

Reference

None

About the buyer

Contact name

Defra Group Commercial

Address

17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
UK

Email

dgc.rdeframework@defra.gov.uk