Leading on client bid to secure a significant project with United Utilities

CASE STUDY: Early 2025 • Utilities • 3 year framework • Project value: £1.5m - £5m

At the start of 2025, Procter Street was commissioned to manage and develop a strategic submission for the United Utilities (UU) Reservoir Framework, a three-year programme of works critical to our client’s future pipeline. Working in close collaboration with the client’s staff over a six-week period, Procter Street led the bid management process, contributed technical expertise, and developed detailed, supporting case studies. The result was a comprehensive, high-quality submission delivered on time, aligned with tender requirements, and enhanced by best practice insights from our in-house team. 

Project scope:  

The scope of work was to manage and deliver a complete submission for the United Utilities Reservoir Framework. This required showcasing the client’s sector knowledge and previous work with UU, while structuring, enhancing, and developing responses to meet the strict requirements of the tender. The goal was to produce a technically robust and compelling proposal that demonstrated capability, compliance, and innovation. 

What we delivered:

Procter Street provided full-spectrum bid management and technical input, including: 

• A comprehensive bid management plan, setting out milestones, review stages, and regular client liaison to maintain alignment and ensure deadlines were met. 

• Development of high-quality responses to technical areas, including: 

  • Health, safety, and wellbeing 

  • Commercial management and cost control 

  • Resource planning, availability, and growth strategies 

  • Greenhouse gas emissions strategy and environmental commitments 

• Creation of two detailed case studies that demonstrated technical capability and delivery approach: 

  • Rebuilding a 200m wave wall on an impounded reservoir 

  • Installation of new access metalwork within a valve tower 

  • Each case study was structured to address critical evaluation criteria, including scheduling and programme development, quality assurance processes, health and safety management, and site management methodology. 

Benefits/successes:  

The partnership between Procter Street and the client achieved clear, measurable successes: 

• Submission delivered on time and fully compliant with tender requirements

  
  

• Two technically detailed case studies produced, complete with Microsoft Project (MSP) schedules and programmes to demonstratedelivery planning

  
  

• Procter Street’s in-house design and planning expertise contributed innovative and cost-effective installation methodologies, enhancing the strength of the submission

  
  

• Responses written in line with industry best practice, ensuring clarity, professionalism, and alignment with assessor expectations

  
  

• Complementary expertise provided by Procter Street filled knowledge gaps, ensuring the submission showcased the full breadth of the client’s capabilities

Background information:

The project came at a critical time, the very start of the new year, when the client’s resources were stretched, with several key staff on leave. Facing a short turnaround time, and an opportunity of major strategic importance, the client required immediate support to ensure that both the quality and timeliness of the bid were not compromised. 

Procter Street was able to mobilise quickly, embedding the right expertise to guide the process and strengthen the submission. Our in-house designers and planners worked alongside the client’s staff to develop robust design solutions and project programmes that met the technical demands of the tender. This collaborative approach not only filled short-term capacity gaps but also raised the overall standard of the submission, providing the client with a competitive edge. 

By combining structured bid management, technical expertise, and sector best practice, Procter Street ensured the client was positioned strongly to secure a place on the three-year United Utilities Reservoir framework.