United Utilities shortlist three applicants for HARP ITA role

United Utilities has taken another major step for the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (HARP) by shortlisting three applicants for the role of Independent Technical Adviser (ITA) to participate in the next stage of the tender process.

The following applicants (listed alphabetically) have been invited to negotiate with United Utilities:

• FR JV and Partners comprising of Fluor Limited and Ramboll UK Limited
• Jacobs
• Turner & Townsend Infrastructure Limited

HARP will be the largest infrastructure project undertaken by United Utilities since privatisation. The original aqueduct was completed in the 1950s to increase supplies of water into Manchester and the Pennines from the Lake District. The project will ensure the resilience of the asset for decades to come.

The water company for the North West is seeking to appoint a Competitively Appointed Provider (CAP) to design, build, finance and maintain the replacement of the six tunnels sections (approximately 50km) of the Haweswater Aqueduct. 

The ITA will have a crucial role in ensuring that management of the CAP is assured and/or verified by independent parties. The next stage of the tender process will identify the Preferred Bidder that will then be appointed as the ITA.

Neil Gillespie, Transformation and Strategic Programmes Director at United Utilities, said: “The ITA role is key for HARP as the successful applicant will provide objective, independent oversight of the CAP’s management of project costs and delivery. 

“We’re pleased to have received strong applications for this role and look forward to receiving proposals from the applicants shortlisted for the next stage in due course.”

The HARP project will see six tunnel sections of the existing Haweswater Aqueduct replaced and new connections to existing multiline siphons between the tunnel sections and associated facilities installed.