P&C Framework
AI Summary
Northumbrian Water Group is initiating a pre‑market engagement to explore the creation of a future multi‑supplier framework that will underpin a comprehensive productivity, collaboration and automation landscape. The procurement focuses on services that enable, optimise and govern Microsoft 365 and the Power Platform, while delivering intelligent automation that spans both native Microsoft tools and leading RPA solutions such as UiPath. The buyer seeks a trusted partner capable of working alongside internal teams to drive user adoption, enforce governance, and demonstrate measurable value over time rather than delivering isolated projects.
At the core of the proposed capability framework are four interlinked priorities: (1) enhancing adoption and effective use of productivity tools such as Teams, SharePoint, Viva and Power Apps; (2) building integrated workflow automation through Power Automate and API‑driven connectors that interface with enterprise systems like Oracle, ServiceNow, Maximo, Autodesk Construction Cloud, and other business applications; (3) deploying intelligent automation that includes Power Automate Desktop and, where justified, UiPath for robotic processes; and (4) establishing robust monitoring and insight layers using Power BI or Microsoft Fabric to track adoption, performance and benefit realization. The framework should support end‑to‑end orchestration, long‑running processes, exception handling, and human approvals, all while maintaining secure, scalable integration powered by Azure where necessary.
The engagement requires suppliers to demonstrate capability across Microsoft 365 optimisation, Power Platform governance, workflow orchestration, RPA judgement, agent‑based automation, cross‑system process orchestration, change management, and value measurement, and to outline preferred engagement models such as outcome‑based, embedded teams or managed services. Essential technical requirements include the use of API connectors and reusable integration patterns, with UI automation deployed only when indispensable, and secure, behind‑the‑scenes components to ensure reliable, scalable solutions.
Description
Pre- Market Engagement Notice: Productivity, Collaboration and Automation Enablement
Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) is undertaking a pre-market engagement exercise to help us understand supplier capability, delivery approaches and partnering models to support our productivity, collaboration and automation landscape.
This engagement is intended to inform potential future commercial options and does not constitute a commitment to procure, nor a call for competition.
Purpose of Engagement
NWG want to understand what services and partner models are available in the market to potentially set up a future multi-supplier framework and help us maximize value from:
1. Microsoft 365 (productivity and collaboration)
2. Power Platform (solution and workflow enablement)
3. Intelligent automation (including UiPath and Microsoft automation capabilities such as Power Automate Cloud & Power Automate Desktop)
4. The insight and reporting layer required to measure adoption and benefits (Power BI / Microsoft Fabric where appropriate)
We are interested in suppliers who can work as a trusted partner alongside our teams, helping us improve adoption, strengthen governance, and demonstrate measurable value over time (not just deliver one-off pieces of work).
Strategic intent
NWG wants to build a repeatable, enterprise-grade capability for modern work and automation. We are looking for partners who can help us:
• Improve adoption and effective use of tools (not just deploy features).
• Put in place practical governance and support models so solutions are safe, supportable and scalable.
• Use the right automation approach for the right job, including:
- Power Automate for workflow automation
- Microsoft Copilot agents/agent extensions where appropriate (agents that use approved knowledge and can take approved actions in workflows)
- UiPath where RPA is genuinely required
• Move towards end-to-end automation and orchestration for complex processes, including long running workflows and human approvals where needed.
• Make outcomes measurable (adoption, performance and benefits), using Power BI / Fabric where it helps.
Our processes run across a wide application estate. We are interested in automation and orchestration that can work end to end across multiple enterprise platforms (for example Oracle, ServiceNow, Maximo, Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), and other business systems), as well as Microsoft 365.
Where possible, we prefer API/connectors and reusable integration patterns, with UI automation where unavoidable. We are also interested in secure integration and supporting components "behind the scenes" (including Azure where needed) to keep solutions reliable at scale.
Framework intent - NWG is exploring a potential multi supplier framework to provide access to a broad range of specialist skills, with the ability to call off support as needed through outcome focused work packages and/or embedded delivery models alongside NWG teams.
The final scope, structure and commercial approach may be refined based on this engagement.
Areas of Interest (Non-Exhaustive)
Suppliers are invited to share high level information on capability and experience across the following areas (non exhaustive):
1. Microsoft 365 optimisation and governance (e.g. Teams, SharePoint, Viva)
2. Power Platform development and governance (Power Apps, Dataverse, Power Automate)
3. Workflow automation and orchestration (Power Automate and integration-led approaches)
4. RPA and intelligent automation (UiPath/Power Automate Desktop), including guidance on when RPA is justified
5. Agent based automation in the Microsoft ecosystem (Copilot agents/extensions) and how this is governed safely (NWG is not seeking unmanaged AI tools; Copilot agents must operate within approved knowledge sources, governed actions, and auditable workflows)
6. End to end process orchestration across systems, including long running processes, exceptions and human approvals
7. Adoption, change, upskilling and knowledge transfer (so NWG ownership increases over time)
8. Value realisation and measurement (dashboards/KPIs/benefits reporting using Power BI/Fabric where appropriate)
Supplier Response
Please submit a short capability overview (maximum 4-6 slides or 3 pages) covering:
• Your relevant service offerings (aligned to the 8 capability areas above)
• Examples of similar work in large and/or regulated organisations
• Your typical engagement model(s) (e.g. outcome based, embedded teams, managed service, call off approach)
• How you would support adoption, governance and value realisation (high level)
To help us compare responses, please also answer these three
short prompts (on a single page):
1. How do you decide between Power Automate, Copilot agents, API-based automation and RPA (UiPath)?
2. Provide one example of an end to end process you've supported across multiple platforms, and how you handled exceptions and approvals.
3. What does "good" look like for governance and support in production (high level)?
This information will help NWG shape requirements and consider appropriate commercial models.
Contract location: UK
Engagement process description
pre-market engagement exercise to help us understand supplier capability, delivery approaches and partnering models to support our productivity, collaboration and automation landscape.
This engagement is intended to inform potential future commercial options and does not constitute a commitment to procure, nor a call for competition.
Lot: 1
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: En