Safer Drinking Water in Schools (SDWS) Programme - Horowhenua District Bundle - RFQ

Overview The Ministry of Education is seeking tenders for the delivery of drinking water infrastructure upgrades at Manakau School and Opiki School in the Horowhenua District, as part of the Drinking Safer Water in Schools (DSWS) Programme. About Both schools have undergone condition assessments and design development, which have identified infrastructure upgrades required to improve drinking water quality, storage capacity, system resilience, and compliance with Ministry standards. Purpose The programme has been established to address drinking water compliance requirements under the Water Services Act 2021 and to improve the safety, reliability and resilience of self-supplying school water systems. The Ministry has bundled the two schools into a single procurement package to improve delivery efficiency and streamline contractor mobilisation across the region. Scope Works vary by school but generally include: New drinking water storage tanks Treatment sheds Telemetry and smart metering systems First flush diverters Treatment equipment upgrades Associated pipework Electrical works Civil works Commissioning activities At Manakau School, consolidation of the school's existing separate rainwater collection and storage systems into a single compliant rainwater supply network At Opiki School, replacement of ageing storage infrastructure and resolution of deficiencies within the existing water collection and distribution systems Contractor Requirements Ability to work within live school environments Minimise disruption to school operations Maintain strong health and safety practices Coordinate closely with school stakeholders throughout delivery Contract Terms and Conditions Works are expected to commence in December 2026, with completion targeted by March 2027 Instructions to Tenderers Tender evaluation will be based on the following weighted criteria: Price: 50% Proposed solution: 20% Capability: 10% Capacity: 10% Economic benefits: 10%