Hunter Water provides drinking water, wastewater, recycled water and some stormwater services to a population of more than 600,000 people in homes and businesses across the Lower Hunter region of New South Wales.

The Hunter Treatment Alliance was a major works program undertaken by Hunter Water to upgrade existing wastewater treatment plants at various Hunter locations including Boulder Bay, Burwood Beach, Farley and Dora.

We provided advice to Hunter Water regarding the tender processes employed to select an alliance contractor for this program.

We reviewed all relevant process documentation including tender documents, evaluation reports, communications and recommendations. We checked that every participant in evaluation or assessment processes signed a Confidentiality Agreement and Conflict of Interest Declaration. Where necessary we responded to ad hoc requests for probity advice on issues arising during the process.

A Probity Management Plan was developed, including various control measures for incumbent contractors already working with Hunter Water on other projects.

A key component of the non-price assessment was a series of interactive workshops, conducted with each short-listed supplier, and coordinated by the Alliance Facilitator.

We attended and monitored all supplier briefings, site, meetings, interactive workshops, tender evaluation meetings, and supplier interviews.

Probity Reports were prepared at key milestones for the procurement process.

The total project value was estimated to be about $240 million, and the engagement extended from November 2008 to March 2009.