One of the core tasks of the water boards is to provide clean water. This means they are responsible for sewage treatment. Sewage sludge is a residual product of the treatment process. The Vallei and Veluwe Water Board wants to minimise the environmental impact of the processing of this sludge. The technology that will make this possible is still being developed. The Water Board would also like to promote innovation with this commission.

Rebel helped the Water Board prepare the procurement strategy and carry out the tendering process. We developed a customised partnership contract in which the Water Board’s future partner can get to work directly on processing the sludge, while also entering a joint 10-year development process. If the partners succeed in developing a new technology, the contract will be extended for another 10 years.

The Water Board entered into discussions with market participants by means of a competitive dialogue to explore the background of the commission and the available solutions together.

In the tendering process, we assess environmental impact, as well as plans for innovation and collaboration. Currently, Rebel is fleshing out the Strategy by creating an implementation programme.

‘By engaging with each other already during the tendering phase, public and private parties can better understand each other’s interests.’ – Emile Barendregt