The Metropolitan Council of Barcelona has formally approved the classification of bids for a 25-year drinking water supply contract spanning eight municipalities. The decision ratifies French multinational Veolia as the top-ranked bidder for the project, which impacts approximately 230,000 residents across the region.
Metropolitan Council Advances Veolia Proposal
The Consell Metropolità advanced the tender process by approving the scoring order for companies bidding on the potable water supply services. Veolia secured the highest technical score with 49 points and the leading economic score with 24 points.
The service contract covers eight distinct municipalities: Cervelló, Corbera de Llobregat, Molins de Rei, la Palma de Cervelló, Ripollet, Sant Andreu de la Barca, Sant Cugat del Vallès, and Tiana. Among these locations, Sant Cugat del Vallès registers as the largest municipality included in the agreement.
Corporate Structure and Shareholder Context
Veolia operates as the primary shareholder of Aigües de Barcelona. The corporate makeup of Aigües de Barcelona features notable regional stakeholders. Criteria, the investment holding society of La Caixa, holds a 15 percent stake, while the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB) maintains another 15 percent stake. La Caixa also holds a 5.1 percent share in Aigües de Barcelona.
Following the classification approval, Veolia must submit mandatory documentation to verify the technical and economic solvency required by the tender specifications. Once authorities review and verify these records, the final contract award proposal will return to the Metropolitan Council for definitive consideration at a future meeting.
Bidding Competition and Financial Adjustments
The tender process drew interest from utility groups. Six competing offers or joint ventures entered the competition alongside Veolia. These included a temporary business union (UTE) formed by FCC Aqualia and Aguas de Valencia (Global Òmnium); a UTE comprising Gestión y Técnicas del Agua and Saur; a UTE uniting Constructora de Calaf and Sociedad de Fomento Agrícola Castellonense; a UTE pairing Indaqua and Hidrogestión; and Sacyr Agua.
During the evaluation phase, Veolia and competing consortia—specifically the UTEs involving Gestión y Técnicas del Agua alongside Saur, and Sociedad de Fomento Agrícola Castellonense alongside GS Inima Environment and Calaf Constructora—had to justify their financial proposals to prove their bids were not too low. Veolia’s proposal incorporated a 60 percent reduction in unit prices for capital investments, which amount to approximately 168 million euros.
Legal Framework and Historical Context
This procurement process stems from a ruling issued by the High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) in October 2020. That judicial resolution recognized the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB) as the competent public administration authorized to determine the management model and operational mechanisms for the water cycle within its jurisdiction, adhering to its foundational legal statutes.
The French conglomerate already supplies drinking water to Barcelona alongside 22 other municipalities within the metropolitan area. The company previously managed operations in five of the eight municipalities included in the current procurement cycle.
