IREN Awards €639 Million Multi-Utility Network Maintenance Framework Across Liguria and Piemonte to Two Genoese Contractor Groups

Introduction

IREN S.p.A., the multi-utility group headquartered in Reggio nell'Emilia, has awarded four framework agreements covering the maintenance, emergency intervention, extension and connection of water, gas, sewerage and wastewater treatment networks and plants across Liguria and Piemonte. The four geographic lots carry a combined maximum framework value of €638,780,000 and were awarded under procedure T_57486 to two Genoese contractor groups operating as temporary business groupings (Raggruppamenti Temporanei di Imprese, RTI): the COSME-led RTI and the SIRCE-led RTI. All four contracts were concluded on 28 July 2026.

IREN acted in this procurement in the name and on behalf of three of its operating subsidiaries as directly benefiting entities, with the beneficiary varying by lot: for Lots 1 and 2 covering the Genova area, IRETI S.p.A. (electricity distribution network) and IRETI GAS S.p.A. (gas distribution), plus IREN ACQUA TIGULLIO S.p.A. for Lot 1; and for Lots 3 and 4 covering the La Spezia area, ACAM ACQUE S.p.A. (water and wastewater services). This multi-entity procurement structure, a single contracting authority conducting a unified competitive procedure on behalf of multiple group subsidiaries, is a practical feature of Italian multi-utility group procurement that has important implications for the scope and geographic coverage of each lot's works.

The procurement is governed by EU Directive 2014/25/EU on procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors, the Utilities Directive, rather than the standard public authority procurement Directive 2014/24/EU. This legal distinction matters for the applicable procedural rules, thresholds and review mechanisms.

Why This Contract Matters

At €638.78 million across four lots, this is one of the most significant multi utility infrastructure maintenance framework programmes awarded in northern Italy in the current procurement cycle. IREN Group serves approximately 2.5 million customers across Piemonte, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna and Toscana through its multi-utility portfolio spanning electricity distribution, gas distribution, water supply, wastewater treatment and urban waste management. In Liguria specifically, IREN's operational footprint covers Genova and its hinterland through IRETI and IRETI GAS and the La Spezia area through ACAM ACQUE, making this four-lot framework the backbone of the infrastructure maintenance and emergency response capacity for a large part of the region's water, gas and sewerage systems for the next four to eight years.

The framework structure, without reopening of competition, with a 48 month base term renewable for 24 months, provides both IREN and its contractor partners with a stable, long duration operational relationship. For the winning RTI groups, this is not a single contract to complete and move on from; it is a sustained four to eight-year maintenance and emergency response commitment to the infrastructure serving hundreds of thousands of utility customers across Liguria and parts of Piemonte.

Contract Timeline

Contract Overview

The subject of all four framework agreements is identical in scope type but varies in geographic coverage and the specific utilities served: Lavori di manutenzione, pronto intervento, estendimento ed allacciamento su reti e impianti, maintenance works, emergency intervention, extension and connection on networks and plants. In operational terms, this covers the full spectrum of field engineering activities required to keep multi-utility distribution networks running:

• Routine maintenance: Planned preventive and corrective maintenance on water distribution mains, gas distribution mains, sewerage networks and wastewater treatment plant components.
• Pronto intervento (emergency intervention): Rapid response to network failures, leaks, blockages and emergency conditions, one of the most operationally demanding components of any multi-utility maintenance contract, requiring the contractor to maintain 24/7 standby capacity and respond to call outs within defined timeframes regardless of weather, time of day or geographic remoteness.
• Estendimento (network extension): Civil and pipe-laying works to extend the distribution network to new connection points, developments or previously unserved areas.
• Allacciamento (connection works): Installation and commissioning of individual connection points, service connections from the main distribution network to individual properties and customers.

Each lot is structured as a framework agreement without reopening of competition, meaning that work orders are placed directly with the single framework holder for each lot rather than through mini-competitions. The option clause allows IREN to renew for 24 months, extend for a further 12 months and vary the scope by up to ±20 percent during both the base and renewal periods, giving the contracting entity meaningful flexibility to respond to changing infrastructure investment plans without launching new procurement procedures.

Lot-by-Lot Results

The geographic split reflects the operational territories of IREN's subsidiaries: the Genova area is served by IRETI (electricity distribution), IRETI GAS and IREN ACQUA TIGULLIO, while the La Spezia province is served by ACAM ACQUE, a company IREN acquired as part of its expansion into the eastern Ligurian utility market. The gas network (IRETI GAS) is included only in the Genova lots (Lots 1 and 2), since ACAM ACQUE's remit in La Spezia covers water and wastewater only.

Key Contract Details

About the Contracting Authority, IREN Group

IREN S.p.A. (Registration: 07129470014, Reggio nell'Emilia 42123, NUTS ITH53) is one of northern Italy's principal multi-utility groups, providing electricity distribution, gas distribution, water supply, wastewater treatment and urban waste management services across Piemonte, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna and Toscana. IREN is classified as a public undertaking, with significant public shareholding through the municipalities of Genova, Turin, Reggio nell'Emilia and other local authorities that hold stakes in the group.

In this procurement, IREN acted as the central contracting entity on behalf of four subsidiaries whose infrastructure networks form the physical subject of the maintenance contracts:

• IRETI S.p.A., IREN Group's distribution network company, managing the electricity and water distribution infrastructure in the Genova area and parts of Piemonte.
• IRETI GAS S.p.A., IREN Group's gas distribution entity for the Genova area, managing the gas mains and connection infrastructure covered by Lots 1 and 2.
• IREN ACQUA TIGULLIO S.p.A., IREN's water and wastewater company serving the Tigullio Riviera area east of Genova, included in the Lot 1 scope.
• ACAM ACQUE S.p.A., IREN's water and wastewater subsidiary for the La Spezia province, serving the areas covered by Lots 3 and 4 including the Gulf of La Spezia, its coastal riviera and the inland valleys of Val di Vara and Val di Magra.

Procurement enquiries for this programme are directed to appalti_lavori@pec.gruppoiren.it; telephone +39 011 5549153. Review falls under the jurisdiction of TAR Liguria (Registration: 95004670105, Genova 16145, email: targe-segrprotocolloamm@ga-cert.it, telephone: +39 010 9897111).

About the Organisations Involved

RTI COSME, led by COSME S.p.A. (Registration: 01191490992, Via Gualco 58, Genova 16165, NUTS ITC33. Email: pec@pec.cosmespa.it. Tel: +39 010 564289), with mandante CONSORZIO INNOVA Soc. Coop. and cooptata ROTECH S.r.l., wins Lots 1 and 4, covering respectively the Genova Levante area (water, gas, sewerage, €229,600,000) and the La Spezia 2 inland valleys (water and sewerage, €84,460,000). Combined framework value: €314,060,000. Subcontracting is declared applicable on both lots, with specific value and percentage not disclosed at time of notice publication.

COSME S.p.A. is a Genoese utility infrastructure contractor with operational specialisation in the maintenance and construction of water, gas and sewerage networks in the Ligurian metropolitan area, a track record that evidently made it the preferred partner for IREN's principal subsidiary (IRETI/IRETI GAS/IREN ACQUA TIGULLIO) in the Levante sector of Genova's distribution network and for ACAM ACQUE's more rural La Spezia 2 territory.

RTI SIRCE/COGNI, led by SIRCE S.p.A. (Registration: 00809020159, Piazza Borgo Pila 40/67, Genova 16129, NUTS ITC33. Email: 00809020159.genova@pec.ance.it. Tel: +39 010 5768111), with mandante IMPRESA COGNI S.p.A. and ten cooptate firms: Rebecchi Matteo e C. S.n.c., Impre.Ge. Costruzioni S.r.l. Unipersonale, I.L.S.E.T. S.r.l., E.S.O. Strade S.r.l., Tecno Costruzioni S.r.l., Tassistro Gian Bruno S.r.l., Benassi S.r.l., Cognigni S.r.l. Unipersonale, Idro-Edil S.r.l. and Drafinsub S.r.l., wins Lot 2, covering the Genova Ponente, Asti and Savona area (water, gas, sewerage, €229,600,000). Subcontracting declared applicable; value and percentage not disclosed.

RTI SIRCE/BONGIORNI, led by the same SIRCE S.p.A., with mandante A. BONGIORNI S.r.l. and five cooptate firms: Queirolo Roberto S.r.l., Benassi S.r.l., DIM GROUP S.r.l., Tassistro Gian Bruno S.r.l. and ART SUB S.r.l., wins Lot 3, covering La Spezia 1 Golfo della Spezia e Riviera (water and sewerage, €95,120,000). Subcontracting declared applicable; value and percentage not disclosed.

SIRCE S.p.A.'s dual role, leading two distinct RTIs (with COGNI for Lot 2 and with Bongiorni for Lot 3) under the same procedure, is a structurally notable procurement outcome, reflecting SIRCE's position as a dominant Genoese multi-utility contractor capable of fielding different consortium configurations for different geographic areas. Together, the SIRCE-led RTIs hold a combined framework value of €324,720,000 across Lots 2 and 3.

Procurement Analysis

Several features of this procurement merit analytical attention for the utility infrastructure and civil contracting sectors in northern Italy.

The MEAT criterion, 70 points quality, 30 points price, is consistent with IREN's approach to complex, multi-year emergency maintenance contracts where operational reliability, emergency response capability and technical methodology carry more weight than pure price competition. A contractor who bids cheapest on a 24/7 emergency intervention contract but cannot actually sustain the response quality IRETI requires is a more damaging commercial partner than one who bids at a moderate premium with demonstrably superior operational infrastructure. The 70/30 split formalises this prioritisation within the evaluation framework.

The concentration of awards between two Genoese contractor groups, RTI COSME and RTI SIRCE, reflects the relatively concentrated competitive landscape for large-scale multi-utility maintenance contracts in the Ligurian market, where the combination of geographic knowledge, established IREN group relationships, local subcontractor networks and the capital and equipment investment required to sustain 24/7 emergency intervention capacity over a multi-year period effectively limits the pool of credibly competitive bidders. The 3-to-4 bids received per lot are consistent with this market structure.

The cooptazione structure of the SIRCE/COGNI and SIRCE/Bongiorni RTIs, with 10 and 5 cooptate firms respectively, deserves specific explanation. Under Italian public procurement rules, a cooptata is a firm included in the RTI for the purpose of meeting specific qualification requirements (typically specialist subcontracting capacity or geographic coverage), with the cooptata providing capacity to demonstrate compliance with the tender specifications without itself being a full mandante in the RTI's legal structure. The large number of cooptate in the SIRCE/COGNI group, ten firms spanning construction, road works, electrical installations, specialist diving and drainage, reflects the exceptional breadth of technical specialisations required by a multi-utility framework covering water, gas, sewerage and wastewater treatment across a geographically diverse service territory that includes both the urban Genova Ponente waterfront and the inland areas of Asti and Savona province.

The legal basis, Directive 2014/25/EU (the Utilities Directive) rather than 2014/24/EU, means that this procurement is subject to a somewhat different regulatory regime than a standard public authority contract. Utilities procurement under 2014/25/EU provides contracting entities with greater procedural flexibility than the standard directive in some areas, including on negotiated procedures and qualification systems, while still ensuring transparency and competition through publication requirements and review mechanisms. The TAR Liguria review jurisdiction applies equally, preserving bidders' access to administrative justice regardless of the applicable directive.

Additional Procurement Facts

• Legal basis: EU Directive 2014/25/EU (Utilities Directive); Italian implementing legislation
• GPA coverage: Yes, all lots covered by WTO Government Procurement Agreement
• EU funding: No, not financed with EU funds
• All bids electronic
• Bids received per lot: Lot 1: 3 / Lot 2: 3 / Lot 3: 3 / Lot 4: 4
• Subcontracting: Declared applicable on all four lots; specific values and percentages not disclosed at time of notice
• Option, renewal: 24 months (1 renewal permitted)
• Option, extension (proroga): 12 months
• Option, scope variation: ±20% of estimated framework value during base and renewal periods
• Review body: TAR Liguria, Genova 16145

Market and Industry Perspective

Multi-utility maintenance frameworks of this scale, covering water, gas, sewerage and wastewater treatment across a multi-province territory under a single unified procurement procedure, represent a procurement model that Italy's multi-utility groups have progressively refined over the past decade. Rather than managing separate procurement exercises for each utility type, each service territory and each subsidiary, IREN's approach of a single open procedure under IREN S.p.A.'s contracting authority umbrella, with lot-by-lot geographic and utility-type differentiation, delivers economies of procurement administration while preserving the operational specificity of each lot's geographic and technical scope.

For the northern Italian civil contracting and utility services market, frameworks of this scale and duration are among the most commercially significant awards in a given procurement cycle. The eight-year theoretical maximum horizon (48 months base + 24 months renewal + 12 months proroga) for each lot gives winning RTIs a sustained revenue pipeline that underpins workforce planning, equipment investment and subcontractor network development in a way that shorter-duration contracts cannot provide.

Economic Significance

A combined framework maximum value of €638,780,000 across four lots makes this one of the largest single utility infrastructure maintenance framework programmes published in Italy's TED-reported procurement in 2026. Distributed across two Genoese RTI groups and their collective network of subcontractors and cooptate firms spanning over a dozen Ligurian and Piemontese specialist contractors, the programme represents a substantial and sustained injection of infrastructure maintenance investment into the regional economy of Liguria and parts of Piemonte.

For IREN Group's service quality and regulatory standing, the programme is equally significant: multi-utility groups operating under concession arrangements in Italy are held to measurable service quality standards by the national energy and water regulator (ARERA), with penalties for response time failures and network performance shortfalls. A well-functioning maintenance and emergency intervention framework directly supports IREN's ability to meet these regulatory requirements across its Ligurian operational territory.

Future Procurement Opportunities

Businesses tracking IREN Group's procurement pipeline should monitor:

• IREN's corporate procurement portal and TED notifications for future framework renewals, when the current 48-month terms approach expiry, IREN will typically publish new contract notices for successor frameworks.
• Individual work orders placed under these frameworks, which may be published as subsidiary contract award notices during the framework's operational life where they meet relevant publication thresholds.
• Broader IREN Group procurement in Piemonte (under IREN's Turin-area operations) and Emilia Romagna, which runs on similar framework structures but under different regional subsidiary entities.

Opportunities for Suppliers

The declared subcontracting on all four lots, with specific values and percentages not yet disclosed, creates a supply chain pipeline for specialist firms that did not directly participate in the open procedure:

• Pipeline and civil works specialists for water main, gas main and sewer replacement and extension works across the Ligurian and Piemontese service territories.
• Specialist diving and underwater intervention firms (Drafinsub S.r.l.'s presence in the SIRCE/COGNI cooptate group specifically identifies underwater infrastructure inspection and intervention as a required capability for the Genova Ponente coastal service territory).
• Road restoration and surface reinstatement contractors, a consistent demand arising from any programme involving underground utility network maintenance and extension works in an urban environment.
• Electrical installation specialists for metering, telemetry and network monitoring infrastructure associated with water and gas distribution networks.
• Vehicle hire, equipment supply and logistics firms serving the operational requirements of a sustained 24/7 emergency response infrastructure maintenance programme across multiple provinces.

What Businesses Should Watch

• Any contract modification notices relating to the four framework agreements (T_57486 Lots 1–4), which may reflect changes to subcontracting arrangements or scope variations during the initial mobilisation phase.
• TAR Liguria proceedings that may be initiated by unsuccessful bidders within the standard administrative review deadline.
• ARERA regulatory decisions affecting IRETI, IRETI GAS, IREN ACQUA TIGULLIO and ACAM ACQUE's service quality obligations, which can influence the pace and priority of network maintenance and investment activity under these frameworks.

ItalyTenders.com Procurement Intelligence

ItalyTenders.com tracks contract award notices, utility sector framework programmes and procurement opportunities from Italian multi-utility groups and public authorities, as well as EU-level procurement published through the TED portal. This notice confirms the conclusion of four framework agreements totalling €638.78 million for multi-utility network maintenance across Liguria and Piemonte, distributed between RTI COSME (Lots 1 and 4, €314 million combined) and two SIRCE-led RTIs (Lots 2 and 3, €325 million combined), in what amounts to one of the most significant utility infrastructure maintenance procurements in northern Italy in 2026.

Supplier Takeaways

• IREN S.p.A., acting for IRETI, IRETI GAS, IREN ACQUA TIGULLIO and ACAM ACQUE, has awarded four framework agreements (T_57486) worth a combined €638.78 million for water, gas, sewerage and wastewater network maintenance across Liguria and Piemonte, with all contracts concluded on 28 July 2026.
• RTI COSME (led by COSME S.p.A., Genova) wins Lots 1 and 4 (€314,060,000 combined); RTI SIRCE/COGNI (led by SIRCE S.p.A., Genova) wins Lot 2 (€229,600,000); RTI SIRCE/BONGIORNI (also led by SIRCE S.p.A.) wins Lot 3 (€95,120,000).
• All four frameworks run for 48 months, renewable for 24 months, with a further 12-month extension option and ±20% scope variation flexibility.
• Award criterion: MEAT, 70 points quality / 30 points price across all lots.
• SIRCE S.p.A. leads two distinct RTIs across Lots 2 and 3, using different partner configurations tailored to each geographic area's technical requirements.

Key Takeaways

• IREN Group has awarded four utility network maintenance frameworks totalling €638.78 million across Liguria and Piemonte, one of the largest multi-utility infrastructure maintenance procurements in northern Italy in the current procurement cycle.
• The programme covers water, gas, sewerage and wastewater treatment network maintenance, emergency intervention, extension and connection across Genova, La Spezia, Asti and Savona provinces.
• Two Genoese RTI groups, COSME-led and SIRCE-led, hold all four frameworks, with SIRCE S.p.A. uniquely positioned as lead entity in two of the four awarded lots.
• The procurement is governed by EU Directive 2014/25/EU (Utilities Directive) rather than the standard public authority directive, with TAR Liguria as the review jurisdiction.
• Subcontracting is declared applicable across all four lots; specific supply chain opportunities will emerge as the frameworks become operational.

Conclusion

IREN Group's award of four multi-utility network maintenance frameworks totalling €638.78 million, distributed between the COSME-led and SIRCE-led contractor groups, represents a landmark procurement outcome for Liguria's utility infrastructure sector. For the winning RTIs, the contracts provide a 4-to-8-year operational horizon for the maintenance, emergency response and extension of the water, gas and sewerage networks serving hundreds of thousands of customers across Genova, La Spezia and their surrounding provinces. For IREN and its subsidiaries, the frameworks establish the contractor infrastructure required to meet service quality, emergency response and investment obligations across one of northern Italy's most geographically and operationally complex multi-utility service territories. For the wider Ligurian contractor and subcontractor supply chain, the programme's scale and duration will sustain meaningful specialist employment and investment across civil, pipeline, electrical and environmental services for years to come.

Source: EU Official Journal, Contract Award Notice 532305-2026, OJ S 146/2026, published 31 July 2026. Contracting authority: IREN S.p.A. in nome e per conto di IRETI S.p.A., IRETI GAS S.p.A., IREN ACQUA TIGULLIO S.p.A. and ACAM ACQUE S.p.A.