Future opportunity

Pre-procurement market engagement on delivery model for the New Infrastructure Delivery Onshore Programme (NIODP)

  • NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION PLC

F04: Periodic indicative notice – utilities (periodic indicative notice only)

Notice reference: 2023/S 000-000455

Published 6 January 2023, 5:02pm



Section one: Contracting entity

one.1) Name and addresses

NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION PLC

1 - 3 Strand

LONDON

WC2N5EH

Contact

Tim Winnett

Email

box.NImarketengagement@nationalgrid.com

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UK - United Kingdom

Companies House

02366977

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.nationalgrid.com/

one.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

one.6) Main activity

Electricity


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Pre-procurement market engagement on delivery model for the New Infrastructure Delivery Onshore Programme (NIODP)

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 45000000 - Construction work

two.1.3) Type of contract

Works

two.1.4) Short description

This notice is published to advertise a pre-procurement market engagement exercise being conducted by National Grid Electricity Transmission plc (NGET).

NGET is seeking feedback from the market to support and refine its approach to a forthcoming procurement process in respect of the NIODP. Further details are contained in this notice and in a market engagement document (MED). The MED has been prepared by NGET to describe the NIODP and NGET's current thinking on the delivery model, and contains questions to which NGET requests responses from the market.

To access the MED please e-mail box.NImarketengagement@nationalgrid.com and a secure website link will be sent to you. In your e-mail, please state "Request for Access to MED" as the subject line and provide the following confirmation in the body of the e-mail:

1. Full name of nominated person to access the secured website

2. E-mail address of the nominated person

This market engagement exercise is open to all persons who are interested (or may be interested) in bidding for a partner or member role in the enterprise delivery model (as described below), directly contracted by NGET, rather as part of a sub-tier contracting arrangement.

The last date for submission of responses to the MED is 20 January 2023 at 16:00 (GMT). Depending on the information provided, NGET may seek to follow up with individual respondents or groups of respondents.

Please note that invitations to (and information on) future related market engagement events or activities (such as group sessions and further questionnaires) may be provided only to those persons who have registered by responding to the MED. No further notice of those subsequent events or activities will be given to the wider market. You are therefore encouraged to respond to the MED to register your details and interest, even where you do not wish to respond to any specific question.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 31200000 - Electricity distribution and control apparatus
  • 45200000 - Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work
  • 51110000 - Installation services of electrical equipment
  • 71240000 - Architectural, engineering and planning services
  • 71320000 - Engineering design services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

NGET is the largest transmission licence holder within the UK, transmitting energy the length and breadth of England and Wales through 7,000 km of overhead line transmission networks, 2,800 km of underground cable and 350 substations to connect local distribution networks to the national grid. As such, NGET will be pivotal in delivering the UK's ambitious targets to promote energy security and the supply of cleaner, greener, energy sources to reach the homes and business of the UK.

The NIODP is one of NGET's most challenging and complex yet, involving the development and construction of over 1,000km of new overhead line and underground transmission lines, alongside associated substation builds and extensions and customer connections onto the new and existing network.

The scale of work required to unlock the energy transition is unprecedented both in terms of the volume of infrastructure and the condensed timeframe in which it needs to be delivered. To meet the 2030 ambition, the first step towards achieving Net Zero by 2050, over five times the amount of new electricity transmission infrastructure will need to be delivered in the next seven years than has been built in the past 30 years. At the same time, the global race to rapidly expand clean energy infrastructure, and respond to the current energy crisis, creates significant competition for supply chain resources and skills.

The scale and complexity of the infrastructure required by the NIODP requires a review of NGET's current approach to engaging and contracting with the supply chain. NGET is developing a more collaborative delivery model, that incorporates relevant Project 13 principles, where NGET and supply chain experts will work together to influence solutions, increase efficiency and predictability to deliver the Government's desired outcomes.

NGET's enterprise delivery model will be based upon the long term strategic alignment of five main roles: (1) NGET - the capable owner; (2) the integrator; (3) strategic partners; (4) enterprise members; and (5) the extended ecosystem.

NGET has selected "No" at II.1.6 in this notice only because the details of the proposed Lots are not yet known and so cannot be completed at this time.

The market engagement exercise is part of a larger range of activities to prepare for delivery of the NIODP and further detail about the anticipated formal launch of the competitive procurement process will be made available in due course. It is currently anticipated that a contract notice will be published by NGET in or around 13 February 2023. This date is indicative and may change (due to either acceleration or deceleration of the procurement programme). Please also note that NGET may elect not to launch a procurement process at all, and / or to deliver some or all of its requirements in some other way.

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

13 February 2023


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of expressions of interest

Date

20 January 2023

Local time

4:00pm

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

The basis on which the market engagement exercise is carried out is as follows:

NGET is requesting feedback and whilst the views from the market sector are important, NGET may choose not to consider or implement any or all of the suggestions made through this process. If beneficial, NGET may also undertake further related market engagement in the future as refinement of the approach continues.

All information provided on NGET's current thinking as part of the market engagement exercise (including the contents of this notice and the MED) should be considered indicative in nature and no overall decision on the delivery model has yet been made.

The market engagement exercise is not a formal request for expressions of interest. Participation or non-participation in this exercise will not confer any advantage or disadvantage on any person in respect of any future competitive procurement process. However, the results of the market engagement exercise (including written responses and any clarification questions or meetings) may be used to shape and refine the delivery model before any formal competitive procurement process is launched.

Respondents should note that information provided in response to the market engagement exercise may (at NGET's discretion) be disclosed by NGET to its directly appointed advisers and consultants (all of whom are subject to obligations of confidentiality as part of their appointment) and / or to Ofgem. The information provided in responses may also be disclosed, in a suitably summarised and anonymised form, to other stakeholders and to other interested persons. Notwithstanding that, where any response (or any part of it) is genuinely commercially sensitive, the respondent should make this clear, and NGET will not include that in any wider publication (beyond its directly appointed advisers and consultants and Ofgem).

NGET is not obliged to respond to any correspondence related to the market engagement exercise. Direct or indirect canvassing of NGET (or any person connected with it) by any person concerning the market engagement exercise, or any attempt to procure information outside of the defined process is discouraged and may (in certain circumstances) require the disqualification of the relevant person(s) from participation in any future competitive procurement process.

Any costs of participation in this market engagement exercise will be borne by the respondent.

All information provided by NGET during this market engagement exercise is at an early stage of development, is not intended by NGET to create any contract or other commitment and is not intended by NGET to be otherwise relied on by any person to any extent. NGET shall have no liability for any losses incurred by any person as a result any such reliance.