Scope
Title
Ground Investigations Services
Reference
8776
Description
This Pipeline Notice is seeking Expressions of Interest from suppliers who can provide the full range of Ground Investigations (GI) Services throughout the UK and Ireland. The GI Services will inform the design of electrical assets including, but not limited to, the following:
• High voltage cable installation
• Onshore windfarm GI services
• Overhead Line (OHL) towers
• Substations
SSE is currently developing a formal tender for the provision of Ground Investigations Services, which it is aiming to launch within the next 6-9 months.
It is anticipated the Ground Investigations Services will be contracted under a non-committal framework(s) and will run for an initial 3-year period, with extension options available (subject to agreement by SSE).
SSE is a purpose-led company involved principally in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity; and also in the supply of energy and related services to customers. SSE has a number of Business Units that include SSEN Transmission, SSEN Distribution, SSE Renewables, SSE Thermal, SSE Airtricity and SSE Corporate.
This Pipeline Notice is being issued by SSE Services PLC, which covers all of SSE's Group companies in the UK and Ireland.
SSEN Transmission
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Transmission (SSEN Transmission) are responsible for the electricity transmission network in the north of Scotland, maintaining and investing in the high voltage electricity transmission network. SSEN Transmission's network consists of underground and subsea cables, overhead lines on wooden poles or steel towers, and electricity substations.
SSEN Distribution
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Distribution (SSEN Distribution) are the electricity Distribution Network Operator (DNO) responsible for delivering power to over 3.9 million homes and businesses across central southern England and the north of Scotland.
SSE Renewables
SSE Renewables is a leading developer and operator of renewable energy generation, headquartered in the UK and Ireland, with a growing presence internationally. SSE Renewables focus on onshore and offshore wind, hydro, solar and battery storage.
SSE Thermal
SSE Thermal is responsible for the flexible generation subsidiary of SSE plc, focusing on flexible energy generation and storage assets including carbon capture and storage (CCS), hydrogen, energy-from-waste, energy storage and gas generation.
SSE Airtricity
SSE Airtricity is the retail subsidiary of SSE plc, supplying green electricity, natural gas and energy-related services to homes and businesses in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
SSE Corporate
SSE Corporate includes Human Resources, Corporate Affairs, Legal, Procurement and Finance.
Range of Services Required
SSE will require suppliers under the framework to provide a range of Ground Investigations Services as below.
The specification shall be the UK Specification for Ground Investigation 3rd Edition, published by ICE Publishing.
SSE requires suppliers who have the necessary resources and technical capabilities to provide the services which are anticipated, but not limited, to include the following:
• General items, amenities, and additional items
• Cable Percussion boring and Dynamic Sampling
• Rotary drilling
• Sonic Drilling
• Pitting and trenching
• Sampling and monitoring during intrusive investigation
• Dynamic Probing and cone penetration testing
• Geophysical surveys
• Field testing
• Instrumentation
• Installation monitoring and sampling (during Fieldwork Period)
• Installation monitoring and sampling (post Fieldwork Period)
• Geotechnical laboratory testing
• Geoenvironmental laboratory testing
• Technical support from ground practitioners and other personnel
• Long term storage of samples
Minimum Criteria to be invited to take part in a PQQ/Tender
1. Confirmation your organisation currently provides the full range of Ground Investigations Services as listed above, across the UK and Ireland
2. Please evidence that your organisation has held similar Ground Investigations Service contracts, within the last 5 years which have informed the design of any of the following electrical assets:
• High voltage cable installation
• Onshore windfarm GI services
• Overhead Line (OHL) towers
• Substations
SSE may exercise discretion from the minimum criteria where required.
Please email your Expression of Interest with supporting information (total maximum word limit - 1 side of A4) to show you meet the minimum criteria to Clare Macdonald Strategic Procurement Officer at:
If you have any further questions, please email them to the address above.
The deadline for submission of your Expression of Interest with the supporting information is 16:00hours 25th March 2025
Contract type
Services
Main category (CPV code)
- 71300000 - Engineering services
Additional categories (CPV codes)
- 45000000 - Construction work
- 65000000 - Public utilities
- 71500000 - Construction-related services
- 90715220 - Industrial site investigation
Contract location
- UK - United Kingdom
Contract start date (estimated)
3 November 2025
Contract end date (estimated)
31 October 2028
Maximum value (estimated, excluding VAT)
£30,000,000
Contract is suitable for
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Contract is not suitable for
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Buyer
SSE SERVICES PLC
43 Forbury Road
READING
RG13JH
United Kingdom
Website: http://www.sse.com
Companies House: 02366879
NUTS code: UK - United Kingdom
Contact name: Clare Macdonald
Email: clare.macdonald@sse.com
Procedure
Procurement start date (estimated)When the contract notice or equivalent will be published.
2 June 2025
Agreement to be set up
Framework agreement
Commercial approachWhether the procurement is for a new requirement or a reprocurement.
New requirement