Scope
Description
This planned procurement notice is to give advance information to the market with regards to the upcoming procurement of HVDC and HVAC Cables Supply and Installation for the LirIC HVDC Interconnector between Scotland and Northern Ireland (NI). It is envisaged that this notice will assist potentially interested Cable providers to determine if the planned procurement exercise is something that they wish to bid for and to provide sufficient time for preparation.
Short Description - Project
TI LirIC Limited is engaged in the development of an up to 700MW High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) electricity interconnector project that will connect the Great Britain (GB) and Irish (I-SEM) transmission networks. This project is called the "LirIC" Project (https://tinv.com/intercon-projects/liric/).
The project will link grid connection points in the GB and Northern Irish transmission grids.
The LirIC interconnector shall utilise Voltage Source Converter (VSC) technology and the configuration shall be a Symmetrical Monopole. The rated DC voltage shall be +/-320 kV.
The link shall be bi-directional and shall have a rated power (receiving end) of 700 MW
The main components of the LirIC Project will comprise:
•LOT A:
•HVDC to HVAC VSC Converter Stations in both Scotland and Northern Ireland with associated civil and building works; and
•LOT B:
•Up to 2 High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) electricity cables buried in or placed (and protected) upon the seabed between Northern Ireland (Kilroot) and Scotland (Hunterston) to a route length of approx. 140km.
•HVDC onshore and offshore cable 'transition bays' near the shorelines at the landfall points in both Scotland and Northern Ireland; It is expected that at both landfalls horizontal directional drilling (HDD) will be required to facilitate the export cables transition from onshore to offshore.
•HVDC onshore cables from the transition bays to each of the converter stations assumed to be no more than 2km at each site;
•High Voltage AC onshore cables from the Scottish converter station to the Scottish grid connection. The AC connection voltage on the GB side of the link is 400 kV and 275 kV at the NI side. (The High Voltage AC onshore cables from the NI converter station to the NI grid connection will be delivered by others.)
The Project has recently been awarded an 'in principle' cap and floor arrangement in Great Britain by Ofgem and a transmission licence in Northern Ireland. The Project is targeting a Financial Close in Q3 2027.
TI LirIC Limited has already conduced Preliminary Market Engagement prior to publication of this notice but encourages further collaboration between OEM's and Construction Contractors to establish bidding arrangements in time for the Tender Notice.
TI LirIC Limited will be utilising an electronic tendering portal (Delta) to manage the forthcoming tender exercise and as such interested organisations will need to register on the portal to access the participation documentation.
Respondents wishing to participate are requested to register in Delta eSourcing (via the link Delta Login in advance of the forthcoming UK4 Tender Notice which will have a formal step for participation.
To view this notice, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=930973694
Total value (estimated)
- £253,000,000 excluding VAT
- £304,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Main procurement category
Works
Contract locations
- UKM93 - East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire mainland
- UKN06 - Belfast
Not the same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in Lot sections, because they are not the same for all lots.
Lot LOT B1. LOT B1: LirIC HVDC Cables Offshore and Onshore (two sites)
Description
HVDC Cables between the two HVDC Converter Stations (at Hunterston and at Kilroot). This will include the Subsea cable, landing and underground cables to the converter stations. See the specifications highlighted in the scope. Design, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning will form part of this LOT.
It is envisaged that the contract will be made in stages with consideration of capacity reservation, FEED studies, LNTP's and the main EPCI Contract upon FID.
Lot value (estimated)
- £245,000,000 excluding VAT
- £294,000,000 including VAT
Contract dates (estimated)
- 15 December 2025 to 16 June 2032
- 6 years, 6 months, 2 days
CPV classifications
- 31321300 - High-voltage cable
- 31321500 - Submarine cable
- 45000000 - Construction work
- 45314310 - Installation of cable laying
Same for all lots
Contract locations are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot LOT B2. LOT B2: LirIC HVAC Cables (Scotland Only)
Description
The HVAC Cables and associated Civil Works that will run from the Hunterston Converter Station to the Scottish AC Grid. See the specifications highlighted in the scope. Design, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning will form part of this LOT.
Lot value (estimated)
- £8,000,000 excluding VAT
- £10,000,000 including VAT
Contract dates (estimated)
- 15 December 2025 to 16 June 2032
- 6 years, 6 months, 2 days
CPV classifications
- 31321300 - High-voltage cable
- 45000000 - Construction work
- 45314310 - Installation of cable laying
Same for all lots
Contract locations are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot LOT B. LOT B: LirIC Cables (All HVDC and HVAC Cables) Supply and Installation
Description
This is a combined solution of LOT B1 (HVDC Cables) plus LOT B2 (HVAC Cables)
Lot value (estimated)
- £0 excluding VAT
- £0 including VAT
Contract dates (estimated)
- 15 December 2025 to 15 December 2032
- 7 years, 1 day
CPV classifications
- 31321300 - High-voltage cable
- 31321500 - Submarine cable
- 45000000 - Construction work
- 45314310 - Installation of cable laying
Same for all lots
Contract locations are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
6 March 2025
Submission type
Tenders
Deadline for requests to participate
24 April 2025, 1:00am
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
No
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
30 November 2025
Other information
Description of risks to contract performance
The value of any contract exceeding the estimated values in the tender notice(s).
The Commercial Operations Date exceed the Ofgem Window 3 back-stop date (end 2032).
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Contracting authority
TI LirIC Limited
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PWJV-7322-MWTR
17th Floor, 88 Wood Street
London
EC2V 7DA
United Kingdom
Region: UKI31 - Camden and City of London
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government