Section one: Contracting entity
one.1) Name and addresses
NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY SYSTEM OPERATOR LIITED
1 - 3 STRAND
LONDON
WC2N5EH
Contact
Steve St Denis
steve.stdenis@nationalgrid.com
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKI32 - Westminster
Companies House
11014226
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.nationalgrideso.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
NGESO Software/Hardware Technology Products & Associated Services
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72222300 - Information technology services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
National Grid Electricity System Operator (NGESO), a legally separate business within the National Grid Group (NGG), is the electricity system operator for Great Britain. The NGESO moves electricity around the system to keep homes and businesses supplied with the energy they need 24/7.
National Grid Electricity System Operator (NGESO) became a legally separate business in 2019. NGESO is on a journey to become NESO (National Energy Systems Operator), divested from NGG to transition under UK government ownership during Summer 2024. For this notice, any mention of NESO should be interpreted to also include NGESO during the interim period leading up to the official change.
The Digital, Data and Technology (DD&T) organisation within NGESO provides the sourcing capabilities, roles and skills required to achieve NESO digital deliverables.
To support the role of the National Energy System Operator (NESO), a multi-supplier Framework Contract is sought for the supply of Software/Hardware Technology Products & Associated Services, which enables the delivery of a long-term corporate software and hardware procurement strategy for key SW publishers and OEMs or authorised distributors licences, products, and services. This is complemented by the need for a separate Managed Service Provider (MSP) to provision services for lifecycle & contract management, operating as a Vendor Management Organisation (VMO) which enables the management and performance evaluation of software and hardware contracts for the portfolio.
NESO requires access to software and hardware in a flexible way to achieve objectives under its Business Plan and Digital Strategy, whilst building relationships with specialist suppliers who can partner in developing strategic direction.
The expected time duration of an engagement will be approximately 3 years with possible extensions, subject to confirmation in the Contract Notice.
The scope of the framework will comprise of COTS business and specialist software, infrastructure hardware and associated services, including Vendor Management. Currently these are separated into 3 lots shown below, but this may be subject to change before a Contract Notice is issued:
Lot 1: Software Licences, Support Maintenance & Associated Services
Lot 2: Hardware, Support Maintenance & Associated Services
Lot 3: Vendor Management Organisation (VMO) - Associated Services for Software/Hardware contract & vendor management
The lotting structure will be designed to suit a holistic or a more specialised approach to enable access to large companies and niche suppliers having places within the framework.
These lots will be structured as NESO sees fit for its Contract Notice. Achilles UVDB Codes within this PIN indicate the specialism of services that may be required. Those companies who are equipped to offer the services should seek to be registered for these UVDB codes listed later in this document.
Our latest Digitalisation Strategy can be found at:
https://www.nationalgrideso.com/document/299416/download
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Software Licences, Support Maintenance & Associated Services
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 44316400 - Hardware
- 48218000 - License management software package
- 72222300 - Information technology services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKI - London
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The suppliers for this lot will be responsible for supplying software technology products but not limited to; access to Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) for Enterprise Business, Operating System, Productivity, Data & Analytics, CNI sector specific, IT Management, Cyber Security licensing with global & enterprise level software publishers and authorised distributors for licences, products, and associated services, to enable delivery of a long-term software corporate procurement strategy.
Indicative examples of required capabilities including but not limited to; are as follows:
Pre-sale Advisement
Software Licence & Support Maintenance Request for Quotations
Software Licence & Support Maintenance Procurement
Product support & training
Product management including but not limited to design, deployment.
UVDB Codes to be registered on Achilles:
1.5.6 Software Development Tools
1.5.7 General Business Software
1.5.8 Specialist Business Software
1.5.9 Technical Software
2.1.2 Software Development Services
2.1.3 Software Support Services
2.2.3 IT Consultancy
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Hardware, Support Maintenance & Associated Services
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 44316400 - Hardware
- 48218000 - License management software package
- 72222300 - Information technology services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKI - London
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The suppliers for this lot will be responsible for supplying key hardware technology products (IT Infrastructure) to enable delivery of a long-term hardware corporate procurement strategy.
Indicative examples of required capabilities including but not limited to; are as follows:
Infrastructure Hardware such as servers (compute), storage, back-up devices, load balancers, Support Maintenance &, Delivery.
Product related support and training
Product management and asset management, including End of Life disposal/recycling.
Advisory consultants
Flexible storage, warehousing & logistics capabilities
UVDB Codes to be registered on Achilles:
2.1.10 Data collection & Handling Services
1.5.1 Computer Hardware & Accessories - Workstations/Servers
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Vendor Management Organisation (VMO) - Associated Services for Software/Hardware contract & vendor management
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 44316400 - Hardware
- 48218000 - License management software package
- 72222300 - Information technology services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKI - London
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The suppliers for this lot will be responsible for supplying will NESO with specialist vendor management capabilities including real-time visibility into software assets, alerts for expiring licences & support maintenance, potential licensing risks, integration with IT service management tools for streamlined workflows, reporting and analytics capabilities to track software usage, identify optimisation opportunities, and inform licence consolidation and contract negotiation strategies.
Indicative examples of required capabilities but not limited to; are as follows:
Renewal Management
Contract Management
Vendor Selection
Software Life-Cyle Management / SAM services
Maximise value from investment (optimise costs)
Licence entitlement Monitoring
Compliance and Audit
Reporting Analytics
UVDB Codes to be registered on Achilles:
1.5.7 General Business Software
2.1.2 Software Development Services
2.1.3 Software Support Services
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
29 April 2024
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.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
All information provided in this notice should be considered indicative in nature and no overall decision on the lotting structure and exact scope have yet been made.
This notice is not a formal request for expressions of interest. There will be no further publication on Find a Tender in relation to this opportunity as the procurement will be run through the qualification system, and references to a "Contract Notice" should be read as referring to an advert on UVDB.
NESO is not obliged to respond to any correspondence related to this notice. Direct or indirect canvassing of NESO (or any person connected with it) by any person concerning this notice, 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.
All information provided by NESO during this notice is at an early stage of development, is not intended by NESO to create any contract or other commitment and is not intended by NESO to be otherwise relied on by any person to any extent. NESO shall have no liability for any losses incurred by any person as a result any such reliance.
Companies with interest should be fully registered to 'Silver Plus' standard on the Achilles UVDB qualification system by close of business on Friday 19th April 2024 and be registered against ALL UVDB Codes within the Lot in which they are interested to receive any future Contract Notice and be invited to the Pre-Qualification Stage for that Lot.
Desta Wheeler (Desta.Wheeler@achilles.com) can support with completion of your registration process on Achilles ahead of any future qualification event. It is the sole responsibility of each interested supplier to ensure that it is properly registered on UVDB on time and NESO accepts no responsibility for any failure to register on time regardless of the reasons for that.