Scope
Reference
EG25001 Merchant Payment Services
Description
Energia Group is seeking to procure Merchant Payment services (Merchant Services), for the
processing of customer card payments within both Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.
Energia wishes to offer their customers an efficient payment processing experience using a streamlined uninterrupted process for making card payments. Energia currently operates a
payment service process, using their own Payment Service Provider, which involves the transfer of funds paid by their customers via debit and credit bank cards, to a third-party
processing platform owned by the Supplier.
The Supplier must be able to facilitate the transaction process by attaining and receipting information from the customer, receive authorisation from the bank approving the funds transaction, collecting the funds from the bank and then transferring the payment to Energia.
The Supplier will be required to ensure that the transaction funds are approved by the customer's bank and acceptance of the combined settlement of card funding transactions
(authorisation process). As a minimum, Energia will require the suppliers processing platform to transfer debit and
credit cards from Visa, Mastercard and Electron. All platforms must be Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/ (settlement process).
Energia requires a platform that will accommodate their customers choice of payment card options and differing currencies. The platform must be available to process payments made by customers 24x7x365.
Energia also require an online portal for the receipt of daily transaction information and reconciliation reports.
For ongoing management information, Energia will require the Supplier to be able to populate management information containing monthly and quarterly performance metrics, scheme updates, compliance updates, new / upcoming solutions and changes within the industry.
The provision of Merchant Payment Services is expected to commence in September 2025, although the Supplier will be expected to work with Energia Group to facilitate the implementation of the Merchant Payment Service prior to commencement.
Contract 1. Merchant Payment Services
Supplier
Contract value
- £6,500,000 excluding VAT
- £7,800,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Award decision date
10 February 2026
Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers
10 February 2026
Standstill period
- End: 19 February 2026
- 8 working days
Earliest date the contract will be signed
10 March 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 10 March 2026 to 9 March 2029
- Possible extension to 9 March 2031
- 5 years
Description of possible extension:
2x 12 month periods
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 66170000 - Financial consultancy, financial transaction processing and clearing-house services
Contract locations
- UKN - Northern Ireland
- IE - Ireland
Submission
Submission type
Tenders
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Special regime
Utilities
Supplier
U.S. BANK EUROPE DAC
- Companies House: BR022122
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYZD-5433-YBQL
Block F1, Cherrywood Business Park
Dublin
D18 W2X7
Ireland
Email: centralbidservices@elavon.com
Website: http://WWW.ELAVON.CO.UK
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Supported employment provider: No
Public service mutual: No
Contract 1. Merchant Payment Services
Contracting authority
ENERGIA GROUP NI HOLDINGS LIMITED
- Companies House: NI033250
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDPH-4346-JGHQ
Greenwood House, 64 Newforge Lane
Belfast
BT9 5NF
United Kingdom
Email: procurement@energiagroup.com
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Organisation type: Private utility
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland