Award

Innovation Academic Framework

  • NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION PLC

UK6: Contract award notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-017614

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-061465 (view related notices)

Published 26 February 2026, 6:40pm



Scope

Reference

WS4997397443

Description

National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) is seeking collaboration with universities to support delivery of its innovation strategy over the next five years (April 2026 - Mar 2031). The primary objectives during this period include facilitating the energy system transition (including Clean Power 2030 and net zero 2050) and providing support for vulnerable consumers.

University partners will be expected to contribute both resources and technical expertise to the development and execution of Research & Development (R&D)projects.

We expect universities to run projects within Technology Readiness Levels 2 to 8 which includes research, development and demonstration projects.

These initiatives will enable NGET to ensure a safe and reliable electricity network, enhance consumer value, achieve decarbonisation of future networks, and create a positive impact on society.

NGET will invite universities to propose new projects that address specific needs, while also encouraging the generation of innovative project ideas. In addition to individual innovation projects, partners will play a crucial role in fostering innovation through strategic development, knowledge sharing and promoting an innovation-driven culture. Knowledge sharing may include supporting NGET in running dissemination events across the energy sector and other industries to communicate the outputs, learnings and benefits from projects, as well as using these events to learn from others

Commercial tool

Establishes an open framework


Contract 1

Supplier

Contract value

  • £70,000,000 excluding VAT
  • £84,000,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

26 February 2026

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

26 February 2026

Standstill period

  • End: 10 March 2026
  • 9 working days

Earliest date the contract will be signed

11 March 2026

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031
  • Possible extension to 31 March 2033
  • 7 years

Description of possible extension:

Optional 1 year plus an additional one year extension to the main contract term.

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 73111000 - Research laboratory services
  • 73120000 - Experimental development services
  • 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
  • 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Contract 2

Supplier

Contract value

  • £70,000,000 excluding VAT
  • £84,000,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

26 February 2026

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

26 February 2026

Standstill period

  • End: 10 March 2026
  • 9 working days

Earliest date the contract will be signed

11 March 2026

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031
  • Possible extension to 31 March 2033
  • 7 years

Description of possible extension:

Optional one year extension with an additional year extension.

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 73111000 - Research laboratory services
  • 73120000 - Experimental development services
  • 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
  • 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Contract 3

Supplier

Contract value

  • £70,000,000 excluding VAT
  • £84,000,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

26 February 2026

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

26 February 2026

Standstill period

  • End: 10 March 2026
  • 9 working days

Earliest date the contract will be signed

11 March 2026

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031
  • Possible extension to 31 March 2033
  • 7 years

Description of possible extension:

Optional one year extension with an additional year extension.

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 73111000 - Research laboratory services
  • 73120000 - Experimental development services
  • 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
  • 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Contract 4

Supplier

Contract value

  • £70,000,000 excluding VAT
  • £84,000,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

26 February 2026

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

26 February 2026

Standstill period

  • End: 10 March 2026
  • 9 working days

Earliest date the contract will be signed

11 March 2026

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031
  • Possible extension to 31 March 2033
  • 7 years

Description of possible extension:

Optional one year extension with an additional year extension.

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 73111000 - Research laboratory services
  • 73120000 - Experimental development services
  • 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
  • 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Contract 5

Supplier

Contract value

  • £70,000,000 excluding VAT
  • £84,000,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

26 February 2026

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

26 February 2026

Standstill period

  • End: 10 March 2026
  • 9 working days

Earliest date the contract will be signed

11 March 2026

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031
  • Possible extension to 31 March 2033
  • 7 years

Description of possible extension:

Optional one year extension with an additional year extension.

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 73111000 - Research laboratory services
  • 73120000 - Experimental development services
  • 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
  • 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Contract 6

Supplier

Contract value

  • £70,000,000 excluding VAT
  • £84,000,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

26 February 2026

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

26 February 2026

Standstill period

  • End: 10 March 2026
  • 9 working days

Earliest date the contract will be signed

11 March 2026

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031
  • Possible extension to 31 March 2033
  • 7 years

Description of possible extension:

Optional one year extension with an additional year extension.

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 73111000 - Research laboratory services
  • 73120000 - Experimental development services
  • 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
  • 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Contract 7

Supplier

Contract value

  • £70,000,000 excluding VAT
  • £84,000,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

26 February 2026

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

26 February 2026

Standstill period

  • End: 10 March 2026
  • 9 working days

Earliest date the contract will be signed

11 March 2026

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031
  • Possible extension to 31 March 2033
  • 7 years

Description of possible extension:

Optional one year extension with an additional year extension.

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 73111000 - Research laboratory services
  • 73120000 - Experimental development services
  • 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
  • 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Contract 8

Supplier

Contract value

  • £70,000,000 excluding VAT
  • £84,000,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

26 February 2026

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

26 February 2026

Standstill period

  • End: 10 March 2026
  • 9 working days

Earliest date the contract will be signed

11 March 2026

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031
  • Possible extension to 31 March 2033
  • 7 years

Description of possible extension:

Optional one year extension with an additional year extension.

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 73111000 - Research laboratory services
  • 73120000 - Experimental development services
  • 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
  • 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Contract 9

Supplier

Contract value

  • £70,000,000 excluding VAT
  • £84,000,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

26 February 2026

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

26 February 2026

Standstill period

  • End: 10 March 2026
  • 9 working days

Earliest date the contract will be signed

11 March 2026

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031
  • Possible extension to 31 March 2033
  • 7 years

Description of possible extension:

Optional one year extension with an additional year extension.

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 73111000 - Research laboratory services
  • 73120000 - Experimental development services
  • 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
  • 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Contract 10

Supplier

Contract value

  • £70,000,000 excluding VAT
  • £84,000,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

26 February 2026

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

26 February 2026

Standstill period

  • End: 10 March 2026
  • 9 working days

Earliest date the contract will be signed

11 March 2026

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031
  • Possible extension to 31 March 2033
  • 7 years

Description of possible extension:

Optional one year extension with an additional year extension.

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 73111000 - Research laboratory services
  • 73120000 - Experimental development services
  • 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
  • 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Submission

Submission type

Requests to participate


Procedure

Procedure type

Competitive flexible procedure

Dynamic market being used

Innovation Qualified Utilities Dynamic Market

Special regime

Utilities


Suppliers

CARDIFF UNIVERSITY

  • Companies House: RC000089
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHVT-4343-HWYR

Park Place

Cardiff

CF10 3AT

United Kingdom

Region: UKL22 - Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 1

SOUTHAMPTON UNIVERSITY

  • Companies House: RC000668
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYYM-1459-DZYL

University Road, Highfield

Southampton

SO17 1BJ

United Kingdom

Region: UKJ32 - Southampton

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 2

THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

  • Companies House: RC000645
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHCQ-3464-LVTM

Edgbaston

Birmingham

B15 2TT

United Kingdom

Region: UKG31 - Birmingham

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 3

The University of Edinburgh

  • Scottish Charity Register: SC005336
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PGGY-6115-PNHD

Old College, South Bridge

Edinburgh

EH8 9YL

United Kingdom

Region: UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 4

THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

  • Companies House: RC000797
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHDN-5322-MMHL

Oxford Road

Manchester

M13 9PL

United Kingdom

Region: UKD33 - Manchester

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): Yes

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 5

UNIVERSITY OF BATH (THE)

  • Companies House: RC000644
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNGV-7869-ZHZQ

Claverton Down

Bath

BA2 7AY

United Kingdom

Region: UKK12 - Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 6

UNIVERSITY OF EXETER

  • Companies House: RC000653
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PZYG-2396-XCRZ

Northcote House, Queens Drive

Exeter

EX4 4QJ

United Kingdom

Region: UKK43 - Devon CC

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 7

UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL

  • Companies House: RC000660
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYNH-9859-XVMD

Foundation Building, 765 Brownlow Hill

Liverpool

L69 7ZX

United Kingdom

Region: UKD72 - Liverpool

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 8

University of Strathclyde

  • Scottish Charity Register: SC015263
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PGVP-7923-NDTW

16 Richmond Street

Glasgow

G1 1XQ

United Kingdom

Region: UKM82 - Glasgow City

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 9

UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK

  • Companies House: RC000678
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PGDC-7539-YXVM

University House, Kirby Corner Road

Coventry

CV4 8UW

United Kingdom

Region: UKG33 - Coventry

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 10


Contracting authority

NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION PLC

  • Companies House: 02366977
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHHJ-6513-BWZT

1 - 3 Strand

London

WC2N 5EH

United Kingdom

Region: UKI32 - Westminster

Organisation type: Private utility