Scope
Reference
DN773969
Description
Halton Borough Council (HBC) is conducting a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for design, build, install and maintenance for Halton microgrid (incorporating solar farm, battery storage, EV charging and HV distribution. The purpose of this PME is to seek input from potential suppliers within the market to inform HBC's understanding of the market. This is NOT an invitation to tender.
HBC has developed a number of rooftop solar PV schemes and a 1.2MWp solar farm om St Michael's Golf Course, Widnes. The Council commissioned a feasibility study in early 2020 to evaluate the potential to construct an extended solar farm on St Michael's Golf Course, Widnes. The study concluded that the potential existed to construct a 3.62MWp solar farm on a closed landfill site located immediately north of Ditton Rd in Widnes (postcode WA8 0PG - Coordinates E: 350056, N: 385004).
The site was historically used as a chemical waste landfill site, before being converted to a municipal golf course (St Michael's Golf Course). The course was subsequently closed, and the site has been unused since.
The Council are now planning to construct a 3.62MWp solar farm at the closed landfill site, which will be connected to the existing 1.2MWp solar farm via a new 11kV link. The resulting 5.2MWp of solar PV generation will provide power to a number of council owned facilities in Widnes town via an extensive 11kV ring main which is to be installed as part of the project. The scheme will also incorporate a 2MW/4MWh battery storage scheme and a high-power electric vehicle charging hub at the Council's Lower House Lane transport depot.
Interested suppliers are required to complete the preliminary market engagement questionnaire, the questions of which can be found from page 5 of this document. This questionnaire is made available via The Chest (www.the-chest.org.uk), the Council's e-tendering portal. The Council will only be issuing and receiving documents for this PME via The Chest. Should you have any queries about this preliminary market engagement process, please send these via The Chest's Question and Answer section for a response.
In compliance with the Procurement Act 2023, it is mandatory for any interested suppliers to register on the new Central Digital Platform which is part of the enhanced Find a Tender Service. Please find here a link that will take you to the website to register. Suppliers: How to register your organisation and first administrator on Find a Tender in three easy steps (HTML) - GOV.UK
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2036
- 11 years
Main procurement category
Works
CPV classifications
- 09310000 - Electricity
- 09330000 - Solar energy
- 31000000 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting
- 45000000 - Construction work
Contract locations
- UKD71 - East Merseyside
Engagement
Engagement deadline
28 May 2025
Engagement process description
There are two parts to this preliminary market engagement process, a Microsoft Teams presentation and a questionnaire to complete and return. All details and documents are made available via The Chest which can be accessed by the following link https://www.the-chest.org.uk/ The Chest reference for this PME is DN773969
The Council will only be issuing and receiving documents for this PME via The Chest. Should you have any queries about this preliminary market engagement process, please send these via The Chest's Question and Answer section for a response.
Contracting authority
Halton Borough Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PLTJ-1788-CBLR
Municipal Building
Widnes
WA8 7QF
United Kingdom
Email: julie.leong@halton.gov.uk
Region: UKD71 - East Merseyside
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government