Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Northern Powergrid
Lloyds Court 78 Grey Street
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE1 6AF
Contact
James Bell
james.bell@northernpowergrid.com
Telephone
+44 7731024333
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.6) Main activity
Electricity
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Low Voltage Distribution System Analysis Tool
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 48100000 - Industry specific software package
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Northern Powergrid intends to award a contract the provision of a Low Voltage Distribution System Analysis Tool.
The requirement is to replace existing low voltage network assessment methods with a digital tool that can reduce the time required (and therefore resource and cost) for studies, whilst also improving the accuracy, quality and consistency of the studies undertaken.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £656,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The tool is required to provide the below functionality:
• Be cloud hosted and expandable, future phases of this tool will be used to address new business requirements.
• Allow system designs and planning for low voltage networks (voltage up to and including 1000 V, which includes primarily underground cables and overhead lines rated at 400 V)
• Able to import network data and display on a geographic map background – noting that this import and modelling consist of millions of nodes and millions of branches. It must also allow the user to enter network components such as busbars, loads and cables as schematic symbols or directly onto a map or building layout drawing.
• Able to assess all low voltage networks including three-phase, split-phase and single-phase with an option for three-phase connections to be balanced or unbalanced. The phasing of the network should be easily identifiable by the user.
• Provide assessment for the following modules; thermal studies, voltage drop/rise, fault level, flicker, motor studies, cable sizing and LV fuse sizing.
• Use UK industry standard statistical calculations (i.e., ACE 49) to analyse aggregated demand taking in account of customer profiles.
• Provide the capability to assign an MPAN class/Elexon profile for each customer, modelling both a winter peak scenario and summer minimum scenario.
• Allow single line diagram view to visualise, model and analyse the low voltage networks.
• Ability to add LCTs (i.e. HP, EV & PV) onto an existing or new connection with the option to amend the diversified demand values for the additional equipment.
• Allow distributed connections along the same conductor.
• Ability to upgrade transformers and LV cables if asset replacement work is required as part of a reinforcement or a new demand/generation scheme.
• Ability to highlight and override any data issues which may affect the network assessment being complete.
• The technical results must be available in a report style format which can be downloaded in both a PDF and excel (XLS) formats.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
The delivery of this tool is required by October 2023 to ensure the tool is in place to meet the expected rise in demand and generation requests, driven by decarbonisation.
Northern Powergrid is operating within strict budget and timescale constraints for the delivery of the requirement. Our market analysis has identified no other suitable tool currently available on the market that can meet the full list of functional requirements listed above, within the timescales and costs identified. Most notably, we have taken into account that we would require vendors to be able to integrate with our LV spatial database consisting of millions of assets and then undertake statistical calculations using the method outlined in ACE 49.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Title
Low Voltage Distribution System Analysis Tool
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
13 July 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
EA Technology Limited
Capenhurst Technology Park, Capenhurst, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 6ES
Chester
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The delivery of this tool is required by October 2023 to ensure the tool is in place to meet the expected rise in demand and generation requests, driven by decarbonisation.
Northern Powergrid is operating within strict budget and timescale constraints for the delivery of the requirement. Our market analysis has identified no other suitable tool currently available on the market that can meet the full list of functional requirements listed above, within the timescales and costs identified. Most notably, we have taken into account that we would require vendors to be able to integrate with our LV spatial database consisting of millions of assets and then undertake statistical calculations using the method outlined in ACE 49.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Northern Powergrid
Lloyds Court, 78 Grey Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 6AF
Country
United Kingdom