Planning

Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) Low Carbon Hydrogen Supply

  • National Highways

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-023507

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-048540

Published 29 July 2024, 8:04am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

National Highways

Lower Thames Crossing Compound

Chafford Hundred

RM16 6RL

Contact

Adeyemi Adesina

Email

ancillaryprocurement@lowerthamescrossing.co.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKH3 - Essex

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://nationalhighways.co.uk/

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

one.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

National or federal Agency/Office

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) Low Carbon Hydrogen Supply

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 24111600 - Hydrogen

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

National Highways is the government company charged with operating, maintaining and improving England's strategic road networks. The Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) is a National Highways project that will build a new road connecting Kent, Thurrock and Essex through a tunnel beneath the River Thames. It will provide much-needed new road capacity across the river east of London, alleviating congestion on the Dartford Crossing. Three Delivery Partners have been appointed to deliver the three main components of the project – Kent Roads, Tunnels & Approaches and Roads North.

National Highways has designated LTC a pathfinder project that will explore carbon neutral construction. Low Carbon Hydrogen is a key element in LTC's strategy to deliver its carbon reduction targets and a key objective of this procurement is to enable a significant reduction in the use of diesel on the programme by enabling the use of hydrogen powered plant, machinery and generators. The procurement covers the supply, delivery, storage on site and dispensing of Low Carbon Hydrogen for use by the LTC appointed Delivery Partners to fuel their construction plant and equipment. Making hydrogen easily available could displace over one third of the diesel forecast to be used during construction.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £80,000,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 09000000 - Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy
  • 24111600 - Hydrogen
  • 65400000 - Other sources of energy supplies and distribution
  • 71314300 - Energy-efficiency consultancy services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom
  • UKH3 - Essex
  • UKJ4 - Kent

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

LTC is dedicated to achieving the lowest carbon solution to deliver the works. The scope of this procurement requires supply of up to 5,900 tonnes of Low Carbon Hydrogen over 5 years with delivery and storage on site as required. The Low Carbon Hydrogen supply contract has an estimated contract commencement date in mid 2025 with supply of hydrogen commencing in 2027.

The Low Carbon Hydrogen contract will be enabled for use by Lower Thames Crossing’s Deliver Partners. The contract will be procured under the Competitive Dialogue Procedure (Public Contracts Regulations 2015).

The estimated total value is in the range £30,000,000 - £80,000,000. This a broad range that depends on a number of factors including the price and availability of Low Carbon hydrogen during the project as well as other variables including amongst other things the availability and prevalence of hydrogen fueled plant and technology. LTC will seek to refine this range as part of this market exercise.

LTC has previously engaged in a procurement process for the supply of Low Carbon Hydrogen over the last year, however we were unable to bring this procurement to a successful conclusion due to being unable to identify a candidate which was able to fully meet LTC’s requirements. We have learned lessons from the process and intend to use those learnings in any subsequent procurement .

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

18 October 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: Yes


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

This PIN is issued solely for the purpose of informing the market of a future procurement and does not constitute any commitment by National Highways to undertake any public procurement process.

This PIN does not constitute a call for competition, to procure any works, supplies or services and is not published to reduce time limited for the receipt of tenders.

National Highways will not be liable for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any party responding to this PIN.

Please note this prior information notice is to provide information only at this stage.

All suppliers wishing to take part in any future market engagement event and express an interest to this procurement should please email ancillaryprocurement@lowerthamescrossing.co.uk stating your full name and organisation. Please put ‘Hydrogen Market Engagement’ in the title. An information pack will then be sent to you with further details and next steps.

Suppliers who applied to the previous procurement are not precluded from taking part in this market engagement exercise or any subsequent procurement process that may take place.