Scope
Reference
B947 (2026)
Description
NIE Networks is conducting a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) to gather insights from the market before initiating a procurement process for Contract B947 (2026) Excavation, Cable Laying and Reinstatement. This engagement aims to assess the market's interest and capabilities in delivering Contract B947 (2026), identify potential solutions and innovative approaches, and develop an effective procurement strategy. This PME is open to all suppliers and is intended to be a collaborative effort to ensure a robust and successful procurement process.
The provision of excavation, cable laying and reinstatement works and related services, across a number of separate geographical Lots, may include as follows:
Lot 1 Belfast District,
Lot 2 North District,
Lot 3 South District,
Lot 4 East District,
Lot 5 West District
Lot 6 Major Projects.
The services will include:
• The excavation and reinstatement of trenches and joint holes.
• Installation of electricity cables (33kV, 11kV, LV mains and LV service) and related equipment (including minipillars, underground distribution boxes, auxiliary cables, ducts, etc.) associated with:
a) Provision of New Customer Connections
b) Fault and Emergency Response
c) Asset Installation / Replacement / Upgrade Works - Cable Jointing of 33kV, 11kV, LV and Service Cables
• Management of Street works activities including signing, lighting and guarding of works to Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Contract dates (estimated)
- 31 August 2026 to 31 August 2030
- Possible extension to 31 August 2034
- 8 years, 1 day
Main procurement category
Works
CPV classifications
- 45000000 - Construction work
- 45112000 - Excavating and earthmoving work
- 45112100 - Trench-digging work
- 45112400 - Excavating work
- 45200000 - Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work
- 45220000 - Engineering works and construction works
- 45230000 - Construction work for pipelines, communication and power lines, for highways, roads, airfields and railways; flatwork
- 45231000 - Construction work for pipelines, communication and power lines
- 45232000 - Ancillary works for pipelines and cables
- 45232200 - Ancillary works for electricity power lines
- 45314300 - Installation of cable infrastructure
- 45314310 - Installation of cable laying
Contract locations
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Engagement
Engagement deadline
16 June 2025
Engagement process description
Interested parties should register their interest and attendance via eSourcing NI (as below) by 5.00pm on Wednesday 11th June 2025 providing the name(s) and contact email addresses of who will attend. Attendance shall be limited to a maximum of 3 attendees per organization. Registration for the PME briefing event(s) shall only be through eSourcing NI.
pqq_4665 has been created on eSourcing NI where parties can register their interest to attend the session via the secure messaging function. Upon receipt of Suppliers' Expressions of Interest, we will provide additional information with further instructions on how to participate in the PME Briefing Event.
The PME briefing event shall consist of a presentation by NIE Networks Ltd (consisting of an overview of requirements, objectives, proposed approach to the forthcoming procurement and anticipated timelines), with an opportunity afterwards for interested parties to raise clarification questions. Interested parties should note that any questions regarding the content of the PME briefing event or procurement process raised in advance of the PME briefing event through eSourcing NI will not be responded to by NIE Networks Ltd.
Please note that NIE Networks Ltd will be conducting this PME exercise in accordance with the principles of equal treatment, non-discrimination and transparency. To that end, it is important to stress that the structure, specification and all other aspects of the procurement will not be designed to give direct or indirect advantage to any interested party and all information concerning the forthcoming procurement will be disseminated to all interested parties.
It is important to note that this PME Notice and the PME briefing event do not constitute a call for competition, selection process or a current tender opportunity. This PME Notice has been produced solely for the purpose of conducting a pre-market engagement exercise. All interested parties will need to express a formal interest in any future tender opportunity in due course once a contract notice (as appropriate) is published.
NIE Networks Ltd welcomes interest from all interested parties. Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to this PME Notice or the PME briefing event. Participation or non-participation in the PME exercise shall not prevent any interested parties from participating in any subsequent procurement exercise.
All information shared with interested parties as part of the PME exercise (including, for the avoidance of doubt, a copy of the PME presentation and any questions and answers provided) will be made available to all parties that express an interest in participating in any subsequent procurement exercise. For the avoidance of doubt however, NIE Networks Ltd will not disclose any specific comments or feedback provided by any interested party, nor the identity of any party that chose to take part in the PME process.
NIE Networks Ltd may, at its absolute discretion, consider any questions or feedback provided during the PME exercise in finalising its procurement strategy, procurement process and/or any aspects of the procurement. NIE Networks Ltd also reserves the right to request additional information from any interested party in relation to any question raised or feedback provided as part of the PME exercise.
The information provided in this PME Notice and as part of the PME exercise is preliminary in nature and is subject to amendment/updating by NIE Networks Ltd. No reliance may be placed by any party on the information contained in this PME Notice or provided as part of the PME exercise and no representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made in relation to such information.
Procedure
Special regime
Utilities
Contracting authority
Northern Ireland Electricity Networks Limited
- Companies House: NI026041
120 Malone Road
Belfast
BT9 5HT
United Kingdom
Email: procurement@nienetworks.co.uk
Website: http://www.nienetworks.co.uk
Organisation type: Private utility
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland