Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Northern Powergrid Limited
Riverside House, Colima Avenue
Sunderland
SR5 3XB
james.bell@northernpowergrid.com
Country
United Kingdom
Region 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
Provision of network investment forecasting and mass low carbon technology connection tools
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 purchase the provision of network investment forecasting and mass low carbon technology connection tools.
The network investment forecasting tool will model a range of scenarios with different future energy requirements, spread geographically across Northern Powergrid’s low voltage distribution network.
The mass low carbon technology connections tool will deliver efficiencies by automating and streamlining the process for optioneering, costing and approval of bulk applications for low carbon technologies.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Northern Powergrid intends to purchase the provision of network investment forecasting and mass low carbon technology connection tools.
The network investment forecasting tool will model a range of scenarios with different future energy requirements, spread geographically across Northern Powergrid’s low voltage distribution network. The tool will identify forecast thermal, voltage and earth loop impedance network constraints, identifying the optimal intervention (or set of interventions) from a configurable solution set to resolve these constraints for a customisable forward-looking period (up to and including year 2050). The tool will also provide forecast expenditure on load related network investment and details of forecast future network interventions. The tool will display the outputs in various formats including reports (data tables and PDFs), interactive maps and online dashboards.
The network investment forecasting tool will forecast the impact of increasing load/generation on the network, specifically:
• Addition of domestic low carbon technologies at existing points of connection.
• Addition of low carbon technologies at existing non-domestic points of connection.
• Changes to underlying profile assumptions e.g. changing the annual electricity consumption associated with each profile class to account for improvements in energy efficiency.
• Standalone new connections of low carbon technologies.
• New connections / increases in housing stock. Data received as additional properties (with some property type information) per secondary substation per year.
• All items will be distributed based on total allocations / data provided at a secondary substation level or association with specific existing property Unique Property Reference Numbers.
The mass low carbon technology connections tool will deliver efficiencies by automating and streamlining the process for optioneering, costing and approval of bulk applications for low carbon technologies. The tool will be aimed at external users (e.g. local authorities) who have regional decarbonisation plans which require the deployment of large amounts of low carbon technologies within a defined area.
The tools need to provide data in a consistent manner, in line with other similar tools currently used by Northern Powergrid.
Both tools are required to be delivered no later than September 2025.
EA Technology Limited is the only known supplier that has the experience and tools available to meet this requirement within the required timescale.
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 tools are required by September 2025 to ensure they are in place to meet the expected rise in demand and generation requests, driven by decarbonisation, and to provide information for the next regulatory price control period.
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 suppliers 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
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
4 November 2024
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
CH1 6ES
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.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Northern Powergrid
Lloyds Court, 78 Grey Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 6AF
Country
United Kingdom