Scope
Reference
26155
Description
Plymouth City Council (PCC) is seeking a Development Partner (DP) to develop and deliver a heat network(s) in the Plymouth's South Coast and Derriford areas. Initially, the Development Partner will be responsible for design and commercialisation of the proposed heat network, up to an approval gateway. The DP will be required to meet minimum mandatory requirements for the proposed heat network, set out in the Development Agreement. If approval is granted the delivery stage will commence. The DP will use a special purpose vehicle in which Plymouth City Council will hold a "golden share"
PCC has undertaken commercialisation work in relation to an initial phase of a heat network in Plymouth's South Coast area, which identified a viable commercial scheme using a significant waste heat source (South West Water Central Plant). A number of public and private sector entities, such as the University of Plymouth, Arts University Plymouth, Devon & Cornwall Police, Plymouth City Council, National Marine Aquarium, Theatre Royal and Plymouth Community Homes are interested in being connected to the heat network to meet their Net Zero ambitions, other parties may be join the scheme in future.
The Plymouth South Coast and Derriford areas have been identified through the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero's heat network zoning pilot, as being suitable for low-carbon heat networks. Exclusive rights to develop heat networks in these areas will be subject to the outcome of future Zoning Regulations.
PCC would like to draw the attention of interested suppliers to the fact that all activities delivered after the development stage shall be subject to an evergreen Shareholders' Agreement. Therefore, the contract period dates and associated contract values below have been included for system purposes only based on the Council's best current estimate.
Plymouth City Council have applied for government Green Heat Network Fund grant towards the new heat network costs, including commercialisation and construction costs. The remaining development and delivery funding will be provided by the appointed Development Partner.
Total value (estimated)
- £3,500,000,000 excluding VAT
- £4,200,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 18 June 2026 to 17 June 2096
- 70 years
Main procurement category
Works
Additional procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 45232140 - District-heating mains construction work
- 71314000 - Energy and related services
Contract locations
- UKK41 - Plymouth
Submission
Enquiry deadline
8 August 2025, 5:00pm
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
15 August 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
25 May 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical | Proposed Team - 23 Development Methodology - Development Stage - 23 Delivery Methodology - Mobilisation Stage - 18 Subcontracting & Supply Chain - 16 Operations Methodology - 20 Total - 100 The sum of... |
Quality | 50% |
| Commercial | Qualitative Commercial Sub-Criterion - 70 out of 100 Tariff & Pricing - 42 Hurdle Equity IRR (Qualitative) - 29 Deliverability of Finance - 29 Sub Total for this Sub-Criterion - 100 The sum of awarded... |
Cost | 40% |
| Social Value | SV - TOMs National Procurement Calculator Sub-Criterion - 60 out of 100 Qualitative elements - 50 Quantitative elements - 50 Sub-Total for TOMs National Procurement Calculator Sub-Criterion - 100 The sum... |
Quality | 10% |
Other information
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Special regime
Concession
Competitive flexible procedure description
Stage 1: Conditions of Participation;
Stage 2: Interim Tender Response Phase (Legal and Technical Submission only) - this stage will not be evaluated, but used to inform the dialogue meetings
Stage 3: Dialogue Meetings - Two dialogue meetings: 1 - Legal and Commercial elements; and 2 - Technical elements
Stage 4: Final Tender Response;
Stage 5: Preferred Supplier Stage
Full details contained in Tender Documentation
Documents
Associated tender documents
https://procontract.due-north.com/RFx/RFxSummary?rfxId=55368348-c55c-f011-813a-005056b64545&projectId=13001e03-a35c-f011-813a-005056b64545
Contracting authority
Plymouth City Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBQP-8499-TLMP
Ballard House, West Hoe Road
Plymouth
PL1 3BJ
United Kingdom
Email: procurement@plymouth.gov.uk
Website: http://www.plymouth.gov.uk
Region: UKK41 - Plymouth
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
Other organisations
These organisations are carrying out the procurement, or part of it, on behalf of the contracting authorities.
BURO HAPPOLD LIMITED
Summary of their role in this procurement: Project management and technical support, drafting technical reference scheme and requirements, technical tender evaluation
- Companies House: 02049511
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PMYR-5199-WHTD
Camden Mill, 230 Lower Bristol Road
Bath
BA2 3DQ
United Kingdom
Email: projectleads@burohappold.com
Website: https://www.burohappold.com
Region: UKK12 - Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
AMBERSIDE ADVISORS LTD
Summary of their role in this procurement: commercial advice, commercial tender documentation, FVRAT and commercial tender evaluation
- Companies House: 06078852
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHCN-1919-CCQG
Clubfinance House
Hemel Hempstead
HP2 5HA
United Kingdom
Email: bids@amberside.uk
Website: http://amberside.uk
Region: UKH23 - Hertfordshire
BURGES SALMON LLP
Summary of their role in this procurement: legal support
- Companies House: OC307212
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PCJC-9414-RZPH
One Glass Wharf
Bristol
BS2 0ZX
United Kingdom
Region: UKK11 - Bristol, City of