Scope
Reference
UY PROC 1223
Description
The University of York ("the University") wishes to award a Framework Agreement to a small number of Consultants who have specific and market leading experience in deep geothermal well drilling, or equivalent deep well drilling and operating projects, and this invitation to tender is intended to secure the services of such specialists.
The geothermal project is seen as a flagship scheme for the University and wider region, and as such is being well resourced and prioritised. It is hoped that the project once completed shall be of national importance and through the work of the University and government departments shall be replicated at other similar sites which will open the deep geothermal energy market up further in the UK.
The City of York Council have expressed an interest to access services through the concluded Framework therefore they are being named as a potential user of Framework services once awarded. City of York Council's PPON is PQVW-9426-LDJV
The Framework shall be awarded as four separate Lots, and bidders are invited to submit tenders for one or more Lots. The tender Lots are as follows, together with anticipated spend per Lot over the four year Framework term:
Lot 1: Geothermal well and rig site design and construction consultancy. Anticipated spend of £0 to £700,000 incVAT
Lot 2: Integration with geothermal well to site energy network consultancy. Anticipated spend of £0 to £1,100,000 incVAT
Lot 3: Geological surveying, interpretation, modelling and monitoring consultancy. Anticipated spend of £0 to £1,500,000 incVAT
Lot 4: Client supervisor, drilling operation representation consultancy. Anticipated spend of £0 to £500,000 incVAT
Further details of the requirements can be found within the procurement documents that are available to download from the In-Tend procurement portal at: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/york/aspx/Home
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £3,800,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2027
- Possible extension to 31 October 2029
- 4 years
Description of possible extension:
The Framework shall run for an initial period of two years, with a further two year extension option to be agreed with mutual consent. The maximum term for the Framework shall be four years from the Framework start date. It is anticipated that individual contracts may be awarded (called off) within the term of the Framework which may extend beyond the framework end date within the constraints of the Procurement Act 2023.
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
Certain sub-threshold supplementary services may be awarded through the Framework Lots where they are similar in nature and not substantially different from the Framework Lot services. Any such supplementary services awarded as options shall not exceed Framework published value, and shall be connected to the delivery of deep geothermal well projects.
Main procurement category
Services
Contract locations
- UKE21 - York
Lot constraints
Description of how multiple lots may be awarded:
Tenderers may bid for one of more Framework Lot, and each Lot shall be evaluated and awarded independently of the other Lots.
Not the same for all lots
CPV classifications are shown in Lot sections, because they are not the same for all lots.
Lot 1. Geothermal well and rig site design and construction consultancy
Description
The successful Consultant appointed to Lot 1 shall be required to deliver the following services as a minimum to support the University's deep geothermal well project delivery, providing specific geological, well, rig site design consultancy services:
Provide advice and support to enable the University to achieve all relevant permissions and permitting required to establish and operate the drilling site(s), including the planning process (the consultant is not expected to write planning applications in full or conduct legal work regarding planning, services shall be limited to purely technical input).
Assist the University from a technical perspective with the University's community engagement processes ensuring local stakeholders are suitably informed. The consultant will support engagement with stakeholders by providing materials or technical input to allow the University to communicate the works across the multiple forums.
Provide technical support with regard to all pre drilling activities
The consultant will be required to support the completion of a concept well design and site set up plan to be issued to bidding contractors as part of the tender. The development of this design will be the responsibility of the contractors who win the tender. We would expect the consultant to provide a technical critique of the further stages of the design carried out by the contractor.
Support the procurement of the drilling contractor - providing support at the tender evaluation and contract award stage. The consultant shall be expected to provide specialist oversight and assistance in reviewing the tender submissions from a technical perspective.
The Consultant shall assist with the cost review of the drilling bidders 'open book' approach, providing technical advice as well as any benchmarking data held by the Consultant. The Consultant shall also be required to provide comment on the proposed pricing structure of key materials in line with their experience of past drilling operations.
The Consultant shall provide technical oversight and support the University with regard to reviewing all technical designs and plans produced by the drilling contractor for all wells.
The Consultant will be expected to attend meetings with the drilling manager and contractors design consultants to provide technical support to the UoY in making sure that what is told to the UoY by the contractors is acceptable.
For the initial well drilling all processes shall be under the control of the drilling contractor, however the consultant will be expected to attend meetings with the drilling manager and contractors design consultants to provide technical support to the University in a technical support role. This shall be the case for the second and any subsequent wells also.
The Consultant shall provide specification for well testing that the University should be expecting to see from the drilling contractor. The consultant shall provide technical advice on any well testing methodologies.The Consultant shall oversee testing on behalf of the University and provide oversight of the tests being carried out by the drilling contractor, as well as a critiquing and challenging the test results
The Consultant shall be required to provide all relevant associated services to facilitate the deep geothermal well projects full delivery.
During the drilling phase the Consultant shall be required to provide specialist support to the University with regard to utilisation of heat produced (heat and flow rate analysis etc shall be required as a minimum).
The Consultant shall provide consultancy services throughout the drilling stage, supporting the University as a 'critical friend' providing timely technical support.
Lot value (estimated)
- £530,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
CPV classifications
- 71310000 - Consultative engineering and construction services
- 71320000 - Engineering design services
- 71334000 - Mechanical and electrical engineering services
- 71351210 - Geophysical consultancy services
- 71530000 - Construction consultancy services
Same for all lots
Contract locations, contract dates and options are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2. Integration of Geothermal Well to Site Energy Network
Description
The successful Consultant appointed to Lot 2 shall be required to deliver the following technical design and other services as a minimum to support the University's deep geothermal well project delivery, providing specific integration of geothermal well to site energy network and site energy network design consultancy services:
The Consultant shall provide post drilling operational site preparation design and technical support services with regard to the site energy network for the heat/energy production phase of the project. In order to do this the Consultant shall be expected to deliver supplementary services such as but not limited to civils and mechanical and electrical design services.
Consultants shall have the ability to design district heating integration so that heat can be transferred throughout the University Campus and beyond if viable.
The consultant will be expected to review all finalised site plans and designs produced by the winning energy generation contractor on behalf of the University prior to construction commencing.
The site setup / ground preparation will be expected to be done and checked by the drilling contractor as it is their rig being used. But the consultant is expected to be able to provide some technical input from the client side as to how those conditions might be achieved.
Provide technical support to the UoY as the contractor installs and commissioning the above ground infrastructure. Particularly looking at the interaction between the well performance and testing to the performance when connected.
The Consultant shall provide specialist design services to produce a concept design to RIBA Stage 3 for the production equipment and works required to obtain and utilise the hot water from the well, and the connection to the University's wider energy infrastructure.
Provide operations phase procurement technical support.
The consultant shall provide some specific energy modelling services with regard to the heat and energy production from the well(s)
The consultant shall provide the University as client with operations phase client overview during the energy infrastructure works and implementation.
The Consultant shall be required to provide all relevant associated services to facilitate the deep geothermal well projects full delivery.
Lot value (estimated)
- £850,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
CPV classifications
- 71311300 - Infrastructure works consultancy services
- 71314300 - Energy-efficiency consultancy services
- 71321000 - Engineering design services for mechanical and electrical installations for buildings
- 71530000 - Construction consultancy services
- 79415200 - Design consultancy services
Same for all lots
Contract locations, contract dates and options are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 3. Geological Surveying, Interpretation, Modelling and Monitoring
Description
The successful Consultant appointed to Lot 3 shall be required to deliver the following services as a minimum to support the University's deep geothermal well project delivery, providing specific geological surveying, interpretation, modelling and monitoring consultancy services:
The consultant shall provide some further and ongoing surface exploration phase consultancy support, including;
Seismic data analysis and interpretation to assist in determining the target site(s) for the wells
Carry out additional seismic surveys if required
The consultant shall provide critique and comment on geological models and surveys, and shall evaluate targets identified by the geological models and provide feedback on the technical feasibility of reaching them.
To provide some on-going seismic monitoring during the drilling phase of the project
The Consultant shall be required to provide ad-hoc specialist support for site or ground testing when required
The consultant will be required to review seismic data as required and report findings to the University.
The Consultant shall be required to provide all relevant associated services to facilitate the deep geothermal well projects full delivery.
Lot value (estimated)
- £1,130,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
CPV classifications
- 71351200 - Geological and geophysical consultancy services
- 71351210 - Geophysical consultancy services
- 71352140 - Seismic processing services
- 71355000 - Surveying services
Same for all lots
Contract locations, contract dates and options are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 4. Client Supervisor / Drilling Operations Representative
Description
The successful Consultant appointed to Lot 4 shall be required to deliver the following services as a minimum to support the University's deep geothermal well project delivery, providing specific University (client) supervisor / drilling operations representative consultancy services:
Sign off drilling plans
Provide regular oversight of the drilling contractor on behalf of the client
Provide a regular site presence
Have proven previous experience of drilling management
The Consultant shall be required to provide all relevant associated services to facilitate the deep geothermal well projects full delivery.
Lot value (estimated)
- £400,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
CPV classifications
- 71351200 - Geological and geophysical consultancy services
- 71530000 - Construction consultancy services
- 76430000 - Well-drilling and production services
Same for all lots
Contract locations, contract dates and options are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Framework
Maximum number of suppliers
Unlimited
Maximum percentage fee charged to suppliers
0%
Further information about fees
There shall be no fee charged to be a member of the concluded Framework agreement.
Framework operation description
Contracts shall be awarded (called off) the Framework Lot in the following ways:
(i) By re-opening competition through the Framework Lot with all capable suppliers on the Lot given an opportunity to bid.
(ii) By direct award to a capable provided based on the Framework ranking
Award method when using the framework
Either with or without competition
Contracting authorities that may use the framework
The City of York Council has expressed an interest to access and award services through one or more of the Framework Lots and their estimated spend has been included within the anticipated Framework Lot spend. the City of York Council's OCID number is: ocds-h6vhtk-05829d
To date the City of York Council are exploring the potential of deep geothermal well heat an energy at an early stage and there is no specific project identified, however this Framework shall give the City of York Council a compliant route to procure the services if required and no commitment can be made to any level of spend.
Contracting authority location restrictions
- UKE21 - York
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Lot 1. Geothermal well and rig site design and construction consultancy
Lot 2. Integration of Geothermal Well to Site Energy Network
Lot 3. Geological Surveying, Interpretation, Modelling and Monitoring
Lot 4. Client Supervisor / Drilling Operations Representative
Please refer to the tender documents and Schedule 7 the Procurement Specific Questionnaire.
Technical ability conditions of participation
Lot 1. Geothermal well and rig site design and construction consultancy
Lot 2. Integration of Geothermal Well to Site Energy Network
Lot 3. Geological Surveying, Interpretation, Modelling and Monitoring
Lot 4. Client Supervisor / Drilling Operations Representative
Please refer to the tender documents and Schedule 7 the Procurement Specific Questionnaire.
Particular suitability
Lot 1. Geothermal well and rig site design and construction consultancy
Lot 2. Integration of Geothermal Well to Site Energy Network
Lot 3. Geological Surveying, Interpretation, Modelling and Monitoring
Lot 4. Client Supervisor / Drilling Operations Representative
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
12 September 2025, 12:00am
Tender submission deadline
19 September 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders are to be uploaded to the project via the In-Tend procurement portal at: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/york/aspx/Home
Please ensure sufficient time is allowed when uploading tender documents as once the closing date and time has passed tenderers shall no longer be able to upload submission documents.
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
10 October 2025
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical | Technical ranking together with consideration of the commercial terms as set out in the tender documents. |
Quality | 50% |
| Commercial | Commercial ranking together with consideration of the technical terms as set out in the tender documents. |
Cost | 50% |
Other information
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Documents
Associated tender documents
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/york/aspx/Home
You may access the tender documents free of charge with no restrictions through the In-Tend procurement portal at: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/york/aspx/Home
Registration is simple and once registered the tender document set can be downloaded.
Technical specifications to be met
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/york/aspx/Home
Technical specifications are contained within the tender documents available to download through the In-Tend portal.
Contracting authority
University of York
- UK Register of Learning Providers (UKPRN number): 10007167
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PRDQ-5539-WTHX
Heslington
York
YO10 5DD
United Kingdom
Contact name: Rob Allan
Telephone: +44 1904328214
Email: rob.allan@york.ac.uk
Website: http://www.york.ac.uk
Region: UKE21 - York
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government