Scope
Description
Mutual Energy Limited ("MEL") was formed to own and operate energy infrastructure for the long-term benefit of the energy consumers of Northern Ireland. The present principal activities of MEL and its subsidiaries (details below) are the ownership and operation of Northern Ireland's energy links with Great Britain. MEL is a mutualised organisation, with members acting in a role similar to shareholders but specifically representing the interests of energy consumers.
Moyle Interconnector Limited (MIL) owns the 500MW High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Moyle Interconnector, commissioned in 2001, linking Northern Ireland and Scotland. It is a vital asset for Northern Ireland's electricity grid and provides support to Great Britain when required.
Premier Transmission Limited (PTL) owns and operates the Scotland - Northern Ireland Pipeline ("SNIP"). The SNIP is a high-pressure gas pipeline and comprises an 89km section from Twynholm in Dumfriesshire to South Cairn near Stranraer. From there, a 41km subsea section carries gas to Northern Ireland, landing in Islandmagee. A final 2.5km section runs to the Above Ground Installation ("AGI") at Ballylumford.
Belfast Gas Transmission Limited (BGTL) owns the pipeline from Ballylumford to Belfast, comprising underground and subsea sections, serving multiple Above Ground Installations (AGIs) and supplying the Northwest Pipeline. MEL also integrated Kilroot power station into this network without disrupting supply.
West Transmission Limited (WTL) owns and operates the new "Gas to the West" transmission infrastructure, commissioned in late 2018. This asset comprises 80km of 85bar pipeline, running from the Gas Networks Ireland AGI at Portadown to the Fivemiletown AGI as well as the Maydown Pipeline System which itself consists of an AGI and a short length of pipelines.
Across the gas network, MEL owns and operates a total of 9 Block Valve Stations and 13 AGIs comprising of the necessary equipment for isolation, pressure reduction and metering along with the necessary electrical and communication equipment and instrumentation.
Mutual Energy Limited (MEL) has long operated on a model where the core engineering functions are supported by major contractors, engaged in long term contractual partnerships. In the case of the Moyle Interconnector, Siemens Energy (the original converter station OEM) provides all maintenance and refurbishment activities, while for the gas businesses, SGN provide maintenance and refurbishment activities. In both cases this also includes fault response. To date, all asset data has resided with these contractors and has not been visible in the native asset systems to MEL. Siemens Energy use a proprietary system known as 'D2' while SGN use a version of IBM's Maximo solution.
This model is no longer satisfactory; good asset management practices dictate that control of asset information should reside with the asset owner, and that the asset owner should determine asset information strategy and requirements.
This Early Market Engagement Notice is to notify suppliers that Interconnector Services Limited ("ISL", a subsidiary of Mutual Energy Limited through which we contract any services/goods such as this, which are shared by a number of group companies) is seeking to engage with the market regarding our requirement for delivery of an integrated Asset Lifecycle Management System (ALMS) and ongoing development and support of asset management for Moyle Interconnector and Gas Transmission assets for a contract period of 3-5 years, commencing January 2026.
We would be interested in speaking to suppliers with proven experience in delivering cloud-based solutions with functionality covering the following areas: -
- Asset Repository- location, classification, hierarchy & specification Workflow, standard tasks & schedules
- Management of inspection and survey reports.
- Failure modes, analysis & defect recording
- Work order lifecycle (generation - financial close)
- GIS and SCADA integration
- User dashboards, KPIs & reporting
- Linked documents & document attachment
- Health & Safety
- Mobile & Field services
- ESG/ compliance - linked reporting
- Investigation & Change Control
- Project Management
- Contract Management
- Stores Management
- Skills & Qualification Management
- Work Management - preventative and condition-based maintenance, inspections, triggering of work orders & prioritisation, cost allocation, scheduling
- Condition monitoring & trend analysis
- Application licensing
Our intention is to appoint a partner who can both provide and implement a suitable solution, and then provide ongoing support for the lifetime of the contract. Support will not be limited to routine maintenance, but will include agile development of functionality to deliver additional business requirements as they emerge.
If you as a supplier can provide all or elements of the above and would be interested in bidding for this work, we would like to speak with you.
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2028
- Possible extension to 31 December 2030
- 5 years
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
Contract locations
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Engagement
Engagement deadline
30 September 2025
Engagement process description
It is the intention of Interconnector Services to host pre-market engagement meetings during the week commencing October 6th 2025.
If you wish to participate you must e-mail beth.mckenna@mutual-energy.com with the subject "Meeting" no later than 12:00 on Tuesday 30th September.
Your email should include the names of the representatives wishing to attend, the name of your organisation and a brief summary of the services your organisation is interested in providing. Please also provide your availability for a one-hour meeting during the week commencing 06/10/2025 and whether an in-person (at our office based in Belfast) or online meeting is preferred. Appointments will be confirmed by email according to ISL availability and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Please note the date is subject to change and we reserve the right to arrange alternative engagement meetings with suppliers if required.
All future tender documentation will be made available via the Find a Tender website and the Mutual Energy In-Tend portal and potential tenderers should register on this website (https://in-tendhost.co.uk/mutual-energy/aspx/Home) to ensure they have access to tender documentation when the tender is published.
This pre-market engagement meeting is for information purposes only. Any interest shown does not constitute a commitment to participate in a procurement exercise. Failure to show interest does not restrict providers from participating in any future procurement exercise.
Procedure
Special regime
Utilities
Contracting authority
INTERCONNECTOR SERVICES (NI) LIMITED (on behalf of Mutual Energy Limited)
- Companies House: NI058161
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYBP-3791-LQGJ
First Floor
85 Ormeau Road
BT7 1SH
United Kingdom
Contact name: Beth McKenna
Email: beth.mckenna@mutual-energy.com
Website: https://www.mutual-energy.com/
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Organisation type: Private utility
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland