Scope
Reference
WS5052814900
Description
This notice invites participants to submit a request to participate in a competitive flexible procedure for the award of a contract under Section 19 of the Procurement Act 2023.
This is not an invitation to submit tenders.
National Grid (NG) is an energy company operating in the UK and US. We deliver electricity and gas safely, reliably and efficiently to the customers and communities we serve - all while working towards a clean energy future.
The company is currently undergoing a strategic transformation of its Enterprise Business Services (EBS) organisation and as part of this initiative is successfully operating Engineering Support Services (ESS) activity in India via an incumbent supplier arrangement.
ESS is a proven, flexible, and scalable model providing highly skilled engineering support services with diverse technical, project, and analytics skills via an outsource model that transforms engineering processes.
At National Grid, these engineering services activities include, but are not limited to, System Modelling and Early Development, Work Management Support, Asset Management Support, Project Controls and Data Management Support.
We now wish to create our own Global Capability Centre (GCC) to deliver engineering services at scale and at pace, and we are looking for a single supplier* to
I. Establish, grow and deliver engineering services capability at pace
II. Co-create and collaborate with us to design the road map to get to the desired end state of an NG-led GCC
III. Play an active role as we develop a detailed project plan and
Statement of Work that allows us to establish an NG-led Global Capability Centre.
IV. Operationalise the Global Capability Centre
This notice is for a wide range of services (and, where applicable, supporting goods, works or services) to support National Grid achieve its target end-state of a Global Capability Centre for engineering services in India.
Our preference is to establish its GCC using a design build, operate and transfer model, however we are open to other pathways
Phase 1 - Design
The successful party collaborates with NG to define the requirements of our GCC including location, physical space, office layout, IT infrastructure and network connectivity, service standards and operational requirements and compliance with local laws and regulations. These requirements must satisfy our needs for today and future needs.
This phase ensures the GCC is tailored to NG's strategic and operational needs before the Build phase and has the necessary plans and documentation, budget and internal approvals.
Phase 2 - Build
The successful party establishes the GCC infrastructure, recruits talent and focuses on delivering the planned design on time and within scope and budget. We expect National Grid will be responsible to set up legal entities and gain regulatory approvals.
Phase 3 - Operate
The successful party will deliver and manage day-to-day operations including engineering services and the necessary enabling functions such as HR, payroll, IT support, compliance, and employee engagement.
This phase resembles traditional outsourcing, with service levels and governance models aligned to NG's expectations.
Phase 4 - Transfer
The successful party is jointly responsible with NG to complete appropriate transfers including operational knowledge, systems and staff to NG within the agreed timescale in such a way that service delivery and service standards are not affected.
Phase 5 - After completion of the Transfer phase, both parties may agree additional works for example, enduring functional support such a Finance or IT etc.
The deadline for completed requests to participate to be submitted via https://forms.office.com/r/37mdZZdR66 is 17:00 London 29-Sep-25.
Please Note
National Grid's offshore operations are currently based in India via an incumbent supplier arrangement and India is a preferred location for our Global Capability Centre. However, we intend to explore location strategy as part of our qualification and sourcing activities.
National Grid wishes to provide additional insight into the estimated total value figure included in this notice because this public notice permits only a single figure.
National Grid used best endeavours when estimating the total cost over the planned duration of this contract and believes the total cost to be in the range of £100,000,000 to £250,000,000 excluding VAT (£100 million to £250 million)
Merger/Affiliates Participation Rule.
Where two or more suppliers in this competition become connected persons (including by acquisition, merger or common control) at any time:
(i) pre-completion they must participate independently and maintain effective information barriers;
(ii) post-completion the group must nominate one supplier to remain in the competition within five (5) working days of completion and withdraw the other(s).
National Grid may set evidence requirements, request undertakings and, where necessary, exclude one or more suppliers for breach of procedure or improper behaviour, applying equal treatment and proportionality.
* A 'single supplier' could include a joint venture or prime contractor although it should be noted a prime contractor will be responsible for management and delivery of all sub-contract elements.
Total value (estimated)
- £250,000,000 excluding VAT
- £300,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2031
- Possible extension to 31 August 2034
- 8 years
Description of possible extension:
National Grid intends to award an initial contract for 5 years with 3 possible 12-month extensions.
National Grid reserve the right to determine the duration of any contract extensions.
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
The contract may include options to include emerging scope directly related to delivery of engineering services for example, if new technologies become available that enable faster or more efficient delivery of engineering services.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 71300000 - Engineering services
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 75000000 - Administration, defence and social security services
- 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
Submission
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
29 September 2025, 5:00pm
Electronic auction will be used
Yes
Submission address and any special instructions
Requests to participate must be submitted here https://forms.office.com/r/37mdZZdR66
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Suppliers to be invited to tender
Minimum 5 suppliers
Award decision date (estimated)
1 September 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | The contract will be awarded based on the Most Advantageous Tender, assessed against qualitative and quantitative criteria related to the contract. These may include but are not limited to • Quality:... |
Quality | 80% |
| Price | The contract will be awarded based on the Most Advantageous Tender, assessed against qualitative and quantitative criteria related to the contract. Cost: Including but not limited to value for money... |
Price | 20% |
Other information
Description of risks to contract performance
a. 'Known risks include: (i) host state legal or regulatory change affecting service location or personnel mix; (ii) cross-border data transfer, localisation constraints and security assurance requirements; (iii) export control sanctions outcomes; (iv) pace of transition and stabilisation; (v) sector approvals (including national security) affecting timing. National Grid may issue proportionate modifications to address such risks.'
b. 'The contract may be transferred, in whole or part, to a National Grid group company (including an overseas subsidiary) to reflect corporate structuring of the dBOT operating model.'
We advise that a conflicts assessment has been prepared and will be kept under review and revised as necessary
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
- Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Special regime
Utilities
Competitive flexible procedure description
This notice invites participants to submit a request to participate in a competitive flexible procedure for the award of a contract under Section 19 of the Procurement Act 2023.
This is not an invitation to submit tenders.
This procurement will follow a Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023 in multiple phases, namely
1. Qualification.
2. Supplier Selection.
3. Award.
1. In the Qualification phase, National Grid will assess participants against conditions of participation. National Grid will use these conditions of participation assess a participant on their legal and financial capacity and technical ability to perform the contract.
National Grid reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to exclude participants not satisfying a condition of participation from participating in, or progressing as part of, the competitive tendering procedure.
National Grid may request evidence that is independently verifiable as a condition of participation
Participants wishing to request to participate should complete visit ( https://forms.office.com/r/37mdZZdR66 ) and complete the necessary registration details. Details must be submitted no later than 17:00 London 29-Sep-25 to allow sufficient time to process requests.
2. Participants assessed as satisfying the conditions of participation will be invited to participate in the first activity in the Supplier Selection phase,
The Supplier Selection phase will contain a number of activities designed to identify participants best able to meet National Grid's requirements. Participants will be assessed and evaluated at each the conclusion of each activity against requirements detailed in the relevant instructions for that activity and National Grid reserves the right to evaluate and exclude participants not meeting the requirements.
The Supplier Selection phase will include but is not limited to:
Service Stories, Initial Proposal, Collaboration and Alignment Sessions, Final Proposal including negotiation, Site Visits and Best and Final Offers including negotiation.
National Grid reserves the right to refine award criteria prior to issuing the final invitation to submit a tender, in accordance with Section 24 of the Procurement Act 2023.
3. The Award phase will include necessary internal approval activities, publish a contract award notice and completing the required 8-working day standstill period.
Documents
Associated tender documents
https://supplier.ariba.com
Participants successfully requesting participation will be invited to participation in the qualification activity via National Grid's eSourcing system ( https://supplier.ariba.com )
20250818 Project Glossary for Participants in Engineering Services vFINAL.pdf
20250818 Project Glossary for Participants in Engineering Services vFINAL.pdf
Documents to be provided after the tender notice
Participants successfully requesting participation will be invited to participation in the qualification activity via National Grid's eSourcing system ( https://supplier.ariba.com )
Contracting authority
NATIONAL GRID UK LIMITED
- Companies House: 04508773
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PGTR-4481-CJPQ
1-3 Strand
London
WC2N 5EH
United Kingdom
Contact name: Andrew Gill
Email: andrew.gill@nationalgrid.com
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Private utility