Scope
Reference
S1235 (2027)
Description
The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) is to gather insights from the market on the feasibility, opportunities, and challenges of an Online Quotation Solution. Responses will inform NIE Networks’ consideration of scope, potential procurement approach and l next steps. At this stage the final requirements have not been set; the following indicative scope is provided to guide supplier feedback.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 September 2027 to 1 September 2031
- Possible extension to 1 September 2035
- 8 years, 1 day
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
- 48460000 - Analytical, scientific, mathematical or forecasting software package
- 48517000 - IT software package
- 48700000 - Software package utilities
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Engagement
Engagement deadline
5 November 2025
Engagement process description
Interested parties should submit clarification questions via the messaging function within PQQ ¬_4689
S1235 (2027) Provision of a Self-Service Online Quotations Platform - Pre Market Engagement on eSourcingNI by 12 noon on Thursday 30 October 2025.
All clarifications or queries relating to the MSQ must be submitted via the eSourcinNI portal as a secure message. Clarification requests may be answered in batches rather than one at a time.
Each response to a request for clarification may be issued as a broadcast message, suitably anonymised, to all interested parties via eSourcingNI. It shall be the interested parties’ responsibility to monitor clarification responses.
If an interested party raises a clarification which it considers is confidential in nature, this must be stated within the request. In all circumstances, NIE Networks reserves the right to issue clarification responses to all interested parties at any stage when it believes, at its sole discretion, the clarification should be issued to all interested parties.
Where any additions or amendments are made to the MSQ documents, these will be issued to all interested parties via eSourcingNI in the form of an addendum. Responses to clarification requests issued by NIE Networks shall be deemed to form part of the documents and must be treated as such by the interested party.
Any queries or correspondence during the process must not be directed to any NIE Networks employees or any other address rather than the method outlined above. Any violation of this instruction by the Bidder may render their MSQ Response invalid.
No oral conversations or agreements with any representatives of NIE Networks shall affect or modify any terms of this document and/or the MSQ or any submitted response. Any oral communication between NIE Networks and the Bidder shall not be binding on NIE Networks, unless the communication is subsequently issued as a broadcast clarification message in response to a clarification requested submitted via eSourcingNI.
MSQ Responses must be submitted in accordance with the following conditions:
• eSourcingNI is NIE Networks’ chosen electronic tendering portal for the Procurement.
• Should you have any queries, or if you are having any problems registering on the portal, please contact the Bravo Solution dedicated helpdesk by calling 0800 368 4850 (UK) or 00442033496601 (outside UK).
• The MSQ Response must be completed as directed and returned via the eSourcingNI portal. MSQ Responses received after the submission deadline will not be considered
• Phoned, faxed or emailed MSQ Responses will not be accepted.
• The MSQ Response can be uploaded anytime until the submission deadline within this document.
• When uploading your response, please be aware that the speed of your internet connection, your system configuration and general web traffic, may impact on the time required to complete the transaction. Uploading of MSQ Responses must be completed by the final submission time.
• NIE Networks cannot accept responsibility for transmission delays. It is the responsibility of the Bidder to ensure that its MSQ Response has been submitted in the prescribed manner and in accordance with the specified deadline.
• When uploading your MSQ Response please ensure that:
o You have checked that your whole MSQ Response has been uploaded correctly, including supporting attachments;
o Once uploaded and saved, a final check of the MSQ Response is carried out to ensure the document/s uploaded contain ALL the answers.
Please consider this document in detail and if you feel that your organisation is able to contribute to this PME exercise, please complete the MSQ and return by the deadline specified below.
MSQ responses should be submitted by 12 noon on Wednesday 5 November 2025.
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
2 March 2026
Procedure
Special regime
Utilities
Contracting authority
Northern Ireland Electricity Networks Limited
- Companies House: NI026041
120 Malone Road
Belfast
BT9 5HT
United Kingdom
Organisation type: Private utility
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland