- Lot 1. POR L1NI - Primary Operating Reserve
- Lot 2. SOR L2NI - Secondary Operating Reserve
- Lot 3. TOR1 L3NI - Tertiary 1 Operating Reserve
- Lot 4. TOR2 L4NI - Tertiary 2 Operating Reserve
- Lot 5. RRD L5NI - Replacement Reserve (De-Synchronised)
- Lot 6. RRS L6NI - Replacement Reserve (Synchronised)
- Lot 7. SSRP L7NI - Steady State Reactive Power
- Lot 8. SIR L8NI - Synchronous Inertial Respons
- Lot 9. RM1 L9NI - Ramping Margin 1 Hour
- Lot 10. RM3 L10NI - Ramping Margin 3 Hour
- Lot 11. RM8 L11NI - Ramping Margin 8 Hour
- Lot 12. FFR L12NI - Fast Frequency Response
Scope
Reference
SONI074
Description
Following review by the Regulatory Authorities of the TSOs' Report on Ensuring a Secure, Reliable and Efficient Power System in July
2011 the TSOs were requested by the SEM Committee to put in place a programme of work to solve the challenges associated with
increased levels of penetration of variable non-synchronous renewable generation.
Total value (estimated)
- £34,450,000 excluding VAT
- £41,340,004 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 30 September 2026
- Possible extension to 31 December 2026
- 9 months
Description of possible extension:
Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 71314000 - Energy and related services
Contract locations
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Lot constraints
Description of how multiple lots may be awarded:
Based on responses to Technical Questionnaire
Lot 1. POR L1NI - Primary Operating Reserve
Description
Primary Operating Reserve or 'POR' has the meaning given to it in the grid code
Lot value (estimated)
- £2,870,833 excluding VAT
- £3,445,000 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2. SOR L2NI - Secondary Operating Reserve
Description
Secondary Operating reserve or 'SOR' has the meaning given to it in the grid code
Lot value (estimated)
- £2,870,833 excluding VAT
- £3,445,000 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 3. TOR1 L3NI - Tertiary 1 Operating Reserve
Description
Tertiary 1 operating reserve or 'TOR1' has the meaning given to it in the grid code.
Lot value (estimated)
- £2,870,833 excluding VAT
- £3,445,000 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 4. TOR2 L4NI - Tertiary 2 Operating Reserve
Description
Tertiary 2 operating reserve or 'TOR2' has the meaning given to it in the grid code
Lot value (estimated)
- £2,870,833 excluding VAT
- £3,445,000 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 5. RRD L5NI - Replacement Reserve (De-Synchronised)
Description
RR (De-synchronised)' means replacement reserve provided by the providing unit when:
(i) not Synchronised to the power system in the case of a synchronous providing unit, or
(ii) when connected to the power system and operating at a level less or equal to 0 MW in the case of an energy storage providing unit, or
(ii) when connected to the power system in the case of a demand side unit
Lot value (estimated)
- £2,870,833 excluding VAT
- £3,445,000 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 6. RRS L6NI - Replacement Reserve (Synchronised)
Description
RR (Synchronised)' means Replacement Reserve provided by the Providing Unit when:
(i) synchronised to the power system in the case of a synchronous providing unit, or
(ii) when connected to the power system and operating at a level greater than 0 MW in the case of an energy storage providing unit or
power park module.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Lot value (estimated)
- £2,870,833 excluding VAT
- £3,445,000 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 7. SSRP L7NI - Steady State Reactive Power
Description
Steady-state reactive power or 'SSRP' means reactive power capability (Leading) and reactive power capability
Lot value (estimated)
- £2,870,833 excluding VAT
- £3,445,000 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 8. SIR L8NI - Synchronous Inertial Respons
Description
Synchronous Inertial Response (SIR) is the kinetic energy (at a Frequency of 50 Hz) of a centrally dispatched synchronous providing unit multiplied by the SIR factor (SIRF)
Lot value (estimated)
- £2,870,833 excluding VAT
- £3,445,000 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 9. RM1 L9NI - Ramping Margin 1 Hour
Description
Ramping Margin 1 is the increased MW Output and/or MW Reduction that a providing unit can provide to the company within one hour of the company issuing a dispatch instruction to a service provider and that the providing unit can maintain for a further two hours after the one hour period has elapsed. It is limited by the lowest availability in that three hour period.
Lot value (estimated)
- £2,870,833 excluding VAT
- £3,445,000 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 10. RM3 L10NI - Ramping Margin 3 Hour
Description
Ramping Margin 3 is the increased MW Output and/or MW reduction that a providing unit can provide to the company within three hours of the company issuing a dispatch instruction to a service provider and that the providing unit can maintain for a further 5 hours after the 3 hour period has elapsed. It is limited by the lowest availability in that 8 hour period
Lot value (estimated)
- £2,870,833 excluding VAT
- £3,445,000 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 11. RM8 L11NI - Ramping Margin 8 Hour
Description
Ramping Margin 8 is the increased MW Output and/or MW reduction that a providing unit can provide to the company within eight hours of the company issuing a dispatch instruction to a service provider and that the providing unit can maintain for a further 8 hours after the 8 hour period has elapsed. It is limited by the lowest availability in that 16 hour period.
Lot value (estimated)
- £2,870,833 excluding VAT
- £3,445,000 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 12. FFR L12NI - Fast Frequency Response
Description
Fast Frequency Response (FFR) is the additional MW Output or MW reduction required compared to the pre- incident MW output or MW reduction, which is fully available from a providing unit within 2 seconds after the start of an event and sustainable up to 10 seconds after the start of the event.
Lot value (estimated)
- £2,870,837 excluding VAT
- £3,445,004 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Lot 1. POR L1NI - Primary Operating Reserve
Lot 2. SOR L2NI - Secondary Operating Reserve
Lot 3. TOR1 L3NI - Tertiary 1 Operating Reserve
Lot 4. TOR2 L4NI - Tertiary 2 Operating Reserve
Lot 5. RRD L5NI - Replacement Reserve (De-Synchronised)
Lot 6. RRS L6NI - Replacement Reserve (Synchronised)
Lot 7. SSRP L7NI - Steady State Reactive Power
Lot 8. SIR L8NI - Synchronous Inertial Respons
Lot 9. RM1 L9NI - Ramping Margin 1 Hour
Lot 10. RM3 L10NI - Ramping Margin 3 Hour
Lot 11. RM8 L11NI - Ramping Margin 8 Hour
Lot 12. FFR L12NI - Fast Frequency Response
Please refer to Request for Proposal
Technical ability conditions of participation
Lot 1. POR L1NI - Primary Operating Reserve
Lot 2. SOR L2NI - Secondary Operating Reserve
Lot 3. TOR1 L3NI - Tertiary 1 Operating Reserve
Lot 4. TOR2 L4NI - Tertiary 2 Operating Reserve
Lot 5. RRD L5NI - Replacement Reserve (De-Synchronised)
Lot 6. RRS L6NI - Replacement Reserve (Synchronised)
Lot 7. SSRP L7NI - Steady State Reactive Power
Lot 8. SIR L8NI - Synchronous Inertial Respons
Lot 9. RM1 L9NI - Ramping Margin 1 Hour
Lot 10. RM3 L10NI - Ramping Margin 3 Hour
Lot 11. RM8 L11NI - Ramping Margin 8 Hour
Lot 12. FFR L12NI - Fast Frequency Response
Please refer to Technical Questionnaire
Particular suitability
Lot 1. POR L1NI - Primary Operating Reserve
Lot 2. SOR L2NI - Secondary Operating Reserve
Lot 3. TOR1 L3NI - Tertiary 1 Operating Reserve
Lot 4. TOR2 L4NI - Tertiary 2 Operating Reserve
Lot 5. RRD L5NI - Replacement Reserve (De-Synchronised)
Lot 6. RRS L6NI - Replacement Reserve (Synchronised)
Lot 7. SSRP L7NI - Steady State Reactive Power
Lot 8. SIR L8NI - Synchronous Inertial Respons
Lot 9. RM1 L9NI - Ramping Margin 1 Hour
Lot 10. RM3 L10NI - Ramping Margin 3 Hour
Lot 11. RM8 L11NI - Ramping Margin 8 Hour
Lot 12. FFR L12NI - Fast Frequency Response
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
18 December 2025, 12:00pm
Tender submission deadline
15 January 2026, 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)
4 March 2026
Award criteria
Lot 1. POR L1NI - Primary Operating Reserve
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Questionnaire | Refer to RFP |
Quality |
| Legal | Refer to RFP |
Quality |
Weighting description
Technical Compliance and Legal
Lot 2. SOR L2NI - Secondary Operating Reserve
Lot 3. TOR1 L3NI - Tertiary 1 Operating Reserve
Lot 4. TOR2 L4NI - Tertiary 2 Operating Reserve
Lot 5. RRD L5NI - Replacement Reserve (De-Synchronised)
Lot 6. RRS L6NI - Replacement Reserve (Synchronised)
Lot 7. SSRP L7NI - Steady State Reactive Power
Lot 9. RM1 L9NI - Ramping Margin 1 Hour
Lot 10. RM3 L10NI - Ramping Margin 3 Hour
Lot 11. RM8 L11NI - Ramping Margin 8 Hour
Lot 12. FFR L12NI - Fast Frequency Response
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Questionnaire | Refer to RFP |
Quality |
| Legal | Refer to RFP |
Quality |
Weighting description
Technical Compliance and Legal
Lot 8. SIR L8NI - Synchronous Inertial Respons
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Questionnaire | Refer to RFP |
Quality |
Weighting description
Technical Compliance and Legal
Other information
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Utilities
Contracting authority
SONI Ltd
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PPVY-9479-DHPY
12 Manse Road
Belfast
BT6 9RT
United Kingdom
Email: tenders.SONI@soni.ltd.uk
Website: http://www.soni.ltd.uk
Region: UKN0E - Lisburn and Castlereagh
Organisation type: Private utility
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland