Scope
Reference
1193
Description
Aston University intends to award a contract for the operation and management of its new Energy Centre, which will supply heat to the campus via the existing District Heating Network. The new Energy Centre is part of the University's decarbonisation strategy and is funded through Salix PSDS. The contract will replace the existing Energy Supply Agreement with Birmingham District Energy Company (BDEC), ensuring continuity of service and technical compatibility across the network. The new agreement will support Aston's goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions for Scope 1 and 2 by 2028, two years ahead of its strategic target.
Contract 1. District Heating
Supplier
Contract value
- £37,500,000 excluding VAT
- £45,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
31 December 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2051
- 26 years
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 09323000 - District heating
Contract locations
- UKG31 - Birmingham
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
- Single supplier - intellectual property or exclusive rights
- Single supplier - technical reasons
Grounds for direct award under the Procurement Act 2023 are:
-Schedule 5: The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract- (a) due to a particular supplier having intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works.
This is demonstrated by the current contract with BRING and the technical incompatibility of multiple suppliers operating on the same Heat Network at differing specifications.
-Schedule 7: The public contract concerns the supply of goods, services or works by the existing supplier which are intended as an extension to, or partial replacement of, existing goods, services or works in circumstances where- (a) a change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods, services or works that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing goods, services or works, and (b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance
This is demonstrated by technical incompatibility of operating two independent Energy Centre's operating at incompatible specifications on the same Heat Network.
Supplier
BIRMINGHAM DISTRICT ENERGY COMPANY LIMITED
- Companies House: 05988953
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PMGX-6253-TDDH
Thomas House
London
SW1V 1PX
United Kingdom
Email: rhys.major@bringenergy.com
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. District Heating
Contracting authority
ASTON UNIVERSITY
- Companies House: RC000904
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PTLB-7496-TPTR
Aston Triangle
Birmingham
B4 7ET
United Kingdom
Email: procurement@aston.ac.uk
Region: UKG31 - Birmingham
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government