Award

BE24221 - Research Study of the Potential for Cost Reduction in Undergrounding Transmission Lines over Long Distances

UK SBS

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

07 May 2025 at 07:29

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has awarded a contract for a research study titled "BE24221 - Research Study of the Potential for Cost Reduction in Undergrounding Transmission Lines over Long Distances." This contract was awarded via the CCS Research and Insights (RM6126) Dynamic Purchasing System, with the procurement process classified under the "Research and development services and related consultancy services" category. This initiative aims to enhance the evidence base for undergrounding costs in the UK and explore potential cost reductions when scaled up over longer distances. The buying organisation, UK SBS, facilitated this selective procurement method through a call-off from a dynamic purchasing system. The contract began on 3rd February 2025 and culminates on 23rd May 2025. While the opportunity relates to multiple locations, including the UK and the British Overseas Territories, the final award, valued at £69,903, has been made to Ramboll UK Limited.

This tender presents significant prospects for businesses engaged in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Companies specialising in innovative underground cable technologies or possessing expertise in cost analysis could find opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange in this commissioned research. The focus on cost reduction and innovation aligns well with businesses aiming to contribute to enhancing energy security and sustainable infrastructure development. Given the contract's nature, SMEs involved in specialist consultancy for transmission line methodologies could find competitive advantages due to the specificity of the contract's requirements and objectives.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

BE24221 - Research Study of the Potential for Cost Reduction in Undergrounding Transmission Lines over Long Distances

Notice Description

**Please note this is an Award Notice and not a call for competition, this Contract has been awarded via the CCS Research and Insights (RM6126) Dynamic Purchasing System.** The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is appointing a Contractor to to conduct a research study of the comparative costs of different methods of undergrounding transmission lines in a GB context, and the potential for these costs to be reduced if scaled up to longer distances. Its purpose is to update and improve the evidence base for undergrounding costs and identify potential for further innovation to reduce costs. Depending on the study findings, the research may have implications for innovation funding in this area and potentially influence related policy. The objectives are: - To list undergrounding methods that could be used for transmission lines. - To qualitatively assess all methods of undergrounding with respect to their suitability for undergrounding transmission lines over long distances of order 20-50km and shortlist three methods with the most potential for further study. - To document published evidence for the lifetime cost of the counterfactual of undergrounding in shallow trenches using 'cut-and-cover' and sensitivity to distance per km in a UK context. - To engage with specialist suppliers for the three shortlisted undergrounding methods chosen for further study to quantify and validate current installation costs and sensitivity to distance of these methods using a basis consistent with that for the counterfactual. - To work with specialist suppliers to identify areas where innovations in shortlisted undergrounding methods such as in equipment or methodology might help to reduce costs when scaling-up to longer distances. - To analyse and compare costs with the counterfactual and identify the main cost components. - To identify if choices about cable technology such as voltage and whether AC or DC impacts the comparative costs of undergrounding methods. - To qualitatively assess wider aspects of the shortlisted non-traditional undergrounding methods including constraints, environmental impact, deliverability, and energy security - To write a final study report collating the above research and analysis with conclusions on whether there is scope to reduce undergrounding costs using nontraditional undergrounding methods and recommendations for further work

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-070071f1-7e94-4e40-bb9e-860d44f67a0c
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e63a49ac-dea2-4b5a-bf02-8fb2a23550ab
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Dynamic
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Call-off from a dynamic purchasing system
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£100,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£69,903 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 May 20259 months ago
Submission Deadline
18 Dec 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
29 Jan 20251 years ago
Contract Period
3 Feb 2025 - 23 May 2025 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK SBS
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON
Postcode
SN2 1FF
Post Town
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

RAMBOLL

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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