Planning

Soft Market Test for Heat Network Consultancy

PLUS DANE HOUSING GROUP LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

17 Dec 2025 at 17:33

Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Plus Dane Housing Group Limited is conducting a soft market test for heat network consultancy services, specifically seeking feedback from relevant organisations to better understand how to scope and package a potential future procurement opportunity. This process is currently in the planning stage, with a focus on heating-system design services in the North West region of the United Kingdom. Interested parties are invited to provide their details by the engagement end date of 5th January 2026. As a social-purpose-driven housing association with over 13,500 homes and nearly 600 employees across Merseyside and Cheshire, Plus Dane is committed to providing excellent service while ensuring compliance with future Ofgem regulations, impacting their heat network infrastructure.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in heating-system design services, particularly those that can offer impartial consultancy aligned with regulatory readiness and procurement specifications for metering and billing contracts. SMEs and VCSEs are encouraged to participate, as Plus Dane is seeking diverse engagement from the market to inform their options before proceeding with formal procurement. By actively participating in this engagement, businesses can position themselves to provide creative solutions that facilitate the compliance readiness and service optimisation of Plus Dane’s 29 heat networks, including district and communal systems, without being tied to any specific manufacturers or service providers.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Soft Market Test for Heat Network Consultancy

Notice Description

Please note that this is not a call for competition. Soft Market Test (SMT) Plus Dane is seeking early feedback from the market on how best to package and scope a potential future procurement opportunity. This is an exploratory stage, prior to any formal procurement process. The SMT aims to: * Understand how providers might deliver the proposed service. * Gauge market interest. * Inform Plus Dane's options appraisal and recommendations. Participation is voluntary and will not affect future opportunities. Responding does not guarantee an invitation to tender or that Plus Dane will proceed with procurement. Any future procurement will comply with the Procurement Act 2023. Confidentiality Each Party shall: a) treat the other Party's confidential Information as confidential and safeguard it; accordingly, and b) not disclose the other Party's Confidential Information to any other person without the owner's prior written consent. Introduction & Background We are a housing association with a strong social purpose. We employ almost 600 people and have more than 13,500 homes across Merseyside and Cheshire. We are an ambitious organisation striving to provide the very best possible services to over 30,000 customers who live in our homes. We are passionate about our social purpose, and the positive impact that we can have on the communities our customers live in. Our Requirements Our heat network portfolio consists of 29 heat networks, with 2 district heat networks and 27 communal heat networks. Plus Dane operate both unmetered and metered heat networks. The heat network industry will soon be fully regulated by Ofgem, having a significant impact on housing providers across the UK. To support with our journey to compliance for both existing and incoming Ofgem regulations, we require: 1. Regulation Readiness Review which will analyse the current situation at Plus Dane regarding compliance with both existing and incoming heat network regulations, and provide an action plan to becoming compliant. 2. A full suite of procurement services, including specifications, for a metering & billing contract. This must be provided by an impartial and independent organisation who are not tied to any manufacturer or service provider. If you are able to provide this, please provide your organisation's details to the email address provided by 05/01/26.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-61767f4d-928d-4629-a55d-e8189f593c24
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1e6615e4-457e-43a9-8b44-eb964d232801
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Not specified
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71321200 - Heating-system design services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Dec 20251 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
5 Jan 20261 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
PLUS DANE HOUSING GROUP LIMITED
Contact Name
Catherine Bacon
Contact Email
catherine.bacon@plusdane.co.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LIVERPOOL
Postcode
L3 4AE
Post Town
Liverpool
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD7 Merseyside
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD72 Liverpool
Delivery Location
TLD North West (England)
Local Authority
Liverpool
Electoral Ward
Waterfront South
Westminster Constituency
Liverpool Riverside

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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