Planning

Birkenhead Heat Network - Preliminary Market Engagement

WIRRAL BOROUGH COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

01 Nov 2024 at 12:55

Planning

01 Nov 2024 at 12:50

Summary of the contracting process

Wirral Borough Council is currently in the planning stage for the Birkenhead Heat Network - Preliminary Market Engagement tender, aiming to establish a new heat network in Birkenhead, England. This project falls under the industry category of district heating and public utilities and is part of the broader Birkenhead 2040 Regeneration Framework. Key milestone includes an engagement end date on 18 November 2024, with potential interested parties invited to attend an online project information session on 26 November 2024. This is an extensive procurement process under the Competitive Flexible Procedure anticipated to begin in February 2025.

This tender presents a substantial opportunity for private sector companies specialising in design, build, finance, and maintenance of heat networks. The project is expected to generate revenue between £200m - £250m over 40 years, making it attractive for businesses capable of sourcing the required capital funding. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to compete for this contract, especially those with robust funding plans and experience in renewable energy solutions, district heating, and large-scale infrastructure projects. The successful partner will gain a significant foothold in one of the UK's largest brownfield redevelopment sites.

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Notice Title

Birkenhead Heat Network - Preliminary Market Engagement

Notice Description

The project comprises development of a new heat network serving a mix of buildings including new build residential, existing residential, new build commercial and existing commercial. The project forms an integral part of Birkenhead 2040 Regeneration Framework; one of the biggest brownfield redevelopment sites in the UK. This regeneration of Birkenhead will take place across nine areas providing 21,000 new homes and almost 1,000,000m2 square metres of employment space over the next 20 years. Wirral Council will be procuring a private sector partner to develop a heat network in Birkenhead on a concession basis whereby the private sector partner is expected to take most risk regarding the design, build, finance, operation and maintenance of the network. As network operator the private sector partner will be required to connect and supply heat to specified controlled buildings. The area to be served by the BHN has been identified as a 'priority district heating zone' in Wirral's Local Plan. It will make a significant contribution to reducing the carbon impact of new / existing development in the Borough and provide opportunities to residents and businesses for lower cost heating. The project is well-aligned with regional policy objectives and initiatives. It also fits into the Government's introduction of 'heat network zoning', which, through implementation, will mandate certain types of buildings in identified urban areas such as Birkenhead to connect to district heating within a prescribed timeframe. It is envisaged that, once HN zoning is in place, BHN could benefit from zoning 'incumbency'- meaning that nearby eligible buildings will be mandated to connect, further securing demand. The project will be delivered through Wirral Council procuring an ESCo. The Council and private sector partner will be shareholders in the ESCo albeit that the Council's shareholding will be limited to a "Golden Share". The Council will not be investing in the project, the Golden Share will simply allow the Council to exercise control in relation to a limited number of reserved matters including carbon intensity, reporting and tariffs. It is anticipated that there will be a concession agreement between the Council and the ESCo which will provide the ESCo with the right to design, install, operate and maintain the network. As part of the concession agreement, the ESCo will take most of the risk and benefits from the building and running of the network. The ESCo will be required to source ALL capital funding for the project. Potential private sector partners will be required to set out their funding plan and the robustness and deliverability of this funding plan will be an important bidder evaluation measure. The revenue derived over the 40 years of the network is estimated to be in the region of PS200m - PS250m. This includes all phases and connected buildings in the core scheme and allowing for further expansion with the wider geographic area. Additional information: It is anticipated that the project will be procured under the Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. The process will be developed so that it follows a structure similar to the current Competitive Dialogue Procedure with the process being initiated from February 2025. Wirral Council are undertaking this preliminary market engagement to consult with potential Partners to inform a delivery strategy. This will not be defined as negotiation and any future tender process will remain a competitive process. The preliminary market engagement is being carried out under the provisions of Regulations 40 and 41 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/102). Prior to formally launching the procurement process, we would like to invite interested parties who may wish to tender to attend an online project information session on the morning of 26 November 2024 to find out more about this opportunity and ask questions. If you wish to attend this session, please respond via the Chest portal https://procontract.due north.com - Project Ref: DN747924 confirming your desire to attend together with providing the information requested in Appendix 1 of the published Preliminary Market Engagement Information Pack, no later than 18 November 12 Noon.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-64c20b65-0e65-42c0-b8d3-bc0a7562df86
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/cb8a57ff-ae03-4b0b-be40-a13210a19117
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

09 - Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy

65 - Public utilities


CPV Codes

09323000 - District heating

65000000 - Public utilities

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£250,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Nov 20241 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
18 Nov 2024Expired
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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
WIRRAL BOROUGH COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BIRKENHEAD
Postcode
CH41 2AB
Post Town
Chester
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD7 Merseyside
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD74 Wirral
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)

Local Authority
Wirral
Electoral Ward
Birkenhead and Tranmere
Westminster Constituency
Birkenhead

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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