Extra High Voltage (EHV) switchgear, transformers and electrical protection inspection and Maintenance

Nuclear Restoration Services Limited

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

12 Feb 2025 at 16:45

Planning

27 Oct 2022 at 15:49

Summary of the contracting process

Nuclear Restoration Services Limited has initiated a procurement process titled "Extra High Voltage (EHV) switchgear, transformers and electrical protection inspection and Maintenance," falling under the services category of the industry. The contract involves emergency call-out services, routine inspection, and maintenance of aged EHV switchgear, transformers, and electrical protection at Dungeness A, Maentwrog, Trawsfynydd, Wylfa, and potentially Hinkley Point B. This stage of the procurement process is the Award phase, with the contract awarded to National Grid Electricity Transmission. The procurement method was limited, without prior publication of a call for competition, justified by technical reasons. The contract was signed on 11 February 2025.

This tender represents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in high-voltage electrical maintenance, especially those with experience in handling aged equipment and compliance with safety rules at controlled substations. Companies with expertise in maintaining 275 kV and 132 kV Air Blast Circuit Breakers, oil-filled transformers with in-tank or externally mounted on-load tap-changers, and transformer differential protection systems are well-suited to compete. Those capable of sourcing or refurbishing obsolete components can leverage this contract to grow their business in the nuclear decommissioning and electrical maintenance sectors.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Extra High Voltage (EHV) switchgear, transformers and electrical protection inspection and Maintenance

Notice Description

The provision of emergency call-out services, routine inspection and maintenance of Obsolete and aged (50+ years) Extra High Voltage (EHV) switchgear, transformers and electrical protection only (and not replacement of the same) at Dungeness A, Maentwrog, Trawsfynydd, Wylfa and potentially Hinkley point B.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The provision of emergency call-out services, routine inspection and maintenance of Obsolete and aged (50+ years) Extra High Voltage (EHV) switchgear, transformers and electrical protection only at Dungeness A, Maentwrog, Trawsfynydd, Wylfa and potentially Hinkley point B.

The expertise and experience requirements for each site are as follows:

Dungeness A, Trawsfynydd & Wylfa

Maintenance of 275 kV and 132 kV Air Blast Circuit Breakers including ability to source, refurbish, remanufacture or replace existing components / equipment. A particular requirement is knowledge and experience of 275 kV Reyrolle OBR60 Air Blast Circuit Breakers.
Maintenance of 275 kV / 11 kV and 132 kV / 11 kV oil filled transformers with in-tank or externally mounted on-load tap-changers.

Maintenance and testing of transformer differential protection systems.

Working under NGET Safety Rules.

Note: The equipment at Wylfa is planned to be decommissioned in 2026 so minimal work is expected to be carried out at Wylfa beyond March 2026.

Due to the agedness and obsolescence of the equipment NRS are currently exploring options to enable the decommissioning of equipment at Trawsfynydd & Wylfa in favour of moving to Distribution Network Operators (DNO's) during the life of the proposed contract (full replacement of existing and commissioning of new equipment is not a requirement that will be covered by this contract).

Maentwrog

Maintenance of 33 kV SF6 insulated switchgear.
Maintenance of 33 kV / 11 kV generator transformers.
Maintenance and testing of transformer differential protection systems and generator protection systems.

Working under Scottish Power MANWEB Safety Rules.

Hinkley point B

During the life of this contract the responsibility for managing and decommissioning Hinkley point B power station will pass from EDF to NRS and it is possible that similar services may be required at these locations.

However, it is not currently known what arrangements are in place or if existing contractual arrangements will extend beyond the handover dates and therefore require novating to NRS.

Procurement Information

NRS consider competition is absent for technical reasons as no reasonable alternative or substitute exists for the following reasons:<br/><br/>The equipment is aged (circa 50-60 years old) and National Grid Electricity Generation (NGET) hold a significant amount of experience and knowledge through their dedicated in-house historic asset specialists with regards to maintenance of the equipment which also includes inspection and maintenance logs. <br/><br/>NRS consider that this knowledge and capability built up over many years maintaining this equipment is invaluable to the safe and effective maintenance and execution of the work and that it is unlikely that another provider would possess or be able to acquire the level of expertise required to maintain the type and age of the equipment mentioned. <br/><br/>NRS also do not consider it is possible that another supplier would embark on an extensive training program for a requirement of this size, frequency, age or duration (noting that NRS are also exploring options to decommission the equipment and further reduce the level of work required).<br/><br/>NGET are also authors and owners of the current inspection and maintenance regimes which were based on the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) specifications written circa 50-60 years ago. However, over the years NGET have amended these to reflect the operational learning based on experience and development of best practice routines during execution of the work. NRS do not hold copies of these regimes and they will not be made available to a new supplier by NGET therefore any new supplier will need to develop a new regime based on the OEM specification. <br/><br/>NRS copies of the OEM specifications are incomplete with many OEM's either no longer trading or having been taken over so it may not be possible to obtain new copies. Any new inspection and maintenance regime would require NRS approval, however NRS feel there is limited inhouse knowledge on this equipment to do this.<br/><br/>NGET hold, have access to, and have the expertise to refurbish critical obsolete spares which NRS believe other economic operators would find difficult and cost prohibitive to replicate.<br/><br/>The equipment is housed at locations where NRS are not the leaseholder, and any other commercial operators will need to engage with NGET and Scottish Power MANWEB to gain access to Sub-stations and then require full supervision during visits for emergency call-out services, routine inspection and maintenance. NRS have been informed that any work would need to be carried out under NGET and Scottish Power MANWEB Safety Rules respectively which will lead to additional third-party cost, delays and significant sub-station access/escorting issues with regards to coordination of the additional contractors engaged in delivering the work.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-037ce4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004809-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services


CPV Codes

50532400 - Repair and maintenance services of electrical distribution equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Feb 20251 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
5 Dec 2022Expired
Award Date
11 Feb 20251 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Nuclear Restoration Services Limited
Additional Buyers

Magnox Limited

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
WA3 6GR
Postcode Area
Warrington
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD6 Cheshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD61 Warrington
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Warrington
Electoral Ward
Birchwood
Westminster Constituency
Warrington North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

National Grid Electricity Transmission

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...