Planning

Ground Investigations Services

SSE SERVICES PLC

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

19 Feb 2025 at 08:45

Planning

18 Feb 2025 at 17:07

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for Ground Investigations Services is being managed by SSE Services PLC, a prominent entity in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity throughout the UK and Ireland. This tender falls under the Engineering Services industry category and is currently in the planning stage. The procurement, valued at GBP 30,000,000, utilises a selective procurement method under a restricted procedure. Interested suppliers should submit their expressions of interest by 16:00 on 25th March 2025, with the formal tender aiming for a launch within the following 6-9 months. The contract is anticipated to start on 3rd November 2025 and end on 31st October 2028, initially covering a three-year period with potential extensions.

This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses specialising in various ground investigation techniques, including cable percussion boring, rotary drilling, and geophysical surveys. The focus on services vital to high voltage cable installation, onshore windfarm investigations, and overhead electrical lines indicates substantial work available for firms experienced in these sectors. SMEs are encouraged to apply, accredited actions may boost their credentials, making them competitive for similar future contracts. Suppliers must demonstrate their capability and experience in delivering similar contracts over the past five years to qualify for consideration, ensuring readiness to support the development of critical electrical infrastructure.

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Notice Title

Ground Investigations Services

Notice Description

This Pipeline Notice is seeking Expressions of Interest from suppliers who can provide the full range of Ground Investigations (GI) Services throughout the UK and Ireland. The GI Services will inform the design of electrical assets including, but not limited to, the following: * High voltage cable installation * Onshore windfarm GI services * Overhead Line (OHL) towers * Substations SSE is currently developing a formal tender for the provision of Ground Investigations Services, which it is aiming to launch within the next 6-9 months. It is anticipated the Ground Investigations Services will be contracted under a non-committal framework(s) and will run for an initial 3-year period, with extension options available (subject to agreement by SSE). SSE is a purpose-led company involved principally in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity; and also in the supply of energy and related services to customers. SSE has a number of Business Units that include SSEN Transmission, SSEN Distribution, SSE Renewables, SSE Thermal, SSE Airtricity and SSE Corporate. This Pipeline Notice is being issued by SSE Services PLC, which covers all of SSE's Group companies in the UK and Ireland. SSEN Transmission Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Transmission (SSEN Transmission) are responsible for the electricity transmission network in the north of Scotland, maintaining and investing in the high voltage electricity transmission network. SSEN Transmission's network consists of underground and subsea cables, overhead lines on wooden poles or steel towers, and electricity substations. SSEN Distribution Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Distribution (SSEN Distribution) are the electricity Distribution Network Operator (DNO) responsible for delivering power to over 3.9 million homes and businesses across central southern England and the north of Scotland. SSE Renewables SSE Renewables is a leading developer and operator of renewable energy generation, headquartered in the UK and Ireland, with a growing presence internationally. SSE Renewables focus on onshore and offshore wind, hydro, solar and battery storage. SSE Thermal SSE Thermal is responsible for the flexible generation subsidiary of SSE plc, focusing on flexible energy generation and storage assets including carbon capture and storage (CCS), hydrogen, energy-from-waste, energy storage and gas generation. SSE Airtricity SSE Airtricity is the retail subsidiary of SSE plc, supplying green electricity, natural gas and energy-related services to homes and businesses in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. SSE Corporate SSE Corporate includes Human Resources, Corporate Affairs, Legal, Procurement and Finance. Range of Services Required SSE will require suppliers under the framework to provide a range of Ground Investigations Services as below. The specification shall be the UK Specification for Ground Investigation 3rd Edition, published by ICE Publishing. SSE requires suppliers who have the necessary resources and technical capabilities to provide the services which are anticipated, but not limited, to include the following: * General items, amenities, and additional items * Cable Percussion boring and Dynamic Sampling * Rotary drilling * Sonic Drilling * Pitting and trenching * Sampling and monitoring during intrusive investigation * Dynamic Probing and cone penetration testing * Geophysical surveys * Field testing * Instrumentation * Installation monitoring and sampling (during Fieldwork Period) * Installation monitoring and sampling (post Fieldwork Period) * Geotechnical laboratory testing * Geoenvironmental laboratory testing * Technical support from ground practitioners and other personnel * Long term storage of samples Minimum Criteria to be invited to take part in a PQQ/Tender 1. Confirmation your organisation currently provides the full range of Ground Investigations Services as listed above, across the UK and Ireland 2. Please evidence that your organisation has held similar Ground Investigations Service contracts, within the last 5 years which have informed the design of any of the following electrical assets: * High voltage cable installation * Onshore windfarm GI services * Overhead Line (OHL) towers * Substations SSE may exercise discretion from the minimum criteria where required. Please email your Expression of Interest with supporting information (total maximum word limit - 1 side of A4) to show you meet the minimum criteria to Clare Macdonald Strategic Procurement Officer at: clare.macdonald@sse.com If you have any further questions, please email them to the address above. The deadline for submission of your Expression of Interest with the supporting information is 16:00hours 25th March 2025

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04e38d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005716-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Restricted procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

65 - Public utilities

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services


CPV Codes

45000000 - Construction work

65000000 - Public utilities

71300000 - Engineering services

71500000 - Construction-related services

90715220 - Industrial site investigation

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£30,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Feb 20251 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
3 Nov 2025 - 31 Oct 2028 2-3 years
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
SSE SERVICES PLC
Contact Name
Clare Macdonald
Contact Email
clare.macdonald@sse.com
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
READING
Postcode
RG1 3JH
Post Town
Reading
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ16 Berkshire West
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Reading
Electoral Ward
Thames
Westminster Constituency
Reading Central

Further Information

Notice URLs

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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