Tender

Heat network techno-economic feasibility study for Culham

SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

17 Nov 2025 at 14:57

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

04 Sep 2025 at 14:45

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

South Oxfordshire District Council is actively seeking a consultancy to conduct a heat network techno-economic feasibility study in Culham, Oxfordshire. With the establishment of the first AI Growth Zone and plans for a 100MW data centre, the Council aims to explore opportunities for low carbon heat networks using waste heat recycling. This procurement, currently in the tender stage, is part of a broader agenda to support the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035, which includes plans for new housing and employment land adjacent to Culham Campus. Interested suppliers must submit their bids by 5 January 2026, with the contract expected to run from March to June 2026, having an estimated value of £88,000. This open competition procurement method encourages a wide range of responses, focussing on environmental and energy-efficiency consultancy services, and is particularly suited for SMEs.

This opportunity presents a favourable avenue for businesses in the environmental engineering and energy efficiency consulting sectors, particularly those experienced in innovative heat network technologies. By engaging in this project, businesses can contribute to significant, large-scale sustainability efforts in a rapidly developing technological hub, potentially providing services that set precedents in the use of AI and data centre waste heat for community heating solutions. Additionally, SMEs with expertise in CHP systems, biomass boilers, or water source heat pumps can leverage this contract to increase their visibility and demonstrate capability within the public sector, thereby contributing to project viability and future-proofing their operations in alignment with the UK government's sustainability targets.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Heat network techno-economic feasibility study for Culham

Notice Description

Culham has been designated as the first AI Growth Zone by the UK Government. As part of this, a 100MW data centre is being developed on Culham Campus, with aspirations for up to 500MW of data centres in the longer term. There may also be a further data centre proposed for the adjacent No. 1 site which is allocated for employment use. There is an opportunity to recycle waste heat from large computer systems storing internal data to supply heating for the local community, supplying heat to multiple buildings from a central source. The National Zoning Model does not yet identify this area as a potential heat network zone as the waste heat sources do not yet exist. The timescales for completion of the data centre are uncertain and subject to planning permission, however it is likely to be within the next five years, with an ambitious completion date suggested to be April 2028. Therefore, the council urgently needs to better understand how to capture the opportunities for low carbon heat networks arising from these developments. The South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035 (adopted December 2020) has allocated: * land adjacent to Culham Campus for construction of 3,500 new homes - this development is a potential end user of the heat network. * A net increase of at least 7.3 hectares of employment land at/adjacent to Culham Campus - this may be a heat supplier or end user depending on the types of commercial development which come forward. A Local Development Order is being developed for the site. A previous heat mapping and energy masterplanning study for Culham was developed in 2017. This proposed three different potential heat network technologies for the site: * gas engine CHP with supplementary backup gas boilers; * centralised biomass boilers with supplementary backup gas boilers; * water source heat pump in River Thames with supplementary backup gas boilers. While the modelling and information in this study remains useful as background information, there have since been significant technological advances and changes to planned development for the site which means that this work would need to be revisited and updated as part of the techno-economic feasibility study. At this stage, the council has not committed to taking forward beyond the techno-economic feasibility study stage. Restrictions associated with local government reorganisation (LGR) will limit this council's ability to progress this project beyond the feasibility stage. However, the feasibility study will put the project in the best possible position for a third party or the successor authority, once established, to decide to progress the scheme. Furthermore, the planning applications for data centres and other nearby development are highly likely to be submitted before LGR is complete in 2028. Therefore, information is needed now so that South Oxfordshire District Council can consider whether planning powers could be utilised to require developments to be designed and constructed to supply or connect to a future heat network, including through the forthcoming Culham Local Development Order. The Council is seeking a single supplier to provide these consultancy services.

Planning Information

We are seeking to undertake soft market engagement to understand the abilities and indicative costs of the supply chain in relation to undertaking heat network feasibility studies to a potential site at Culham, South Oxfordshire. Participants are requested to provide their responses in the boxes within the Specification document and return these via the Proactis portal message function no later than 5pm Monday 22 September 2025. This deadline will not be extended. https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=e2f4898b-ed87-f011-813a-005056b64545&p=08800155-5442-e511-80ed-000c29c9ba21

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05945d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074444-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71313000 - Environmental engineering consultancy services

71314300 - Energy-efficiency consultancy services

71314310 - Heating engineering services for buildings

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£88,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£88,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Nov 20253 months ago
Submission Deadline
5 Jan 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
22 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Mar 2026 - 30 Jun 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@southandvale.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
ABINGDON
Postcode
OX14 3JE
Post Town
Oxford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC
Delivery Location
TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC
Local Authority
Vale of White Horse
Electoral Ward
Abingdon Abbey Northcourt
Westminster Constituency
Oxford West and Abingdon

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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