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SONI074 DS3 System Services - Volume Capped - Gate 14

SONI Ltd

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

25 Mar 2026 at 16:39

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

12 Dec 2025 at 09:47

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

SONI Ltd, a private utility company based in Belfast, United Kingdom, has completed the procurement stage for the DS3 System Services – Volume Capped – Gate 14 project. The primary industry category is energy and related services, governed under Northern Irish devolved regulations. The procurement method used was the open procedure, with awards announced on 25 March 2026. The contract period starts on 8 April 2026 and ends on 30 September 2026, following a scheduled standstill period concluding on 7 April 2026. This tender covers various lots, including primary, secondary, and tertiary operating reserves, replacement reserves, ramping margins, and fast frequency response services, contributing to the project's aim to increase System Non-Synchronous Penetration (SNSP) from 50% to 75%.

This procurement offers significant business growth opportunities primarily for large-scale energy service providers capable of delivering complex system services. Companies like Wheelhouse Energy (NI) Limited and Altamuskin Windfarm Limited have already been identified as prospective suppliers due to their capacity to provide primary operating reserves and fast frequency response capabilities. There is a provision for contract renewal, allowing for extended collaboration beyond the initial term, which can stimulate sustained business relationships and technological advancement. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) specialising in non-synchronous generation and innovative energy solutions can also benefit by aligning their offerings with the transparency and compliance requirements outlined in the tender's technical and legal criteria.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

SONI074 DS3 System Services - Volume Capped - Gate 14

Notice Description

Following review by the Regulatory Authorities of the TSOs' Report on Ensuring a Secure, Reliable and Efficient Power System in July 2011 the TSOs were requested by the SEM Committee to put in place a programme of work to solve the challenges associated with increased levels of penetration of variable non-synchronous renewable generation. In response the TSOs formally commenced the DS3 Programme in September 2011. The overall aim of the DS3 Programme is to put in place the required changes to system policies, system tools and system performance to meet the challenges of operating the electricity system in a secure manner while achieving the 2020 renewable electricity targets. A key aspect of this operational challenge is the increase of System Non- Synchronous Penetration (SNSP) from the 2011 limit of 50% to 75%.

Lot Information

POR L1NI - Primary Operating Reserve

Primary Operating Reserve or 'POR' has the meaning given to it in the grid code

Renewal: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.

SOR L2NI - Secondary Operating Reserve

Secondary Operating reserve or 'SOR' has the meaning given to it in the grid code

Renewal: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.

TOR1 L3NI - Tertiary 1 Operating Reserve

Tertiary 1 operating reserve or 'TOR1' has the meaning given to it in the grid code.

Renewal: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.

TOR2 L4NI - Tertiary 2 Operating Reserve

Tertiary 2 operating reserve or 'TOR2' has the meaning given to it in the grid code

Renewal: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.

RRD L5NI - Replacement Reserve (De-Synchronised)

RR (De-synchronised)' means replacement reserve provided by the providing unit when: (i) not Synchronised to the power system in the case of a synchronous providing unit, or (ii) when connected to the power system and operating at a level less or equal to 0 MW in the case of an energy storage providing unit, or (ii) when connected to the power system in the case of a demand side unit

Renewal: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.

RRS L6NI - Replacement Reserve (Synchronised)

RR (Synchronised)' means Replacement Reserve provided by the Providing Unit when: (i) synchronised to the power system in the case of a synchronous providing unit, or (ii) when connected to the power system and operating at a level greater than 0 MW in the case of an energy storage providing unit or power park module. II.2.5) Award criteria

Renewal: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.

SSRP L7NI - Steady State Reactive Power

Steady-state reactive power or 'SSRP' means reactive power capability (Leading) and reactive power capability

Renewal: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.

SIR L8NI - Synchronous Inertial Respons

Synchronous Inertial Response (SIR) is the kinetic energy (at a Frequency of 50 Hz) of a centrally dispatched synchronous providing unit multiplied by the SIR factor (SIRF)

Renewal: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.

RM1 L9NI - Ramping Margin 1 Hour

Ramping Margin 1 is the increased MW Output and/or MW Reduction that a providing unit can provide to the company within one hour of the company issuing a dispatch instruction to a service provider and that the providing unit can maintain for a further two hours after the one hour period has elapsed. It is limited by the lowest availability in that three hour period.

Renewal: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.

RM3 L10NI - Ramping Margin 3 Hour

Ramping Margin 3 is the increased MW Output and/or MW reduction that a providing unit can provide to the company within three hours of the company issuing a dispatch instruction to a service provider and that the providing unit can maintain for a further 5 hours after the 3 hour period has elapsed. It is limited by the lowest availability in that 8 hour period

Renewal: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.

RM8 L11NI - Ramping Margin 8 Hour

Ramping Margin 8 is the increased MW Output and/or MW reduction that a providing unit can provide to the company within eight hours of the company issuing a dispatch instruction to a service provider and that the providing unit can maintain for a further 8 hours after the 8 hour period has elapsed. It is limited by the lowest availability in that 16 hour period.

Renewal: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.

FFR L12NI - Fast Frequency Response

Fast Frequency Response (FFR) is the additional MW Output or MW reduction required compared to the pre- incident MW output or MW reduction, which is fully available from a providing unit within 2 seconds after the start of an event and sustainable up to 10 seconds after the start of the event.

Renewal: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f475
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027525-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71314000 - Energy and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£34,450,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£34,450,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£2,468,357 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Mar 20266 months ago
Submission Deadline
15 Jan 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
9 Mar 20267 months ago
Contract Period
8 Apr 2026 - 30 Sep 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active, Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SONI Ltd
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT6 9RT
Postcode Area
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN0E Lisburn and Castlereagh
Delivery Location
TLN Northern Ireland
Local Authority
Lisburn and Castlereagh
Electoral Ward
Moneyreagh
Westminster Constituency
Belfast South and Mid Down

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
5
Supplier Names

Wheelhouse energy (NI) Limited

Altamuskin Windfarm Limited

Orsted Onshore UK Limited

GridBeyond (formerly Endeco Technologies Ltd)

Powerhouse Generation Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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