Planning

St Helens Council- Heat Network Commercialisation Development

ST HELENS COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

17 Dec 2025 at 13:13

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

17 Dec 2025 at 10:04

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

17 Dec 2025 at 09:47

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

St Helens Council, a public authority under sub-central government classification, is progressing with the planning stage of its procurement process for the "Heat Network Commercialisation Development" project. Located in St Helens, United Kingdom (region UKD7), this initiative aims at developing a town-wide low carbon heat network. A Soft Market Testing (SMT) exercise is currently underway, with a webinar scheduled for 8 January 2026 and responses to be submitted by 23 January 2026. This falls under the services category, specifically involving energy and related services along with engineering design services. The procurement process has been initiated through a tender, with contract periods planned between 1 October 2027 to 30 September 2030.

This tender offers expansive opportunities for companies specialising in energy solutions and engineering services, particularly those with expertise in sustainable and low-carbon technologies. Embracing this project could facilitate business growth by extending service offerings into public sector engagements focused on green infrastructure. Firms experienced in designing, implementing, and managing heat networks, especially within the UK, would find this tender most relevant. Engaging in the SMT exercise allows businesses to showcase their capability, potentially influencing the project's development phase and aligning their services with emerging market needs. Interested parties need to register and submit their interests through The Chest portal to partake in the subsequent stages.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

St Helens Council- Heat Network Commercialisation Development

Notice Description

St Helens Council has recently began the commercialisation phase in the development of a town wide, low carbon heat network. To help shape and inform the next steps of the proposed heat network, St Helens Council is conducting a Soft Market Testing (SMT) exercise.

Planning Information

The Council has published a Soft Market Testing (SMT) exercise on the Chest portal under reference number DN800576. The Council will be holding a Soft Market Testing webinar on 8 January at 2:00pm-2:30pm. Full details are available within the Soft Market Testing document on The Chest portal. Please follow this link to access the opportunity: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=52b6fa7d-bfd9-f011-813c-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=True Interested organisations must express an interest via The Chest portal. Once an expression of interest has been submitted, organisations will be emailed a link to access the Soft Market Testing document. A questionnaire is included at the end of the Soft Market Testing document and should be completed and returned via Proactis / The Chest portal following the webinar. The webinar presentation slides will be uploaded to The Chest portal after the event. All Soft Market Testing responses must be submitted via The Chest portal by 5:00pm on 23 January 2026. All clarification questions must be submitted through the messaging facility on The Chest portal. Important notice Responses provided through the questionnaire will not be used for any shortlisting, scoring, or selection purposes. This Soft Market Testing exercise is intended solely to gather information from organisations with relevant experience and does not commit either the responding organisations or the Council to any future procurement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f75f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083840-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71314000 - Energy and related services

71320000 - Engineering design services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Dec 20251 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
23 Jan 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Sep 2027 - 30 Sep 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ST HELENS COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@star-procurement.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
ST HELENS
Postcode
WA10 1HP
Post Town
Warrington
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD7 Merseyside
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD71 East Merseyside
Delivery Location
TLD7 Merseyside
Local Authority
St. Helens
Electoral Ward
St Helens Town Centre
Westminster Constituency
St Helens South and Whiston

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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