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Innovation Academic Framework

NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION PLC

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

15 Sep 2026 at 15:09

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

26 Feb 2026 at 18:40

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

02 Feb 2026 at 14:49

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

National Grid Electricity Transmission plc established an Innovation Academic Framework for university-led research and development services. The work supports its innovation strategy, including the energy system transition, Clean Power 2030, net zero 2050, support for vulnerable consumers, electricity network safety and reliability, consumer value and wider social impact. Projects may cover research, development and demonstration at Technology Readiness Levels 2 to 8, alongside strategic development, knowledge sharing and dissemination events across the energy sector and other industries. Delivery is across the United Kingdom. The procurement covers research laboratory services, experimental development, research and development consultancy, and the design and execution of research and development. It is a services requirement for universities able to contribute technical expertise and resources to innovation projects.

The procurement is complete and the contracts have been awarded and signed. National Grid used a selective competitive flexible procedure under the utilities regime, with a framework agreement allowing awards with or without reopening competition. One framework lot was evaluated on price, weighted 30%, and technical quality, weighted 70%. Ten active contracts were awarded on 26 February 2026 to Cardiff, Southampton, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bath, Exeter, Liverpool, Strathclyde and Warwick universities. Each contract is valued at £70,000,000 excluding VAT (£84,000,000 including VAT). Each runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031, with optional extensions of up to two further years, and a maximum framework scheme end date of 31 March 2033. The tender deadline was 12 February 2026 and the award period ended 16 February 2026.

This procurement demonstrates substantial, structured demand from a national electricity transmission operator for university-quality innovation capability. Relevant competitors would need established research and development capacity spanning early research through experimental development and demonstration, with the ability to work at Technology Readiness Levels 2 to 8. Credibility would depend on strong technical expertise, suitable laboratory and development resources, and the ability to deliver projects addressing energy-system transition, decarbonisation, network safety, reliability and consumer value. Organisations should also be able to generate their own innovative proposals in response to defined operational needs, collaborate strategically with the buyer, share knowledge effectively and support dissemination events. The awarded supplier profile indicates that large, research-intensive universities with broad technical capability were well placed to compete.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Innovation Academic Framework

Notice Description

National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) is seeking collaboration with universities to support delivery of its innovation strategy over the next five years (April 2026 - Mar 2031). The primary objectives during this period include facilitating the energy system transition (including Clean Power 2030 and net zero 2050) and providing support for vulnerable consumers. University partners will be expected to contribute both resources and technical expertise to the development and execution of Research & Development (R&D)projects. We expect universities to run projects within Technology Readiness Levels 2 to 8 which includes research, development and demonstration projects. These initiatives will enable NGET to ensure a safe and reliable electricity network, enhance consumer value, achieve decarbonisation of future networks, and create a positive impact on society. NGET will invite universities to propose new projects that address specific needs, while also encouraging the generation of innovative project ideas. In addition to individual innovation projects, partners will play a crucial role in fostering innovation through strategic development, knowledge sharing and promoting an innovation-driven culture. Knowledge sharing may include supporting NGET in running dissemination events across the energy sector and other industries to communicate the outputs, learnings and benefits from projects, as well as using these events to learn from others. PS70,000,000 excluding VAT PS84,000,000 including VAT each contract value.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Up to 2 years of extensions if required.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-061465
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087395-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73111000 - Research laboratory services

73120000 - Experimental development services

73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£70,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£70,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£70,000,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
£70,000,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Sep 2026Today
Submission Deadline
12 Feb 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
26 Feb 20266 months ago
Contract Period
1 Apr 2026 - 31 Mar 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION PLC
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
WC2N 5EH
Postcode Area
Central London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
10
Supplier Names

Cardiff University

University of Southampton

University of Birmingham

University of Edinburgh

The University of Manchester

University of Bath

University of Exeter

UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL

University of Strathclyde

University of Warwick

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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