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Provision of Cambridge City Centre District Heat Network

Cambridge City Council

This public procurement record has 6 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

09 Jul 2026 at 09:09

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

09 Jul 2026 at 09:00

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

07 Jul 2026 at 18:39

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

03 Jul 2026 at 14:26

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

17 Feb 2026 at 17:45

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

17 Feb 2026 at 17:26

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cambridge City Council is leading the procurement for the "Provision of Cambridge City Centre District Heat Network," targeting significant urban development and energy services. This project, based in Cambridge (UKH12), aims to create a low-carbon heating network, leveraging air and river source heat pumps complemented by electric boilers. The council is currently in the planning stage, with formal procurement anticipated to commence in Q3 2026. Meeting milestones include a series of preliminary market engagement sessions set for mid-2026, with the main contract intended to start at the end of 2027. The contract is planned to run from January 2027 to January 2042, with a two-stage procurement process for both commercialisation and Design, Build, Operation, and Maintenance (DBOM) services. Critical dates include an engagement deadline on 14th August 2026, with future notice expected by 31st October 2026.

This project presents a substantial opportunity for specialised construction, urban development firms, and energy service providers. Businesses with expertise in district heating systems, low-carbon technologies, and large-scale project management would find this venture especially beneficial. The initiative aims to foster long-term partnerships with firms that align with Cambridge City Council's decarbonisation vision, making it also suitable for innovative companies committed to sustainable energy solutions. This growth opportunity involves not just the initial construction and operational management but also an ongoing collaboration within a globally recognised initiative in a vital urban area, positioning involved firms as leaders in green energy deployment.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Cambridge City Centre District Heat Network

Notice Description

Since June 2023 Cambridge City Council has been working with consultants and academic partners to develop an Outline Business Case for a City Centre District Heating Network. Detailed Project Development has now completed, proposing a low carbon network using air source and river source heat pumps, and supported by a transition to electric boilers from gas boilers to supplement peak heat demand. This work has been brought forward through a partnership between the City Council, the County Council, and 19 Academic institutions with significant heating demand in the city centre. Connections to many of these partner heat loads now forms the basis of the Minimum Viable Product identified for delivery through a Partner-invested Joint Venture Partnership, and with strategic ambition to expand such a network across the City in the long term, informed by an informal Heat Zoning review which has also been completed. A Cambridge City Centre Heat Network represents a timely and valuable opportunity for Cambridge's academic institutions and public-sector organisations, who all share ambitious decarbonisation goals, and we are now seeking expressions of interest from potential partners who wish to be appointed to the established partnership to provide Design, Build, Operation and maintenance Services, inclusive of metering and billing. We feel that establishment of a new district heating network in a city of Global significance is a momentous opportunity, and we wish to procure a DBOM partner who shares our vision and understanding of the opportunities which this may bring. We request that all interested parties put forward contact details for appropriate representatives who wish to be involved with early market testing on the Contracting opportunity, with meeting dates to be confirmed between 23rd February and 6th March 2026. Please contact procurement@cambridge.gov.uk The Council will be represented by Amberside Advisors, who together with Buro Happold and Sustainability Co have provided specialist consultancy services for the DPD Study. Formal procurement is anticipated for Q3 2026, and remains subject to both Council Cabinet approval, and successful receipt of Funding from the Green Heat Network Fund, for which bidding is targeted in March/April 2026. Procurement is anticipated to seek Commercial stage services, moving into a main contract and formal start of works by end-2027. A Phased 5-10yr constriction period is anticipated, with first heat on for phase 1 connections targeted for 2030.

Planning Information

We request that all interested parties put forward contact details for appropriate representatives who wish to be involved with early market testing on the Contracting opportunity, with meeting dates to be confirmed between 23rd February and 6th March 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06568b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064462-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

45211360 - Urban development construction work

45232140 - District-heating mains construction work

45232141 - Heating works

71314000 - Energy and related services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
15 Dec 20264 months to go
Future Notice Date
31 Oct 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Jan 2027 - 30 Jan 2042 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Cambridge City Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CAMBRIDGE
Postcode
CB2 1BY
Postcode Area
Cambridge
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH42 Cambridgeshire CC
Delivery Location
TLH12 Cambridgeshire CC
Local Authority
Cambridge
Electoral Ward
Market
Westminster Constituency
Cambridge

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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