Provision of Cambridge City Centre District Heat Network

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        "title": "Provision of Cambridge City Centre District Heat Network",
        "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.",
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                "description": "Additional information and engagement from previous 17 February 2026 Notice. Second round of Preliminary Market Engagement: Contact details are to be provided to: procurement@cambridge.gov.uk and Engagement meetings are proposed to be held between 13 July and 14 August 2026. 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 been completed, proposing a low carbon network using a combination of air source and river source heat pumps, supported by a transition to electric boilers from transitional gas boilers to supplement peak heat demand. This work has been brought forward by a strategic partnership between Cambridge City Council (lead partner), 19 Academic institutions with significant heat demand in the city centre, and Cambridgeshire County Council. 20 Strategic Partners provide the customer base of the Minimum Viable Product heat network and following formal governance reviews, provided Letters of Support for the project's Green Heat Network Fund bid. The heat network will be delivered by a Joint Venture Partnership, with investment from Strategic Partners. This supports the partnership's long-term ambition to expand this heat network across the city, with evidence of the significant expansion opportunity provided by an informal Heat Zoning Review that was completed in early 2026. Further information is available: Cambridge City Council Cabinet Report, 24 March 2026 https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ieIssueDetails.aspx?IId=34520&PlanId=0&Opt=3#AI34534 Following initial soft market testing in Q1 2026, we request that all interested parties put forward contact details for appropriate representatives who wish to be involved with a second round of Preliminary Market Engagement on the Contracting opportunity for Design, Build, Operation and Maintenance (DBOM) Services, inclusive of Metering and Billing. Establishing 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 associated opportunities. Contact details are to be provided to: procurement@cambridge.gov.uk , and Engagement meetings are proposed to be held between 13 July and 14 August 2026. Supporting information will be provided upon registration, for consideration ahead of engagement meetings. 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 to begin Q3 2026 and remains subject to successful funding award from the Green Heat Network Fund. Procurement is anticipated to include a two-stage appointment, firstly for Commercialization services through Early Contractor Involvement. Secondly, for DBOM services through the main contract, which is formalized by the end of 2027. Final Investment Decision is scheduled for summer 2028. A phased 5-year period for up to 48 bulk heat supply connections is anticipated, with Phase 1 (2030-2033) and Phase 2 (2035-2037). Phase 1.1 heat network operation is targeted for 2030. Contract dates (estimated) 1 April 2027 to 30 January 2042 1-year Early Contractor Involvement (ECI), with option for: o 10 years Design & Build (D&B) o 5 years Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Engagement deadline 14 August 2026"
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                "description": "Second round of Engagement meetings are proposed to be held between 13 July and 14 August 2026. Following initial soft market testing in Q1 2026, we request that all interested parties put forward contact details for appropriate representatives who wish to be involved with a second round of Preliminary Market Engagement on the Contracting opportunity for Design, Build, Operation and Maintenance (DBOM) Services, inclusive of Metering and Billing. Establishing 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 associated opportunities. Contact details are to be provided to procurement@cambridge.gov.uk , and Engagement meetings are proposed to be held between 13 July and 14 August 2026. Supporting information will be provided upon registration, for consideration ahead of engagement meetings. 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 to begin Q3 2026 and remains subject to successful funding award from the Green Heat Network Fund. Procurement is anticipated to include a two-stage appointment, firstly for Commercialization services through Early Contractor Involvement. Secondly, for DBOM services through the main contract, which is formalized by the end of 2027. Final Investment Decision is scheduled for summer 2028. A phased 5-year period for up to 48 bulk heat supply connections is anticipated, with Phase 1 (2030-2033) and Phase 2 (2035-2037). Phase 1.1 heat network operation is targeted for 2030. 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 been completed, proposing a low carbon network using a combination of air source and river source heat pumps, supported by a transition to electric boilers from transitional gas boilers to supplement peak heat demand. This work has been brought forward by a strategic partnership between Cambridge City Council (lead partner), 19 Academic institutions with significant heat demand in the city centre, and Cambridgeshire County Council. 20 Strategic Partners provide the customer base of the Minimum Viable Product heat network and following formal governance reviews, provided Letters of Support for the project's Green Heat Network Fund bid. The heat network will be delivered by a Joint Venture Partnership, with investment from Strategic Partners. This supports the partnership's long-term ambition to expand this heat network across the city, with evidence of the significant expansion opportunity provided by an informal Heat Zoning Review that was completed in early 2026. Further information is available: Cambridge City Council Cabinet Report, 24 March 2026"
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