Award

Pipeline Repair & Subsea Intervention Club

MUTUAL ENERGY LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

18 Mar 2026 at 13:36

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Mutual Energy Limited has completed the procurement process for the Pipeline Repair & Subsea Intervention Club, categorised under repair and maintenance services of machinery and offshore services. The buying organisation is based in Northern Ireland, specifically at First Floor, 85 Ormeau Road, Belfast. The procurement stage was focused on a direct award due to technical reasons, highlighting the strategic nature of this contracting process. The contract is established with Equinor Energy AS, a significant supplier from Stavanger, Norway, providing a comprehensive suite of services and rapid mobilisation capabilities in the case of subsea pipeline failure. The procurement aligns with Northern Irish devolved regulations and the broader utilities sector, demonstrating a forward-thinking approach to risk management in the energy infrastructure domain. Key dates include the start of the contract period on 1st April 2026, with a potential extension until 31st March 2032.

This procurement presents opportunities for companies involved in subsea technologies and specialised marine services, particularly those offering innovative repair methodologies and capabilities. By directly awarding membership to Equinor's Pipeline Repair & Subsea Intervention Club, Mutual Energy Limited gains access to a pool of contractors and equipment designed for efficient emergency response, enhancing both operational readiness and strategic risk mitigation. Companies providing remote welding systems and unique apparatus such as diverless retrofit welded tees would find synergy with the club’s objectives. The procurement not only supports business growth in related sectors but also promotes collaboration across borders, fostering shared expertise and readiness to address complex repair scenarios promptly and effectively.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Pipeline Repair & Subsea Intervention Club

Notice Description

Catastrophic failure of the submarine pipelines is considered to be one of our highest impact (albeit low likelihood) strategic risks and a key action item for Mutual for several years has been improved contingency planning and building an effective Emergency Pipeline Repair Strategy. The services and equipment that are likely to be required in the event of a repair of Mutual's pipeline assets are highly complex and specialist in nature. Equinor, through their Pipeline Repair & Subsea Intervention Club, provide access to a number of frameworks of repair contractors, vessel owners and supplies of repair equipment which, in the event of a repair being required, can be mobilised efficiently and rapidly. Membership of the club offers the benefits of having immediate access to a pooled contingency of framework contracts capable of providing the full range of specialised services required, with overarching management by administrators under a pre-established and proven governance framework.

Procurement Information

Mutual Energy Limited ("Mutual") was formed to own and operate energy infrastructure for the long-term benefit of the energy consumers of Northern Ireland. The present principal activities of Mutual and its subsidiaries are the ownership and operation of Northern Ireland's energy links with Great Britain. Mutual is a mutualised organisation, with members acting in a role similar to shareholders but specifically representing the interests of energy consumers. Mutual (through its subsidiaries) owns and operates several subsea assets, namely: * the Scotland to Northern Ireland Pipeline ("SNIP"), a submarine gas transmission pipeline between Northern Ireland and Scotland; and * a gas transmission pipeline within Northern Ireland, but with some subsea sections, including Larne Lough Crossing and Belfast Lough Crossing; Catastrophic failure of the submarine pipelines is considered to be one of our highest impact (albeit low likelihood) strategic risks and a key action item for Mutual for several years has been improved contingency planning and building an effective Emergency Pipeline Repair Strategy. The services and equipment that are likely to be required in the event of a repair of Mutual's pipeline assets are highly complex and specialist in nature. Equinor, through their Pipeline Repair & Subsea Intervention ("PRSI") Pool solution, provides access to a number of frameworks of repair contractors, vessel owners and supplies of repair equipment which, in the event of a repair being required, can be mobilised more efficiently and rapidly than engaging each of these required services separately and with a guaranteed response time that would be unlikely to be achieved without this membership in place. The PRSI pool consists of over twenty energy companies that cover their offshore pipeline and power cable repair contingency via the pool. These companies often represent significant proportions of the expertise in what is considered a highly complex area. As a result, shared learning is also a key benefit of being a member of the pool. Our intention is to contract directly with Equinor to become a member of the PRSI Pool in order to address the key strategic risk of a pipeline failure and to allow us to receive all required services through Equinor as a single centralised source for the contract call-offs that we envisage would be required in a pipeline repair scenario. We have been conducting market research for circa 10 years for this type of a well-established 'one stop shop' for pipeline emergency repair; including meetings with specific contractors as well as completing repair plan studies with consultants, identifying gaps and potential solutions. This market engagement has led us to believe that Equinor, through its PRSI club, is the only potential provider capable of offering this all-inclusive service that we require in the event of a pipeline repair, in a single package. Specifically, we wish to join the 'club' that has a mechanism by which members pool resources and share the cost of readiness, hence avoiding bearing the expense of maintaining highly specialised assets and personnel. The services include: * Appropriate pipeline equipment that is stored, maintained, modified and replenished as necessary covering a range of services from concrete coating removal, pipeline handling, hyperbaric and remote welding, repair clamps and connectors * Access to well trained personnel capable of carrying out a submarine pipeline repair * Access to suitable vessels with guaranteed response times. * Pre-prepared Procedures in place for the use of the equipment and all repair methods * Project Management of a subsea repair Membership of the club offers the benefits of having immediate access to a pooled contingency of framework contracts capable of providing the full range of specialised services required, with overarching management by administrators under a pre-established and proven governance framework. This allows rates of repair services, outlined above, to be competitively tendered and in place for pool members in advance of being required, as well as offering a full suite of services with regards to a pipeline repair. The pool will provide access to unique equipment, such as the world's only fully remote diverless retrofit welded tee hot tap system and the pipeline (MIG) welding equipment spread. It will also provide access to a stock of tools that, if Mutual needed to order separately from the manufacturer and they weren't in stock could take up to a year to be delivered. Based on the above, we believe that Equinor PRSI are the only existing provider capable of fulfilling the required services. In addition, we see no alternative goods or services that could prepare for and enact an emergency pipeline repair as effectively (efficiently and timely) as the Pool.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-066d9e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024616-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services

76 - Services related to the oil and gas industry

CPV Codes

50530000 - Repair and maintenance services of machinery

76520000 - Offshore services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£550,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Mar 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
18 Mar 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MUTUAL ENERGY LIMITED
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
85 ORMEAU ROAD
Postcode
BT7 1SH
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Belfast South and Mid Down

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

EQUINOR ENERGY

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-066d9e-2026-03-18T13:36:19Z",
    "date": "2026-03-18T13:36:19Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-066d9e",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-NI053759",
            "name": "MUTUAL ENERGY LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "NI053759"
            },
            "additionalIdentifiers": [
                {
                    "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                    "id": "PJNB-7791-QMPN"
                }
            ],
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "First Floor",
                "locality": "85 Ormeau Road",
                "postalCode": "BT7 1SH",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKN06"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Hannah Keery",
                "email": "Hannah.Keery@mutual-energy.com"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.mutual-energy.com/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "privateUtility",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Private utility"
                    },
                    {
                        "id": "GB-NIR",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_DEVOLVED_REGULATIONS",
                        "description": "Northern Irish devolved regulations apply"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-OE023523",
            "name": "EQUINOR ENERGY AS",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "OE023523"
            },
            "additionalIdentifiers": [
                {
                    "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                    "id": "PQMB-7876-TQPD"
                }
            ],
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "50 Forusbeen",
                "locality": "Stavanger",
                "postalCode": "4035",
                "country": "NO",
                "countryName": "Norway",
                "region": "NO"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "prsipool@equinor.com"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.equinor.com",
                "scale": "large",
                "vcse": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-COH-NI053759",
        "name": "MUTUAL ENERGY LIMITED"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-066d9e",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Pipeline Repair & Subsea Intervention Club",
        "description": "Catastrophic failure of the submarine pipelines is considered to be one of our highest impact (albeit low likelihood) strategic risks and a key action item for Mutual for several years has been improved contingency planning and building an effective Emergency Pipeline Repair Strategy. The services and equipment that are likely to be required in the event of a repair of Mutual's pipeline assets are highly complex and specialist in nature. Equinor, through their Pipeline Repair & Subsea Intervention Club, provide access to a number of frameworks of repair contractors, vessel owners and supplies of repair equipment which, in the event of a repair being required, can be mobilised efficiently and rapidly. Membership of the club offers the benefits of having immediate access to a pooled contingency of framework contracts capable of providing the full range of specialised services required, with overarching management by administrators under a pre-established and proven governance framework.",
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "Mutual Energy Limited (\"Mutual\") was formed to own and operate energy infrastructure for the long-term benefit of the energy consumers of Northern Ireland. The present principal activities of Mutual and its subsidiaries are the ownership and operation of Northern Ireland's energy links with Great Britain. Mutual is a mutualised organisation, with members acting in a role similar to shareholders but specifically representing the interests of energy consumers. Mutual (through its subsidiaries) owns and operates several subsea assets, namely: * the Scotland to Northern Ireland Pipeline (\"SNIP\"), a submarine gas transmission pipeline between Northern Ireland and Scotland; and * a gas transmission pipeline within Northern Ireland, but with some subsea sections, including Larne Lough Crossing and Belfast Lough Crossing; Catastrophic failure of the submarine pipelines is considered to be one of our highest impact (albeit low likelihood) strategic risks and a key action item for Mutual for several years has been improved contingency planning and building an effective Emergency Pipeline Repair Strategy. The services and equipment that are likely to be required in the event of a repair of Mutual's pipeline assets are highly complex and specialist in nature. Equinor, through their Pipeline Repair & Subsea Intervention (\"PRSI\") Pool solution, provides access to a number of frameworks of repair contractors, vessel owners and supplies of repair equipment which, in the event of a repair being required, can be mobilised more efficiently and rapidly than engaging each of these required services separately and with a guaranteed response time that would be unlikely to be achieved without this membership in place. The PRSI pool consists of over twenty energy companies that cover their offshore pipeline and power cable repair contingency via the pool. These companies often represent significant proportions of the expertise in what is considered a highly complex area. As a result, shared learning is also a key benefit of being a member of the pool. Our intention is to contract directly with Equinor to become a member of the PRSI Pool in order to address the key strategic risk of a pipeline failure and to allow us to receive all required services through Equinor as a single centralised source for the contract call-offs that we envisage would be required in a pipeline repair scenario. We have been conducting market research for circa 10 years for this type of a well-established 'one stop shop' for pipeline emergency repair; including meetings with specific contractors as well as completing repair plan studies with consultants, identifying gaps and potential solutions. This market engagement has led us to believe that Equinor, through its PRSI club, is the only potential provider capable of offering this all-inclusive service that we require in the event of a pipeline repair, in a single package. Specifically, we wish to join the 'club' that has a mechanism by which members pool resources and share the cost of readiness, hence avoiding bearing the expense of maintaining highly specialised assets and personnel. The services include: * Appropriate pipeline equipment that is stored, maintained, modified and replenished as necessary covering a range of services from concrete coating removal, pipeline handling, hyperbaric and remote welding, repair clamps and connectors * Access to well trained personnel capable of carrying out a submarine pipeline repair * Access to suitable vessels with guaranteed response times. * Pre-prepared Procedures in place for the use of the equipment and all repair methods * Project Management of a subsea repair Membership of the club offers the benefits of having immediate access to a pooled contingency of framework contracts capable of providing the full range of specialised services required, with overarching management by administrators under a pre-established and proven governance framework. This allows rates of repair services, outlined above, to be competitively tendered and in place for pool members in advance of being required, as well as offering a full suite of services with regards to a pipeline repair. The pool will provide access to unique equipment, such as the world's only fully remote diverless retrofit welded tee hot tap system and the pipeline (MIG) welding equipment spread. It will also provide access to a stock of tools that, if Mutual needed to order separately from the manufacturer and they weren't in stock could take up to a year to be delivered. Based on the above, we believe that Equinor PRSI are the only existing provider capable of fulfilling the required services. In addition, we see no alternative goods or services that could prepare for and enact an emergency pipeline repair as effectively (efficiently and timely) as the Pool.",
        "specialRegime": [
            "utilities"
        ],
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "title": "Pipeline Repair & Subsea Intervention Club Membership",
            "status": "pending",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 650000,
                "amount": 550000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-OE023523",
                    "name": "EQUINOR ENERGY AS"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "50530000",
                            "description": "Repair and maintenance services of machinery"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "76520000",
                            "description": "Offshore services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UKN",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2031-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
                "maxExtentDate": "2032-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "hasRenewal": true,
            "renewal": {
                "description": "The value of the contract shown in this notice is the estimated cost to Mutual for membership over a six year period. However, the contract will be a rolling contract and we envisage maintaining the relationship for longer. This value represents access to the club and ongoing membership fees. Any call-off of the services would be charged separately and subject to additional costs depending on the nature of the services required in the event of a repair."
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "024616-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK5",
                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024616-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-03-18T13:36:19Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2026-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "language": "en"
}