Planning

S1138 (2027) The Hire, Erection and Dismantling of Scaffold Services

NORTHERN IRELAND ELECTRICITY NETWORKS LIMITED

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

01 Apr 2026 at 09:08

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

24 Mar 2026 at 11:32

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Northern Ireland Electricity Networks Limited is planning a tender process for the hire, erection, and dismantling of scaffolding services under Contract S1138 (2027). Currently in the planning stage, the tender aims to engage suppliers through a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) to gather market insights prior to the formal procurement process. The scaffolding services will cater to distribution overhead lines, substations, and transmission overhead lines, ensuring safe and effective maintenance and installation. Located in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the engagement will involve interested parties through eSourcing NI, with a briefing event scheduled on 17th April 2026. The project falls under the utilities sector with an anticipated contract period starting from 1st January 2028 to 1st January 2032, with potential renewals extending up to 2036.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in scaffolding services, including those providing equipment and structures, to expand their operations in Northern Ireland. The planned framework agreement intends to include SMEs, with a procurement value estimated at £6,434,000 (excluding VAT). Businesses capable of delivering innovative solutions for the scaffolding needs in electricity infrastructure will find this engagement beneficial. The PME exercise encourages collaborative input to shape an effective procurement strategy, offering potential growth for firms adept in handling complex works related to scaffolding erection and dismantling. Participation in this proposal may aid interested suppliers in establishing a foothold in the utilities sector, specifically within the Northern Irish devolved regulations framework.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

S1138 (2027) The Hire, Erection and Dismantling of Scaffold Services

Notice Description

NIE Networks is conducting a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) to gather insights from the market before initiating a procurement process for Contract S1138 Hire, Erection and Dismantling of Scaffold. This engagement aims to assess the market's interest and capabilities in delivering Contract S1138 (2027), identify potential solutions and innovative approaches, and develop an effective procurement strategy. This PME is open to all suppliers and is intended to be a collaborative effort to ensure a robust and successful procurement process. The Hire, Erection and Dismantling of Scaffold Services may include as follows: * Hire, Erection and Dismantling of Scaffold (Distribution Overhead lines), * Hire, Erection and Dismantling of Scaffold (Distribution and Transmission Substations and Transmission Overhead Lines) The services will include: Hire, Erection and Dismantling of Scaffold (Distribution Overhead Lines) * The design, erection, inspection and dismantling of scaffold to facilitate NIE Networks' teams with: * the erection / maintenance / replacement of electricity poles * the installation and repair of Low Voltage under eave wires and cables at customer properties * Erection and dismantling of scaffold to facilitate NIE Networks' fault and emergency response works where required Hire, Erection and Dismantling of Scaffold (Distribution and Transmission Substations and Transmission Overhead Lines) * The design, erection, inspection and dismantling of scaffold to facilitate NIE Networks' teams with: * the installation / maintenance / replacement of substation plant and apparatus * the erection / maintenance / replacement of electricity poles and towers * Roadside protection schemes to assist with raising and lowering of overhead lines * Erection and dismantling of scaffold to facilitate NIE Networks' fault and emergency response works where required

Planning Information

Interested parties should register their interest and attendance via eSourcing NI (as below) by 5.00pm on Friday 17th April 2026 providing the name(s) and contact email addresses of who will attend. Attendance shall be limited to a maximum of 3 attendees per organization. Registration for the PME briefing event(s) shall only be through eSourcing NI. pqq_4729 has been created on eSourcing NI where parties can register their interest to attend the session via the secure messaging function. Upon receipt of Suppliers' Expressions of Interest, we will provide additional information with further instructions on how to participate in the PME Briefing Event. The PME briefing event shall consist of a presentation by NIE Networks Ltd with an opportunity afterwards for interested parties to raise clarification questions. Interested parties should note that any questions regarding the content of the PME briefing event or procurement process raised in advance of the PME briefing event through eSourcing NI will not be responded to by NIE Networks Ltd. Please note that NIE Networks Ltd will be conducting this PME exercise in accordance with the principles of equal treatment, non-discrimination and transparency. To that end, it is important to stress that the structure, specification and all other aspects of the procurement will not be designed to give direct or indirect advantage to any interested party and all information concerning the forthcoming procurement will be disseminated to all interested parties. It is important to note that this PME Notice and the PME briefing event do not constitute a call for competition, selection process or a current tender opportunity. This PME Notice has been produced solely for the purpose of conducting a pre-market engagement exercise. All interested parties will need to express a formal interest in any future tender opportunity in due course once a contract notice (as appropriate) is published. NIE Networks Ltd welcomes interest from all interested parties. Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to this PME Notice or the PME briefing event. Participation or non-participation in the PME exercise shall not prevent any interested parties from participating in any subsequent procurement exercise. All information shared with interested parties as part of the PME exercise (including, for the avoidance of doubt, a copy of the PME presentation and any questions and answers provided) will be made available to all parties that express an interest in participating in any subsequent procurement exercise. For the avoidance of doubt however, NIE Networks Ltd will not disclose any specific comments or feedback provided by any interested party, nor the identity of any party that chose to take part in the PME process. NIE Networks Ltd may, at its absolute discretion, consider any questions or feedback provided during the PME exercise in finalising its procurement strategy, procurement process and/or any aspects of the procurement. NIE Networks Ltd also reserves the right to request additional information from any interested party in relation to any question raised or feedback provided as part of the PME exercise. The information provided in this PME Notice and as part of the PME exercise is preliminary in nature and is subject to amendment/updating by NIE Networks Ltd. No reliance may be placed by any party on the information contained in this PME Notice or provided as part of the PME exercise and no representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made in relation to such information.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06727d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030147-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)

45 - Construction work

CPV Codes

44212310 - Scaffolding

44212315 - Equipment for scaffolding

44212317 - Scaffolding structures

45262100 - Scaffolding work

45262110 - Scaffolding dismantling work

45262120 - Scaffolding erection work

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£6,434,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Apr 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
18 Dec 20269 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2028 - 1 Jan 2032 4-5 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
NORTHERN IRELAND ELECTRICITY NETWORKS 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
BELFAST
Postcode
BT9 5HT
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
Not specified
Basic Region (ITL 2)
Not specified
Small Region (ITL 3)
Not specified
Delivery Location
TLN Northern Ireland
Local Authority
Electoral Ward
Westminster Constituency

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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