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UPN-00417 - Residential Solar Collective Buying Scheme

West of England Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

18 Sep 2026 at 14:30

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

18 Sep 2026 at 12:29

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

30 Apr 2026 at 17:28

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

30 Apr 2026 at 17:21

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The West of England Combined Authority is exploring a regional collective purchasing scheme for residential and other small-scale solar installations. The proposed service would help householders, SME buildings, community venues and places of worship buy and install photovoltaic systems at discounted prices, with options for battery storage and electric vehicle chargers. The contractor would operate an online platform where accredited third-party installers can bid for work from registered customers. It would manage customer service, vet installers, provide regional delivery capacity and share project data with the Combined Authority. Supply and installation contracts would be between the contractor and each household or establishment, with the contractor paying the authorities a commission for completed installations. Delivery is across the West of England, with the scheme intended to support clean energy and home decarbonisation.

This procurement is at the planning and preliminary market engagement stage, not a call for competition. The authority expects to use an open procedure for a below-threshold concession contract, although responses will inform a procurement strategy that may or may not lead to a future tender. One planned lot is suitable for SMEs. The indicative contract start date is 15 January 2027, with a one-year contract period to 14 January 2028 and a possible extension to 14 January 2029. The estimated value is £90,000 excluding VAT, or £108,000 including VAT, but the authorities will not guarantee any orders. The supplier is expected to deliver at least 500 domestic solar systems across the region by September 2027. An engagement questionnaire is requested by 25 September 2026, and further demonstrations or clarification sessions may follow.

This will suit solar PV installers, renewable-energy aggregators, energy-service companies and platform providers able to combine customer acquisition, installer assurance and high-volume regional delivery. Relevant capability includes supplying and fitting photovoltaic arrays, coordinating battery storage and EV charger installations, and supporting both domestic and non-domestic customers. Businesses should be prepared to demonstrate access to accredited installers, effective vetting and quality-control arrangements, sufficient capacity for at least 500 domestic installations, and a reliable customer-service model. The proposed online platform would need to allow participating suppliers to bid for work generated by registered customers and support the collection and transfer of project data. Experience of collective purchasing, discounted installation programmes, public-sector collaboration, regional marketing and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion outputs would be relevant. The scheme is intended to widen customer access to renewable energy.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

UPN-00417 - Residential Solar Collective Buying Scheme

Notice Description

In order to support our Growth Strategy priorities of increasing clean, renewable energy and decarbonising homes across the region by 2035, the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) is exploring facilitation of a Collective Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Purchasing Scheme for local authorities within our region. The aim of this early market engagement exercise is to determine whether there is a market to help residents, SME buildings, community venues and places of worship purchase "Supply and Fit" PV arrays, battery storage, and electric vehicle (EV) chargers at an affordable price from accredited installers. The contractor will handle customer service, vet installers and provide regional capacity for rollout of solar PV, plus provide relevant project data to WECA. The contractor will deliver a collective purchasing Scheme for the supply and installation of photovoltaic panel (PV) systems for householders to enable them to take advantage of discounted panels via collective purchasing, with options for battery storage and electric vehicle charging. The Contractor will set up an online platform to facilitate the collective purchasing scheme by allowing 3rd party suppliers to bid for work for which householders have registered interest. Supply and installation contracts shall be between the Contractor and the Household/establishment. The Contractor will pay the Authorities a commission for every successful installation completed. The supplier will deliver and install at least 500 domestic solar systems across the West of England by 31 September 2027. The supplier will be expected to work with the Combined Authority to maximise customer access to the scheme and delivers Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) outputs. The planned contract start date is 15th January 2027. This contract is categorised as a below threshold concessions contract as the Authorities are not able to commit or guarantee any orders. This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is not a call for competition. Responses will inform our procurement strategy, which may or may not include a future competitive tender process. Suppliers may be invited to participate in further engagement activities, including demonstrations or clarification sessions. Please complete the questionnaire: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/mvcm7QZkkw?origin=lprLink

Planning Information

If this sounds like an opportunity your organisation may be interested in, please complete the short questionnaire below: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/mvcm7QZkkw?origin=lprLink

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-068fc8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088738-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

09 - Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy

31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting

45 - Construction work

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

09330000 - Solar energy

31155000 - Inverters

31158000 - Chargers

31440000 - Batteries

45232141 - Heating works

45320000 - Insulation work

71314000 - Energy and related services

79342000 - Marketing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£90,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Sep 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
25 Sep 20263 days to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
15 Jan 2027 - 14 Jan 2028 6-12 months
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
West of England Combined Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS1 6AL
Postcode Area
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK51 Bristol, City of
Delivery Location
TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Bristol, City of
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Bristol Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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