Planning

CPU8391 Nottingham City Council District Energy Network Investment Opportunity

NOTTINGHAM CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

28 May 2026 at 14:35

Planning

28 May 2026 at 14:28

Planning

26 May 2026 at 10:50

Summary of the contracting process

Nottingham City Council has initiated a procurement process for their District Energy Network Investment Opportunity, titled "CPU8391 Nottingham City Council District Energy Network Investment Opportunity." The process is in the planning update stage, with a preliminary market engagement scheduled to address strategic opportunities linked to the District Energy Network (DEN) project. This project is located in Nottingham, a strategic asset supported by the Eastcroft Energy-from-Waste (EfW) facility. Key industry categories for this tender include electricity, district heating, and energy-related services. The endeavour is set to adhere to the Procurement Act 2023, with milestone deadlines for market engagement responses set for 30 June 2026 and contract commencement anticipated on 1 June 2027, extending over a projected 40-year term.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for businesses, particularly those experienced in district heating, energy services, and infrastructure investment. Companies capable of managing, operating, and expanding energy networks, as well as those with experience in public-private sector partnerships, would find this tender particularly beneficial. The successful bidder will have the chance to invest in and manage one of the UK’s most prominent energy networks, facilitating business growth through long-term service and supply agreements, thereby positioning themselves as pivotal players in the sustainable energy sector.

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Notice Title

CPU8391 Nottingham City Council District Energy Network Investment Opportunity

Notice Description

Nottingham City Council is seeking to appoint a provider to take ownership or control (to be determined) of the Nottingham City District Energy Network. As well as an asset transfer agreement (or alternative, depending on structure), it is anticipated that the successful bidder will be awarded a Services Agreement to continue supplying heat from the network to circa 5,000 domestic properties which are currently connected to the Network and in respect of which the Authority has certain responsibilities as landlord or as covenantor. It is anticipated that this supply obligation will be for a specified term of years (to be determined). The successful bidder will also be awarded a Supply Agreement for the supply of heat and electricity to the Authority for a specified term of years (to be determined). The estimated end date for the contract has not yet been determined and will be decided either in advance of or during the live procurement. For the time being, we have assumed a term of 40 years.

Planning Information

To participate in the preliminary market engagement, please register on the Council's portal: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=614ae665-9a53-f111-813c-005056b64545 . A non-disclosure agreement will need to be completed following which you will be given access to the Opportunity Summary. Please direct any enquiries relating to this opportunity to the Council via the portal. This notice relates to the proposed preliminary market engagement activity for the District Energy Network (DEN) investment opportunity for which Nottingham City Council (NCC) intends to procure a third party to take Ownership and/or Control, become the Regulated Heat Operator and Supplier, operate, maintain and invest to decarbonise and expand the network, and provide energy services to consumers and to NCC. NCC owns and operates one of the longest-established and largest DENs in the UK. It is primarily supplied by waste heat from the Eastcroft Energy-from-Waste (EfW) facility and is an important strategic asset based on its scale, maturity and public-sector role. NCC intends to conduct a competitive procurement in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 to select a third party for this opportunity. Please refer to the related Pipeline Notice. It is anticipated that the successful bidder will make a material private sector investment into the District Energy Network and assume primary responsibility for the majority of operational, performance and commercial risks currently borne by NCC. NCC also proposes to enter into a Services Agreement with the successful bidder. This agreement will place an obligation on the successful bidder to continue supplying heat from the network to circa 5,000 domestic properties which are currently connected to the DEN and in respect of which NCC has certain responsibilities as landlord or as covenantor. It is anticipated that this supply obligation will be for a specified term of years (to be determined), and that the heat contracts will be entered into directly with the householders concerned. NCC also proposes to enter into a Supply Agreement with the successful bidder for the supply of heat and electricity to the Authority for a specified term of years (to be determined) . As part of the preliminary market engagement for this project, suppliers are referred to the Nottingham DEN Opportunity Summary.pdf which outlines the initial details and is intended to provide an initial overview of the opportunity. All information, data and analysis are preliminary and may be updated as the project progresses. Suppliers are invited to respond to the questions set out on slides 15 and 16 of the Nottingham DEN Market Opportunity.pdf. Responses to the questionnaire must be provided via the NCC portal by 30 June 2026. Further details, including instructions for registering to receive the Nottingham DEN Market Opportunity.pdf can be accessed through NCC portal. Interested parties will be required to sign and return a Non-Disclosure Agreement in order to be given access to the full range of information being provided in connection with the preliminary market engagement exercise. Please note that Nottingham City Council and its advisers are not liable for any costs that interested parties may incur in participating in this pre-market engagement.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a317
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050440-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

65 - Public utilities

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services


CPV Codes

09310000 - Electricity

09323000 - District heating

65310000 - Electricity distribution

65400000 - Other sources of energy supplies and distribution

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
28 May 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Sep 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 May 2027 - 31 May 2067 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NOTTINGHAM CITY COUNCIL
Additional Buyers

AMBERSIDE ADVISORS LTD

BEVAN BRITTAN LLP

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NOTTINGHAM
Postcode
NG2 3NG
Post Town
Nottingham
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
TLF14 Nottingham

Local Authority
Bristol, City of
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Bristol Central

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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