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DSI Phase 2

NATIONAL ENERGY SYSTEM OPERATOR LIMITED

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

06 Oct 2026 at 08:59

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

12 Aug 2026 at 09:13

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

11 Aug 2026 at 17:14

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

National Energy System Operator Limited (NESO) commissioned legal services for Phase 2 of the Data Sharing Infrastructure programme. The infrastructure is intended to help the energy sector share data and models securely, resiliently and at scale through common processes, governance and technology. Phase 2 covers the public launch of the infrastructure, including further development and implementation of its governance framework, participant terms and conditions, and related legal documentation. The supplier leads the programme’s legal workstream. Delivery is in the United Kingdom. The work is legal services (CPV 79100000), focused specifically on energy-sector data sharing and the legal arrangements needed to bring participants into the infrastructure.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been awarded to DLA Piper UK LLP. NESO used a direct award, citing DLA Piper’s Phase 1 involvement, project-specific knowledge, continuity and established stakeholder relationships as grounds for appointing it without competition. The award was dated 11 August 2026. The signed contract runs from 2 October 2026 to 31 August 2029. Its value is capped at £540,000 excluding VAT (£648,000 including VAT), based on hourly rates, unless the scope changes. The procurement was divided into one lot. Phase 2 is a continuation of the earlier programme’s legal work, developing the governance and contractual arrangements for the public launch.

For law firms considering comparable future work for NESO, this award shows demand for specialist legal support at the intersection of energy-sector data sharing, governance and technology. Credible suppliers would need to develop and implement governance frameworks, draft and negotiate participation terms and related legal documentation, and work effectively with multiple sector stakeholders. The rationale for this award shows that continuity, deep knowledge of the programme’s objectives and operating model, and trusted stakeholder relationships were decisive; a future competitor would need to demonstrate how it could build or transfer that understanding efficiently while managing delivery and transition risks. The requirement involved a substantial, multi-year legal workstream for a complex programme, delivered through a direct award in this instance because of the incumbent’s Phase 1 contribution.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

DSI Phase 2

Notice Description

The Data Sharing Infrastructure (DSI) is a socio-technical solution that makes it easier for the energy sector to share data and models in a scalable, secure, and resilient way by bringing together common processes, governance, and technology. NESO has been appointed as the Interim DSI Coordinator for this activity. This is a contract award specifically for Phase 2 of the programme. Phase 2 of the activity will involve the public launch of DSI which will require further development of the governance process and the legal terms and conditions for participation. The services for Phase 2 will be based on hourly rates, capped at PS540,000 (excl VAT) or PS648,000 (incl VAT) unless there is a scope change.

Procurement Information

Phase 1 of the Data Sharing Infrastructure (DSI) programme involved establishing a collaboration with energy sector partners to develop and test a minimum viable product (MVP). DLA Piper LLP (DLA) was appointed to support this phase and has been instrumental in developing the governance framework for data sharing, as well as drafting, negotiating and finalising the MVP Agreement with participating organisations. Phase 2 of the programme will involve the public launch of DSI and the further development and implementation of the governance framework, participant terms and conditions, and associated legal documentation. NESO wishes to appoint DLA to lead the legal workstream for Phase 2. DLA is considered the only appropriate supplier for this requirement due to its extensive involvement in Phase 1 and the knowledge, expertise and stakeholder relationships developed during that work. DLA has invested significant time in developing a detailed understanding of the objectives, governance requirements, operating model and underlying technology associated with DSI. NESO has similarly invested considerable time and cost in establishing this shared understanding. Much of this knowledge has been developed through ongoing engagement and collaboration and is not fully documented. Appointing an alternative supplier would require substantial onboarding, re-briefing and knowledge transfer activities, with no guarantee that all relevant context and understanding could be replicated within the required timescales. DLA has also co-developed key elements of the DSI governance framework and contractual arrangements during Phase 1 and is therefore uniquely placed to develop these further for Phase 2. Their involvement provides continuity between the MVP stage and public launch, reducing the risk of inconsistent interpretation of the programme's objectives, governance principles and legal requirements. In addition, DLA has established trusted working relationships with MVP participants and key stakeholders, including Ofgem. These relationships are important to the successful delivery of Phase 2 and support efficient engagement, negotiation and implementation activities. A change of supplier would create additional delivery and commercial risk, including programme delays, duplication of effort, increased management overhead and the potential need to revisit previous decisions and assumptions. Value for money is supported through the appointment of a supplier that can mobilise immediately and deliver efficiently without the additional cost and time associated with bringing a new supplier up to the required level of understanding. The commercial benefits of retaining DLA include reduced mobilisation time, lower internal management effort, preservation of project knowledge, reduced risk to delivery and improved continuity of governance and contractual development. NESO considers that a direct award is permitted under one or both of the following grounds in Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023: Paragraph 6 (absence of competition for technical reasons): DLA possesses unique project-specific knowledge of the DSI governance framework, legal architecture, stakeholder positions and programme objectives developed through Phase 1. This knowledge cannot be replicated by an alternative supplier within the required timescales without significant risk to programme delivery. Paragraph 7 (extension of existing services): The Phase 2 legal services constitute a continuation and further development of the services delivered during Phase 1. Appointing an alternative supplier would result in significant compatibility, continuity and knowledge-transfer challenges, giving rise to disproportionate technical, operational and commercial difficulties and creating duplication of effort and additional cost. Accordingly, NESO considers a direct award to DLA to be the most efficient, proportionate and lowest-risk approach to securing delivery of the Phase 2 legal workstream.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e1d8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094052-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details 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

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

CPV Codes

79100000 - Legal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£540,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
£540,000 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Oct 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
11 Aug 20262 months ago
Contract Period
2 Oct 2026 - 31 Aug 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NATIONAL ENERGY SYSTEM OPERATOR 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
WOKINGHAM
Postcode
RG41 5BN
Postcode Area
Reading
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ16 Berkshire West
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Wokingham
Electoral Ward
Winnersh
Westminster Constituency
Wokingham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

DLA Piper UK LLP

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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