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2026-072 Future Price Control Frameworks

Ofgem

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

31 Aug 2026 at 13:35

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

17 Aug 2026 at 16:36

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Ofgem is procuring external consultancy support for its Future Frameworks project on network price controls beyond 2031. The work will build on the Future Systems and Network Regulation review, assess changes in the energy sector and Ofgem’s regulatory capabilities, and examine the attractiveness, feasibility and risks of alternative frameworks for gas and electricity network companies. Outputs should provide independent strategic analysis and recommend options for further consideration against the RIIO model, including planning-based, adaptive and monitoring-focused approaches. The study will consider the enabling role of data, digital systems, Intelligent Oversight and artificial intelligence, and what could be tested during RIIO-3 and ED3. The intended outcomes are insight supporting affordable bills, resilient networks, service quality and Net Zero delivery. Work will be delivered across the United Kingdom.

The procurement has reached tender: Ofgem invited offers through a below-threshold open competition. Questions were due by 2 September 2026 at 12:00 and tenders by 9 September 2026 at 12:00. Electronic submission was allowed. There is one lot, with an estimated value of £166,666.67 excluding VAT and £200,000 including VAT. The contract is scheduled to run from 8 October 2026 to 31 January 2027, with an extension of up to three months available, giving a maximum end date of 30 April 2027. Evaluation is weighted 80% technical quality and 20% commercial cost. The procurement is identified as business and management consultancy, with related gas and electricity distribution services.

This opportunity suits consultancy firms with strong energy-sector and regulatory expertise, particularly experience of network price controls, RIIO, gas and electricity network regulation, and strategic policy development. Relevant suppliers should be able to analyse major changes in electrification, network investment, energy demand, flexibility markets and technology, and translate them into practical regulatory options. The work requires independent assessment of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks, alongside recommendations on allowances, incentives, performance measures and accountability. Capability in data, digital regulation, Intelligent Oversight and artificial intelligence is relevant, as is experience designing or testing regulatory frameworks and advising public bodies. The opportunity is explicitly suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and requires strategic insight rather than a detailed price-control design.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

2026-072 Future Price Control Frameworks

Notice Description

This procurement is for support to help Ofgem develop its thinking on future network price control frameworks for the post-2031 period, building on the Future Systems and Network Regulation (FSNR) review rather than re-running it from first principles. The work should assess what has changed since FSNR and what those changes mean for the relative attractiveness, feasibility and risks of different future regulatory framework options. Ofgem is seeking external consultancy support to inform its Future Frameworks project, which is considering what the next generation of network price controls could look like beyond 2031. While RIIO has evolved significantly since its introduction in 2013, the energy sector is entering a period of unprecedented change driven by electrification, increasing network investment requirements, strategic system planning, changing patterns of energy demand, advances in flexibility markets and rapid technological development, including artificial intelligence. The requirement forms part of Ofgem's wider Reimagining Network Regulation programme and builds on work previously undertaken through the Future Systems and Network Regulation (FSNR) review. The purpose of the procurement is to obtain independent expert analysis on how changes in the external environment and developments in Ofgem's own regulatory capabilities may inform the design of future regulatory frameworks. In particular, the work will explore how enhanced data, digital, Intelligent Oversight and AI-enabled capabilities could create opportunities for alternative approaches to setting allowances, incentives, performance measures and accountability arrangements for gas and electricity network companies. Building on and advancing the work undertaken in FSNR, the successful tenderer will be expected to assess the relative strengths, weaknesses, risks and opportunities of different future framework options. The supplier should recommend a list of potential options for further consideration against the RIIO model, such as enhanced planning-based approaches, more adaptive and responsive ex ante regulatory arrangements and models with a greater focus on monitoring. The work will help Ofgem understand which options warrant further consideration, what enabling capabilities would be required to deliver alternative models, and what elements of new approaches could be tested during RIIO-3 and ED3 to inform future policy decisions. This procurement is intended to provide strategic insight rather than develop a detailed post-2031 price control design. The outputs will support Ofgem's long-term thinking on how network regulation can continue to deliver affordable bills, resilient networks, high-quality service and effective delivery of Net Zero objectives in an increasingly digital and data-enabled environment. Scope of Requirements The scope of this work is to support and help Ofgem develop its thinking on future network price control frameworks for the post-2031 period, building on the Future Systems and Network Regulation (FSNR) review rather than re-running it from first principles. The work should assess what has changed since FSNR and what those changes mean for the relative attractiveness, feasibility and risks of different future regulatory framework options. The commission will build on Ofgem's internal work which has begun to consider these questions, and which will be made available to the successful bidder upon contract commencement. Further information can be found in the attached 2026-072 Future Price Control Frameworks ITT document.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Ofgem reserves the right to extend the contract for up to 3 months.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e5f5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082410-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

65 - Public utilities

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

CPV Codes

65200000 - Gas distribution and related services

65300000 - Electricity distribution and related services

65400000 - Other sources of energy supplies and distribution

79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£166,666 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£166,666 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
31 Aug 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
9 Sep 20261 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
8 Oct 2026 - 31 Jan 2027 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Ofgem
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
E14 4PU
Postcode Area
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI42 Tower Hamlets
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Tower Hamlets
Electoral Ward
Canary Wharf
Westminster Constituency
Poplar and Limehouse

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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