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Contractor Partnership to support our secondary network underground cabling & overhead wood pole works

NATIONAL GRID UK LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

02 Nov 2026 at 09:41

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

National Grid UK Limited is planning a contractor partnership framework for electricity network construction across its group, including electricity transmission, ventures and distribution businesses. The work covers underground cabling from low voltage to 33kV and overhead wood-pole lines from low voltage to 66kV. Activities include building, repairing and replacing networks; cable trenching, installation, jointing and testing; pole inspections; associated plant and customer connections; and planned or emergency response. Highway traffic management, excavation and reinstatement may also be required. The work is intended to cover National Grid Electricity Distribution’s four licence areas: East Midlands, West Midlands, South West and South Wales. Regional lots and a multidisciplinary lot structure are still being considered.

This is at planning and market-engagement stage: National Grid has set out its intention to procure a framework, but has not issued an invitation to tender. The estimated framework value is £1.25 billion including VAT. The stated contract period is 7 September 2028 to 6 September 2033, with a maximum end date of 6 September 2038. Suppliers were invited to express interest by 13 November 2026. National Grid planned an in-person supplier engagement day in the Worcester area on 30 November 2026; it may select attendees based on experience and capability, and requires a signed non-disclosure agreement for attendance. Engagement feedback will inform the scope, procurement strategy and contract model. Regional lots are under consideration.

The work is suited to contractors with the capacity to deliver across one or more regions and experience in electricity network construction. Relevant capability includes overhead wood-pole works through 66kV and underground cabling through 33kV, including cable jointing, emergency response, testing, reinstatement and traffic management. Suppliers should be equipped for design and consent support, surveys and investigations, project and programme management, site supervision, and stakeholder and landowner liaison. The buyer expects competent, appropriately trained resources, safe systems of work, and compliance with its construction standards and procedures. Principal Designer and Principal Contractor duties under CDM 2015, environmental compliance, quality assurance and security management are also in scope. Market engagement asks suppliers to describe relevant experience, accreditations, certifications and innovative approaches.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Contractor Partnership to support our secondary network underground cabling & overhead wood pole works

Notice Description

The contracting entity for this framework is National Grid UK Limited, but will be available for use by any of the Group subsidiary companies within the National Grid UK Limited Group. This includes, but is not limited to National Grid Electricity Transmission, National Grid Ventures, National Grid Electricity Distribution East Midlands, National Grid Electricity Distribution West Midlands, National Grid Electricity Distribution South West and National Grid Electricity Distribution South Wales. National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) is providing early market visibility of a forthcoming procurement opportunity and is seeking interest and feedback from suitably experienced contractors capable of delivering network construction works across its four licence areas. The future framework, the Contractor Partnership to support our secondary network underground cabling & overhead wood pole works, is expected to encompass a broad range of electricity network construction and infrastructure activities, including: Underground (UG) Construction works from LV up to 33kV. Overhead Line (OHL) Wood Pole Construction works from LV up to 66kV. NGED is seeking engagement from suppliers with the capability and capacity to deliver these services across one or more regions, with the potential for the framework to be structured into regional lots. Feedback received through this market engagement exercise will help inform the development of the procurement strategy, scope, and contracting model for the future framework arrangement. 1. Overhead Wood Pole Line Construction The framework will cover: Construction, refurbishment, replacement and dismantling of LV, 11kV, 33kV and 66kV Overhead Line Wood Pole networks. Installation, removal and replacement of associated plant, switchgear and supporting infrastructure. Associated customer service works, including service transfers, cut-out replacements and property connections where required. Highway-based works, including traffic management and, where specified, excavation and reinstatement activities. Line patrols and pole inspections, including recording and reporting of inspection findings. Network SAP/Switching activities when required. Planned and emergency response services, including support during major weather events across all NGED licence areas. Delivery partners will be expected to: Work in accordance with NGED policies, standards and approved construction techniques. Demonstrate competence, training and suitable procedures that align with NGED requirements. Maintain the capability to safely deliver overhead line works from LV through to 66kV. Support NGED's customer service obligations and operational performance requirements. Provide appropriately trained and competent resources to undertake both planned and emergency works. NGED is currently considering awarding these works on a regional basis. 2. Underground Cabling Construction Scope includes all aspects of LV to 33kV Underground work, including: Cable trenching, duct installation, cable pulling and installation Cable jointing up to 33kV using client-supplied materials Unplanned/emergency works Unlooping services Testing, backfill and reinstatement Subcontractor management Option of end-to-end delivery of underground projects Traffic Management NGED is currently considering awarding these works on a regional basis. 3. Other Requirements Applicable to both Categories Successful contractors will be expected to provide: Design & Consents: Survey planning and delivery Utility, asset and ground investigations Outline and detailed design development Design management and coordination Electrical safety design Planning and consent support CDM & HSEQ Responsibilities: Principal Designer duties under CDM 2015 Principal Contractor responsibilities Safe system of work management Environmental compliance Quality assurance and security management Stakeholder & Land Management: Landowner engagement Statutory undertaker liaison Coordination with Local Authorities, Network Rail, Environment Agency and DNOs Support for access agreements and Section 172 evidence Project Delivery Project and programme management Site management and supervision Resource planning and deployment Technical stakeholder support Record keeping and document control Compliance with all NGED standards and Management of Works procedures Multi discipline lot/s are still being considered.

Planning Information

Interested suppliers are invited to provide: • Company overview and relevant experience • Areas of interest (Underground Cabling or Overhead Wood Pole) • Details of relevant accreditations and certifications • Examples of similar projects or services delivered • Any innovative approaches or technologies relevant to the sector The Document should be limited to a total of 2 pages of A4. A list of accreditations is all that is required at this stage, with validation to take place in the future tender opportunity. Please submit to: nged.ngedpartnershipugoh@nationalgrid.co.uk Following this notice, National Grid will: • Conduct an in-person market engagement supplier day to be held on 30th November 2026 in the Worcester area with interested suppliers. National Grid reserves its right, in its sole discretion, to select attendees to this engagement day based on experience and capability. A signed non-disclosure agreement will be required to be provided prior to attendance of the day.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07952c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/103552-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

65 - Public utilities

CPV Codes

45112000 - Excavating and earthmoving work

45231400 - Construction work for electricity power lines

45232210 - Overhead line construction

45233220 - Surface work for roads

45314310 - Installation of cable laying

65300000 - Electricity distribution and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,250,000,000 £1B-£10B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Nov 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
7 Sep 2028 - 7 Sep 2033 Over 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
NATIONAL GRID UK 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
LONDON
Postcode
WC2N 5EH
Postcode Area
Central London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLK South West (England), TLL Wales
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

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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