---
title: "BE24221 - Research Study of the Potential for Cost Reduction in Undergrounding Transmission Lines over Long Distances"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-070071f1-7e94-4e40-bb9e-860d44f67a0c"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-070071f1-7e94-4e40-bb9e-860d44f67a0c"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-070071f1-7e94-4e40-bb9e-860d44f67a0c.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-070071f1-7e94-4e40-bb9e-860d44f67a0c.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK SBS"
published: "2025-05-07"
---

# BE24221 - Research Study of the Potential for Cost Reduction in Undergrounding Transmission Lines over Long Distances

Buyer: UK SBS  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-070071f1-7e94-4e40-bb9e-860d44f67a0c

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## Summary

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has awarded a contract for a research study titled "BE24221 - Research Study of the Potential for Cost Reduction in Undergrounding Transmission Lines over Long Distances." This contract was awarded via the CCS Research and Insights (RM6126) Dynamic Purchasing System, with the procurement process classified under the "Research and development services and related consultancy services" category. This initiative aims to enhance the evidence base for undergrounding costs in the UK and explore potential cost reductions when scaled up over longer distances. The buying organisation, UK SBS, facilitated this selective procurement method through a call-off from a dynamic purchasing system. The contract began on 3rd February 2025 and culminates on 23rd May 2025. While the opportunity relates to multiple locations, including the UK and the British Overseas Territories, the final award, valued at £69,903, has been made to Ramboll UK Limited.

This tender presents significant prospects for businesses engaged in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Companies specialising in innovative underground cable technologies or possessing expertise in cost analysis could find opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange in this commissioned research. The focus on cost reduction and innovation aligns well with businesses aiming to contribute to enhancing energy security and sustainable infrastructure development. Given the contract's nature, SMEs involved in specialist consultancy for transmission line methodologies could find competitive advantages due to the specificity of the contract's requirements and objectives.

## Notice

**Please note this is an Award Notice and not a call for competition, this Contract has been awarded via the CCS Research and Insights (RM6126) Dynamic Purchasing System.** The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is appointing a Contractor to to conduct a research study of the comparative costs of different methods of undergrounding transmission lines in a GB context, and the potential for these costs to be reduced if scaled up to longer distances. Its purpose is to update and improve the evidence base for undergrounding costs and identify potential for further innovation to reduce costs. Depending on the study findings, the research may have implications for innovation funding in this area and potentially influence related policy. The objectives are: - To list undergrounding methods that could be used for transmission lines. - To qualitatively assess all methods of undergrounding with respect to their suitability for undergrounding transmission lines over long distances of order 20-50km and shortlist three methods with the most potential for further study. - To document published evidence for the lifetime cost of the counterfactual of undergrounding in shallow trenches using 'cut-and-cover' and sensitivity to distance per km in a UK context. - To engage with specialist suppliers for the three shortlisted undergrounding methods chosen for further study to quantify and validate current installation costs and sensitivity to distance of these methods using a basis consistent with that for the counterfactual. - To work with specialist suppliers to identify areas where innovations in shortlisted undergrounding methods such as in equipment or methodology might help to reduce costs when scaling-up to longer distances. - To analyse and compare costs with the counterfactual and identify the main cost components. - To identify if choices about cable technology such as voltage and whether AC or DC impacts the comparative costs of undergrounding methods. - To qualitatively assess wider aspects of the shortlisted non-traditional undergrounding methods including constraints, environmental impact, deliverability, and energy security - To write a final study report collating the above research and analysis with conclusions on whether there is scope to reduce undergrounding costs using nontraditional undergrounding methods and recommendations for further work

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e63a49ac-dea2-4b5a-bf02-8fb2a23550ab |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Dynamic |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a dynamic purchasing system |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 7 May 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 18 Dec 2024 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 29 Jan 2025 |
| Contract period | 3 Feb 2025 - 23 May 2025 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £100,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £69,903 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UK SBS |
| Locality | SWINDON |
| Post town | Swindon |
| Postcode | SN2 1FF |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire |
| ITL 3 | TLK71 Swindon |
| Local authority | Swindon |
| Electoral ward | Rodbourne Cheney |
| Westminster constituency | Swindon North |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | RAMBOLL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 7 May 2025 at 07:29 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e63a49ac-dea2-4b5a-bf02-8fb2a23550ab

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e63a49ac-dea2-4b5a-bf02-8fb2a23550ab
  7th May 2025 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Notice URLs

- http://www.uksbs.co.uk

## Provenance

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