--- title: "W722 - Longbridge Weir Hydroelectric Plant Maintenance" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-4475676d-31ec-4ab0-8071-76cd7352b99c" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-4475676d-31ec-4ab0-8071-76cd7352b99c" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-4475676d-31ec-4ab0-8071-76cd7352b99c.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-4475676d-31ec-4ab0-8071-76cd7352b99c.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "DERBY CITY COUNCIL" published: "2026-04-01" --- # W722 - Longbridge Weir Hydroelectric Plant Maintenance Buyer: DERBY CITY COUNCIL Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-b5fd17-4475676d-31ec-4ab0-8071-76cd7352b99c [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-4475676d-31ec-4ab0-8071-76cd7352b99c) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-4475676d-31ec-4ab0-8071-76cd7352b99c.json) ## Summary Derby City Council has successfully concluded the award stage of its procurement process for the maintenance of the Longbridge Weir Hydroelectric Plant. This contract, titled "W722 - Longbridge Weir Hydroelectric Plant Maintenance," falls under the industry category of repair and maintenance services of electrical distribution equipment. The procurement is located in the East Midlands, United Kingdom, with work commencing on 1st April 2026 and spanning until 31st March 2031. The procurement method was a direct award due to absence of competition for technical reasons, specifically Schedule 5, item 6(a) under the Procurement Act 2023, with Derwent Hydroelectric Power Limited selected as the supplier due to their unique expertise and local presence. The total contract value is £730,000. This tender offers limited opportunities for business growth because it directly leverages the existing knowledge and proximity of Derwent Hydroelectric Power Limited, making it challenging for other suppliers to compete. However, it underscores the importance of specialised technical knowledge in niche markets, particularly in the renewable energy sector. Businesses operating within the small-scale hydropower installation sphere or offering complementary technical services could explore similar opportunities by positioning themselves as experts with unique capabilities. Moreover, businesses seeking to establish or expand operations within the East Midlands might gain valuable insights from observing how localisation and expertise play roles in procurement decisions. ## Notice The Longbridge Weir Hydropower House was constructed in 2011 to generate renewable electricity, primarily for the Council House. Derwent Hydroelectric Power Ltd was the original designer and constructor of the installation and has provided operation and maintenance services since commissioning. The plant has now been operational for approximately 14 years. As it approaches the later stages of its asset lifecycle, several major components are at increased risk of failure due to age and will require replacement within the next five years. Ongoing operation and maintenance therefore require specialist technical knowledge of the original design and construction of the installation. Accordingly, a direct award is permitted under the Procurement Act 2023, Schedule 5, item 6(a), as competition is absent for technical reasons and only a particular supplier can supply the required services. The market for contractors capable of maintaining and upgrading a small-scale hydropower installation of this nature is extremely limited. The plant requires a cost-effective 24-hour emergency response capability, which most specialist providers are unable to deliver. Derwent Hydroelectric Power Ltd is locally based, enabling this requirement to be met. As the original constructor, the supplier also has detailed and unique knowledge of the plant, presenting a significant technical barrier to alternative providers. The small scale of the installation further reduces commercial viability for other contractors. These market conditions are not expected to change. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ecfc967b-4c9d-487c-b95c-2ef53bbce0a2 | | Notice type | Award Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Other - Direct Award | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | SME | | All stages | Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 1 Apr 2026 | | Submission deadline | 29 Jan 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 9 Feb 2026 | | Contract period | 31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2031 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £730,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | £730,000 | | 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 | DERBY CITY COUNCIL | | Locality | DERBY | | Post town | Derby | | Postcode | DE1 2FS | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLF East Midlands (England) | | ITL 2 | TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire | | ITL 3 | TLF11 Derby | | Local authority | Derby | | Electoral ward | Darley | | Westminster constituency | Derby South | | Delivery location | TLF East Midlands (England) | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | DERWENT HYDROELECTRIC POWER | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 50 - Repair and maintenance services ### Codes - 50532400 - Repair and maintenance services of electrical distribution equipment ## Release History - 1 Apr 2026 at 10:34 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ecfc967b-4c9d-487c-b95c-2ef53bbce0a2 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ecfc967b-4c9d-487c-b95c-2ef53bbce0a2 1st April 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder ## Notice URLs - https://www.derby.gov.uk/ ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-4475676d-31ec-4ab0-8071-76cd7352b99c. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-4475676d-31ec-4ab0-8071-76cd7352b99c.json.