--- title: "Wrigley Head Solar Farm EPC and O&M Contractor" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-bf19a612-6b3f-4898-a6d5-00b76f37432b" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-bf19a612-6b3f-4898-a6d5-00b76f37432b" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-bf19a612-6b3f-4898-a6d5-00b76f37432b.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-bf19a612-6b3f-4898-a6d5-00b76f37432b.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "OLDHAM COUNCIL" published: "2025-10-20" --- # Wrigley Head Solar Farm EPC and O&M Contractor Buyer: OLDHAM COUNCIL Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-b5fd17-bf19a612-6b3f-4898-a6d5-00b76f37432b [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-bf19a612-6b3f-4898-a6d5-00b76f37432b) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-bf19a612-6b3f-4898-a6d5-00b76f37432b.json) ## Summary Oldham Council is overseeing the Wrigley Head Solar Farm project, focusing on the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) and ongoing Operations and Maintenance (O&M) at Wrigley Head, Failsworth in the North West of England. The process was initiated with a planning stage that culminated in a tender published on 18th March 2024, concluding on 23rd April 2024. The award stage concluded on 7th October 2025, with the contract amounting to £1.6 million running from 9th October 2025 to 17th August 2028. The project falls under the CPV category "Electricity, heating, solar and nuclear energy" and requires expertise under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (2015) as both Principal Contractor and Designer. This open procedure adheres to an 'open' procurement method, detailed as being below threshold, making it accessible to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). This solar farm project provides substantial business growth prospects, especially for enterprises specializing in renewable energy construction and maintenance, with its significant budget of £1.6 million allocated for the EPC and O&M phases. The initiative is particularly advantageous for companies capable of integrating new technology advancements into older designs, ensuring enhanced performance of the solar installation. The absence of third-party funding offers a stable financial environment spearheaded by the Council, with contracting opportunities well-suited to large enterprises such as Vital Energi Utilities Limited, who are experienced in handling complex energy projects. The emphasis on continual O&M highlights ongoing growth potential for firms adept in long-term energy solutions and construction work within the burgeoning renewable sector. ## Notice The contractor will review the outline design for a 888kW ground-mounted solar PV array at the Wrigley Head site, improve upon it taking into account developments in new technology and any other factors, agree the new design with the Council, Planning Authority and any other key stakeholders such as Transport for Greater Manchester, and then construct, operate and maintain the installation. The Council has awarded a combined EPC Contract (Engineer Procure Construct) with Operations and Maintenance to a single contractor. The contract is based on the JCT Design & Build 2016 form. The Council's requirement to procure a contractor to fulfil the role and responsibility of Principal Contractor and Principal Designer under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, and meet all aspects of the Specification in order to control the construction phase and support relevant warranties and ongoing performance commitments did not lend itself to lotting without presenting the Council with unmanageable levels of risk and compromising the attainment of value for money. The net budget for the procurement is PS1.6m. This project is being funded by the Council itself (no third party funding). The project reference is DN701652. Additional information: This procurement was published and managed through the Council's e-tendering system: The Chest. https://www.the-chest.org.uk/ ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/223984df-2214-4917-a097-5aa23c1e9b80 | | Notice type | Award Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Works | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (below threshold) | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Large | | All stages | Planning, Tender, Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 20 Oct 2025 | | Submission deadline | 23 Apr 2024 | | Future notice date | 15 Dec 2023 | | Award date | 6 Oct 2025 | | Contract period | 8 Oct 2025 - 17 Aug 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £1,600,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | £1,600,000 | | 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 | OLDHAM COUNCIL | | Locality | OLDHAM | | Post town | Oldham | | Postcode | OL1 1UT | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD3 Greater Manchester | | ITL 3 | TLD37 Greater Manchester North East | | Local authority | Oldham | | Electoral ward | Coldhurst | | Westminster constituency | Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton | | Delivery location | TLD North West (England) | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | VITAL ENERGI UTILITIES | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 09 - Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy - 45 - Construction work ### Codes - 09300000 - Electricity, heating, solar and nuclear energy - 45000000 - Construction work ## Release History - 20 Oct 2025 at 08:23 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/223984df-2214-4917-a097-5aa23c1e9b80 - 18 Mar 2024 at 16:14 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f4c7b841-8311-42d7-8806-a17f4fd07af2 - 30 Nov 2023 at 13:52 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/37be7f74-1b28-4f7c-929c-d1b99e4ad4a0 - 30 Nov 2023 at 13:23 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/37be7f74-1b28-4f7c-929c-d1b99e4ad4a0 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/223984df-2214-4917-a097-5aa23c1e9b80 20th October 2025 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f4c7b841-8311-42d7-8806-a17f4fd07af2 18th March 2024 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/37be7f74-1b28-4f7c-929c-d1b99e4ad4a0 30th November 2023 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - http://www.the-chest.org.uk The Council's e-tendering system - for free of charge access to the market engagement pack. Responses must be returned through this same system. ## Notice URLs - https://www.the-chest.org.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-bf19a612-6b3f-4898-a6d5-00b76f37432b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-bf19a612-6b3f-4898-a6d5-00b76f37432b.json.