---
title: "512_25 Utility Metering and Data Services"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-050458"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-050458"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050458.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050458.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO"
published: "2026-02-27"
---

# 512_25 Utility Metering and Data Services

Buyer: LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-050458

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## Summary

The procurement process involves Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO, acting as the purchasing body for a framework agreement titled "512_25 Utility Metering and Data Services", within the industry category of electricity meters and related services. This framework aims to cover Half Hourly Electricity Meter Operator Services, data collection, and data aggregation services. It is targeted at achieving compliance with Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) requirements. The process has progressed through various stages, including Planning, Tender, and Award, concluding with a contract period starting from 10 February 2026 and potentially running until February 2030, including possible renewals. Key suppliers involved include large organisations such as NPOWER COMMERCIAL GAS LIMITED, SMS ENERGY SERVICES LIMITED, and STARK SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL LTD., with service delivery expected across several regions within the UK, including England, Scotland, and Wales.

This framework presents substantial opportunities for businesses in the energy sector, particularly those capable of installing and managing utility metering services across the UK. It offers a multi-supplier framework, allowing extensive participation and the possibility of further competitive selections, enhancing a supplier's business growth. Companies engaged in energy distribution and management services, especially those with robust data handling capabilities, are well-positioned to benefit from this opportunity. With an approach tailored via the open procedure, this procurement encourages wide interaction with both established large businesses and smaller enterprises, providing them a platform for scaling operations and increasing market presence within the public sector framework agreements across English administrative regions and beyond.

## Notice

A framework agreement covering Half Hourly Electricity Meter Operator Services, data collection and data aggregation services. The framework has been tailored to help customers achieve compliance with the requirements of the upcoming Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) and is anticipated to be a multi-supplier framework. Tenderers were required to confirm and evidence their compliance with key industry standards and memberships as a condition for their tender to be evaluated. Tenderers were required to install meters and offer data collection/data aggregation (DC/DA) services throughout England. While not mandatory, it is preferable for suppliers to also offer coverage in Scotland and Wales. For any additional details please also refer to the ESPO website as follows: https://www.espo.org/utility-metering-data-services-512-25.html Note: Overall framework award was concluded on 10/02/2026, with this notice being published to follow on from this.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months (under normal circumstances this will be completed in full, or potentially in 12-month periods, and is subject to the performance of the framework). The total estimated value captured in this notice includes the option to extend the framework as noted above.

### Planning Information

ESPO is seeking to engage with providers of utility metering services and associated data services to help shape a future procurement strategy.
A Request for Information (RFI) document is available on the eProcurement Portal (ProContract, see also details below on Expressing an interest). Suppliers wishing to participate must first register interest (Expression of interest) in the opportunity, after which you will have access to the Messages area on the eProcurement Portal, where the RFI is found (please refer to the Public Message that captures instructions on completing the RFI). The submission deadline for the RFI is 30th April at 12.00pm (noon).
Following review of completed RFIs, ESPO may undertake virtual 1-2-1 preliminary market engagement sessions with suppliers. ESPO will be seeking further information on points raised within the Suppliers RFI responses within these meetings.
For the purposes of this Preliminary market engagement (PME), please express your interest as follows:
(a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/; (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for tender opportunity '512_25' (via "View Opportunities" from the EastMidsTenders Portal); d) Express an interest.
Please access the Messages area/section of the eProcurement Portal (ProContract / EastMidsTenders - Messages can be accessed via the Activity dashboard once an Expression of interest has been completed) for any further communications on this preliminary market engagement, including the RFI documentation.
In the case of any questions or clarifications relating to this PME, these should also be submitted to ESPO as a Message on the eProcurement Portal (again once an Expression of interest has been completed).
Economic operators should note that this is a preliminary market engagement exercise (and NOT a competitive tender process at this stage). The participation of an economic operator in this preliminary market engagement will not constitute any contractual agreement between the respondent and the Contracting Authority/Client. An economic operator's participation, or lack of participation, in this preliminary market engagement shall not impact the ability of the economic operator to participate in any resulting tender exercise. Economic operators should note that any interest indicated does not constitute a commitment to participate in any future tendering exercise.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017760-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 27 Feb 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 14 Nov 2025 |
| Future notice date | 16 May 2025 |
| Award date | 11 Dec 2025 |
| Contract period | 10 Feb 2026 - 9 Feb 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £20,000,000 |
| Lots value | £20,000,000 |
| Awards value | £20,000,000 |
| Contracts value | £16,666,667 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO |
| Locality | LEICESTER |
| Post town | Leicester |
| Postcode | LE19 1ES |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLF East Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire |
| ITL 3 | TLF22 Leicestershire CC and Rutland |
| Local authority | Blaby |
| Electoral ward | Enderby |
| Westminster constituency | South Leicestershire |
| Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England), TLL Wales, TLM Scotland |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 3 |
| Supplier names | NPOWER COMMERCIAL GAS; SMS ENERGY SERVICES; STARK SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
- 65 - Public utilities
- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 38551000 - Energy meters
- 38554000 - Electricity meters
- 65300000 - Electricity distribution and related services
- 71314000 - Energy and related services

## Release History

- 27 Feb 2026 at 10:40 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017760-2026
- 13 Jan 2026 at 15:25 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002761-2026
- 20 Oct 2025 at 15:02 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066819-2025
- 24 Sep 2025 at 13:05 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059281-2025
- 16 Apr 2025 at 15:37 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015678-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017760-2026
  27th February 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002761-2026
  13th January 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066819-2025
  20th October 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059281-2025
  24th September 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015678-2025
  16th April 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.eastmidstenders.org/
  Please refer to the tender documents (see above for further details including summary instructions on how to access these).
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-12461
  512_25 Framework Agreement (Utility Metering & Data Services)
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-12462
  512_25 Framework Schedule 3 - Form of Contract and Call-Off Terms (Utility Metering & Data Services)

## Notice URLs

- http://www.npowerbusinesssolutions.com
- http://www.sms-plc.com
- https://www.espo.org/
- https://www.espo.org/amfile/file/download/file/9608/
- https://www.espo.org/legal
- https://www.espo.org/utility-metering-data-services-512-25.html
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.stark.co.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-h6vhtk-050458. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050458.json.