--- title: "Design, Build, Install and Maintenance Contract for Halton Microgrid" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-050f2b" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-050f2b" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050f2b.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050f2b.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "HALTON BOROUGH COUNCIL" published: "2026-02-12" --- # Design, Build, Install and Maintenance Contract for Halton Microgrid Buyer: HALTON BOROUGH COUNCIL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-050f2b [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-050f2b) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050f2b.json) ## Summary Halton Borough Council, a unitary authority located in Cheshire, North West England, is seeking proposals for the design, build, install, and maintenance of a Smart Microgrid Project, encompassing solar power generation, battery storage, and EV charging infrastructure. The procurement process is currently at the tender stage, with submissions invited through a Competitive Flexible Procedure, aimed at acquiring engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services. The project is valued at GBP £15,600,000, focusing on the electricity and solar energy sectors. This initiative will be situated at a closed landfill site in Widnes, with key deadlines, including the tender period ending on 16th March 2026 and the contract period beginning on 1st July 2026. The Halton Microgrid project offers significant opportunities for businesses within the renewable energy and electrical installation industries. It is particularly suited for those specialising in solar energy, battery storage systems, and energy management solutions. SMEs are encouraged to participate, benefitting from potential contract extensions up to 2057. The project not only supports climate action goals but also enhances local infrastructure, creating long-term prospects for growth and innovation in sustainable energy solutions. Companies able to demonstrate high-quality engineering and cost-effectiveness stand to gain from a competitive evaluation with 70% weight on quality and 30% on price. ## Notice BACKGROUND INFORMATION Halton Borough Council (HBC) is a Unitary Authority based in Cheshire, North West England, comprising the main towns of Runcorn and Widnes. The Council declared a Climate Emergency on the 16th October 2019. Following the declaration, the Council developed an Action Plan which is predominantly focused on reducing the Council's own carbon production. The Council has developed a number of rooftop solar PV schemes and a 1.2MWp solar farm. Whilst these projects have been invaluable, it became apparent to the Council that larger interventions would also be required in order to meet the Council's 2040 net zero target. With this in mind, the Council commissioned a feasibility study in early 2020 to evaluate the potential to construct a solar farm on Council owned wasteland. The study concluded that the potential existed to construct a 3.62MWp solar farm on a closed landfill site located immediately north of Ditton Rd in Widnes (postcode WA8 0PG - Coordinates E: 350056, N: 385004). The site was historically used as a chemical waste landfill site, before being converted to a municipal golf course (St Michael's Golf Course). The course was subsequently closed, and the site has been unused since. The Council are now planning to construct a 3.62MWp solar farm at the closed landfill site, which will be connected to the existing 1.2MWp solar farm via a new 11kV link. The resulting 5.2MWp of solar PV generation will provide power to a number of council owned facilities in Widnes town via an extensive 11kV ring main which is to be installed as part of the project. The scheme will also incorporate a 2MW/4MWh battery storage scheme and a high-power electric vehicle charging hub at the Council's Lower House Lane transport depot. On 1st June 2021 the Council secured a 6.1MVA export and 5.0MVA import grid connection offer from the local DNO (SP Energy Networks). On 27th June 2024, the Council submitted a planning application for the project, and the application was approved on 23rd January 2025. During 2024, the Council has negotiated the necessary agreements to obtain construction access to the site. The Council own the land on which the scheme is to be built, all of the buildings, and will own the Microgrid once it is commissioned and handed over. The Council are now seeking EPC (Engineer Procure and Construct) proposals for the turn-key detailed design, installation and commissioning of the Smart Microgrid Project, which will encompass the following key components; (a) A 3.62MWp solar farm, including all associated building and civil engineering works. (b) An 11kV link between the existing 1.2MWp solar farm and the new 3.62MWp solar farm. (c) A 2MW/4MWh battery storage system at the new solar farm site. (d) An 11kV link from the new solar farm substation to a new Intake Substation located at the Council's Lower House Lane depot, including an associated horizontal drill under a major A Road. (e) A new 33kV / 11kV Intake Substation (ISS) at the Council's Lower House Lane Depot. (f) New 11kV distribution substation infrastructure at four Council sites (Halton Stadium, Halton Leisure Centre, Municipal Offices and Lower House Lane Transport Depot) (g) A buried HV ring connecting the new Intake Substation (ISS) with the four distribution substations. (h) High power EV and eRCV charging infrastructure at the Lower House Lane transport depot. (i) A SCADA control system to enable the efficient and optimal management of the completed microgrid system and the associated generation and storage assets. The Tenderer's scope will include all works required to deliver a fully compliant, safe, efficient and working installation. Following completion of the construction works. The EPC Tenderer shall be responsible for providing EPC warranty and O&M (Operations and Maintenance) services for a minimum period of two years, with options for multiple contract extensions. ### Lot Information Lot 1 Renewal: Contract extensions for the operation and maintenance and related services. The extension options available are for 3 years and 5 x 5 years. A total of 6 available extensions. Extensions are subject to a review of performance, requirements and agreement on pricing. ### Planning Information There are two parts to this preliminary market engagement process, a Microsoft Teams presentation and a questionnaire to complete and return. All details and documents are made available via The Chest which can be accessed by the following link https://www.the-chest.org.uk/ The Chest reference for this PME is DN773969 The Council will only be issuing and receiving documents for this PME via The Chest. Should you have any queries about this preliminary market engagement process, please send these via The Chest's Question and Answer section for a response. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013053-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Works | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning, Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 12 Feb 2026 | | Submission deadline | 16 Mar 2026 | | Future notice date | 28 May 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 30 Jun 2026 - 31 Jul 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £15,600,000 | | Lots value | £15,600,000 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | HALTON BOROUGH COUNCIL | | Locality | WIDNES | | Post town | Warrington | | Postcode | WA8 7QF | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD7 Merseyside | | ITL 3 | TLD71 East Merseyside | | Local authority | Halton | | Electoral ward | Central & West Bank | | Westminster constituency | Widnes and Halewood | | Delivery location | TLD71 East Merseyside | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 09 - Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy - 45 - Construction work ### Codes - 09310000 - Electricity - 09330000 - Solar energy - 45310000 - Electrical installation work ## Release History - 12 Feb 2026 at 15:33 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013053-2026 - 22 Dec 2025 at 16:25 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085556-2025 - 20 Nov 2025 at 18:03 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075855-2025 - 12 Nov 2025 at 15:46 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073277-2025 - 8 May 2025 at 15:34 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019853-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013053-2026 12th February 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085556-2025 22nd December 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075855-2025 20th November 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073277-2025 12th November 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019853-2025 8th May 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - www.the-chest.org.uk The full access of the tender pack is available free of charge on The Chest procurement web portal at www.the-chest.org.uk Reference number DN797010. ## Notice URLs - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents - 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-h6vhtk-050f2b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050f2b.json.