---
title: "Heat network techno-economic feasibility study for Didcot"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06af13"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06af13"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06af13.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06af13.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "VALE OF WHITE HORSE DISTRICT COUNCIL"
published: "2026-06-05"
---

# Heat network techno-economic feasibility study for Didcot

Buyer: VALE OF WHITE HORSE DISTRICT COUNCIL  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06af13

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## Summary

The Vale of White Horse District Council is seeking consultancy services for a techno-economic feasibility study focusing on the development of a low carbon heat network in Didcot. This opportunity is open under an active tender stage, with the procurement process being conducted as an open competition, with submissions allowed electronically until 10th July 2026. The main object of the contract, falling under the categories of environmental engineering and energy-efficiency consultancy services, aims to assess and advance the potential linkage and development of heat network zones, particularly in consideration of waste heat sources from nearby data centre proposals. The total contract value is set at £84,000, with the project scheduled to start on 1st September 2026 and conclude by 31st March 2027.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in environmental and energy consultancy, particularly those with expertise in heat networks and sustainability-focused engineering services. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) are especially encouraged to apply, with suitability indicated in the tender details. The contract award will be influenced primarily by price, but quality, carbon reduction, and social value will also be considered in the selection process. Businesses will benefit from engaging in a forward-thinking project with the potential to influence regional energy efficiency improvements and align with forthcoming heat network zoning policies.

## Notice

This project will deliver a heat network feasibility study for an area northwest of Didcot. The study will consider the potential combination and/or expansion of potential heat network zones identified by the National Zoning Model (NZM), by incorporating opportunities provided by adjacent data centre development proposals. 400,000sqm of data centres are proposed by several developers on brownfield land adjacent to the operational Didcot Power Station (Oxfordshire). The NZM has not considered these future waste heat sources. The overarching aims of this study are: To review heat network zone development opportunities, to help prepare for the introduction of heat network zoning policy. To determine whether heat network scheme(s) for the specified area are viable. To understand how heat network schemes can be delivered in alignment with the forthcoming Heat Network Zoning Regulations. To set out for the council the range of possible delivery models based on different levels of local authority leadership and investment. To provide decision makers with recommendations which describe the next steps required to take the project through to delivery. Study Objectives & Work Package Summary: The council will commission a techno-economic feasibility study, incorporating elements on heat network zoning, for the development of a low carbon heat network at Didcot. This specification is based on the Heat Networks Delivery Unit Zoning Study and Feasibility Study Specifications from February 2026, with some additions to reflect the local context and circumstances. The outputs should meet the requirements to support a Green Heat Network Fund application. The study objectives are: Identify the potential for heat network zones and/or heat networks in alignment with the Heat Network Zoning Policy, reviewing the currently proposed zones and potential for expansion. Assess the technical and economic feasibility of conceptual heat network projects within the local area. Identify the key heat demand opportunities, key heat sources, and the potential energy centre sites that may unlock delivery of heat network zones. Identify any key timescales, opportunities and risks to the development of the heat networks identified. Produce a report to summarise the findings of the study. Scope of Works: The following scope of works outlines the key activities to be undertaken as part of this study. The process involves identifying major heat demands, heat sources, and potential distribution networks, and reviewing potential heat network zones. Techno-economic modelling should be undertaken a high-level alongside a description of the assumptions used, including the counterfactuals assumed. The study must provide the Client with a clear and justifiable basis upon which to evaluate the full potential for heat networks in the study area, for both the short and long-term and how these may best be delivered. It should also be sufficient to enable the Client to complete the Economic Case within an HM Treasury compliant Outline Business Case. For avoidance of doubt, the consultant should check what the latest guidance is from HNDU. The study should be aligned with the latest CIBSE/ADE Heat Network Code of Practice. Please refer to tender documentation for further details.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053494-2026 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 5 Jun 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 10 Jul 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Aug 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £70,000 |
| Lots value | £70,000 |
| 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 | VALE OF WHITE HORSE DISTRICT COUNCIL |
| Locality | ABINGDON |
| Post town | Oxford |
| Postcode | OX14 3JE |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC |
| Local authority | Vale of White Horse |
| Electoral ward | Abingdon Abbey Northcourt |
| Westminster constituency | Oxford West and Abingdon |
| Delivery location | TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 71313000 - Environmental engineering consultancy services
- 71314300 - Energy-efficiency consultancy services
- 71314310 - Heating engineering services for buildings

## Release History

- 5 Jun 2026 at 15:08 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053494-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053494-2026
  5th June 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://procontract.due-north.com/Opportunities/Index
- https://procontract.due-north.com/Opportunities/IndexSearchforopportunities,selectValeofWhiteHorseDistrictCouncilunderOrganisationsandchoosethistenderfromthelistprovided.
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-06af13. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06af13.json.