Design, Build, Install and Maintenance Contract for Halton Microgrid

{
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PLTJ-1788-CBLR",
    "name": "Halton Borough Council"
  },
  "date": "2026-02-12T15:33:43Z",
  "id": "013053-2026",
  "initiationType": "tender",
  "language": "en",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-050f2b",
  "parties": [
    {
      "address": {
        "country": "GB",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Widnes",
        "postalCode": "WA8 7QF",
        "region": "UKD71",
        "streetAddress": "Municipal Building"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "procurement@halton.gov.uk"
      },
      "details": {
        "classifications": [
          {
            "description": "Public authority - sub-central government",
            "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE"
          }
        ]
      },
      "id": "GB-PPON-PLTJ-1788-CBLR",
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PLTJ-1788-CBLR",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "name": "Halton Borough Council",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "tag": [
    "tenderUpdate"
  ],
  "tender": {
    "aboveThreshold": true,
    "awardPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-04-30T23:59:59+01:00"
    },
    "description": "BACKGROUND INFORMATION\nHalton 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\u0027s own carbon production.\nThe 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\u0027s 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).\nThe site was historically used as a chemical waste landfill site, before being converted to a municipal golf course (St Michael\u0027s Golf Course). The course was subsequently closed, and the site has been unused since.\nThe 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\u0027s Lower House Lane transport depot.\nOn 1st June 2021 the Council secured a 6.1MVA export and 5.0MVA import grid connection offer from the local DNO (SP Energy Networks).\nOn 27th June 2024, the Council submitted a planning application for the project, and the application was approved on 23rd January 2025.\nDuring 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.\nThe 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;\n(a) A 3.62MWp solar farm, including all associated building and civil engineering works.\n(b) An 11kV link between the existing 1.2MWp solar farm and the new 3.62MWp solar farm.\n(c) A 2MW/4MWh battery storage system at the new solar farm site.\n(d) An 11kV link from the new solar farm substation to a new Intake Substation located at the\nCouncil\u0027s Lower House Lane depot, including an associated horizontal drill under a major A\nRoad.\n(e) A new 33kV / 11kV Intake Substation (ISS) at the Council\u0027s Lower House Lane Depot.\n(f) New 11kV distribution substation infrastructure at four Council sites (Halton Stadium, Halton Leisure Centre, Municipal Offices and Lower House Lane Transport Depot)\n(g) A buried HV ring connecting the new Intake Substation (ISS) with the four distribution\nsubstations.\n(h) High power EV and eRCV charging infrastructure at the Lower House Lane transport depot.\n(i) A SCADA control system to enable the efficient and optimal management of the completed microgrid system and the associated generation and storage assets.\nThe Tenderer\u0027s scope will include all works required to deliver a fully compliant, safe, efficient and working installation.\nFollowing completion of the construction works. The EPC Tenderer shall be responsible for providing EPC warranty and O\u0026M (Operations and Maintenance) services for a minimum period of two years, with options for multiple contract extensions.",
    "documents": [
      {
        "description": "Not published",
        "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
        "id": "conflictOfInterest"
      },
      {
        "description": "The full access of the tender pack is available free of charge  on The Chest procurement web portal at www.the-chest.org.uk\nReference number DN797010.",
        "documentType": "biddingDocuments",
        "id": "L-1",
        "url": "www.the-chest.org.uk"
      },
      {
        "datePublished": "2026-02-12T15:33:43Z",
        "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
        "documentType": "tenderNotice",
        "format": "text/html",
        "id": "013053-2026",
        "noticeType": "UK4",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013053-2026"
      }
    ],
    "enquiryPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-01-27T15:00:00Z"
    },
    "id": "DN797010",
    "items": [
      {
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "description": "Electricity",
            "id": "09310000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          },
          {
            "description": "Solar energy",
            "id": "09330000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          },
          {
            "description": "Electrical installation work",
            "id": "45310000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          }
        ],
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "country": "GB",
            "countryName": "United Kingdom",
            "region": "UKD71"
          }
        ],
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1"
      }
    ],
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "scheme": "UKPGA",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
    },
    "lots": [
      {
        "awardCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "name": "Quality",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 70,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "quality"
            },
            {
              "name": "Price",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 30,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "price"
            }
          ]
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2029-07-31T23:59:59+01:00",
          "maxExtentDate": "2057-05-31T23:59:59Z",
          "startDate": "2026-07-01T00:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "hasRenewal": true,
        "id": "1",
        "renewal": {
          "description": "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.\nExtensions are subject to a review of performance, requirements and agreement on pricing."
        },
        "status": "active",
        "suitability": {
          "sme": true
        },
        "value": {
          "amountGross": 15600000,
          "currency": "GBP"
        }
      }
    ],
    "mainProcurementCategory": "works",
    "procedure": {
      "features": "This tender notice relates to the award of a public contract through a Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with section 20(1) and 20(2)(b) of the Procurement Act 2023.\nFor a description of the process including conditions of participation , the process for submitting initial and final tenders (including the negotiation stage) and the award criteria and assessment methodology, please refer to the documents available on the procurement web portal The Chest which can be accessed from the following link https://www.the-chest.org.uk/ .  The project reference for the opportunity is DN797010.\nThe contracting authority reserves the right to rely on section 31 PA 2023 to modify the terms of the procurement."
    },
    "procurementMethod": "open",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Competitive flexible procedure",
    "status": "active",
    "submissionMethodDetails": "The full tender pack can be accessed free of charge  via The Chest procurement web portal at https://www.the-chest.org.uk/",
    "submissionTerms": {
      "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
      "languages": [
        "en"
      ]
    },
    "tenderPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-03-16T15:00:00Z"
    },
    "title": "Design, Build, Install and Maintenance Contract for Halton Microgrid",
    "value": {
      "amountGross": 15600000,
      "currency": "GBP"
    }
  }
}