The electricity and gas network company has set out procurement to meet its growing HVDC needs and enable the connection of 50GW of offshore wind by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2050. The frameworks will cover circa 15 HVDC projects that are either certain or anticipated, with some further unidentified projects anticipated to be included.
The three frameworks are £12.77bn for civils and major works, £24.6bn for converter systems and £21.3bn for cables. All have an initial duration of 60 months (five years) with the option to extend by up to 36 months (three years) via single or multiple fixed terms.
The civils and major works framework will see works on National Grid’s HVDC project portfolio including construction of converter stations and installation of UHV (ultra-high vacuum) cables.
Lot 1, valued at £9.07bn, is for the delivery of converter station civil works. This includes design, consenting, enabling works, site establishment, civil and structural engineering, building services, DNO (distribution network operator) supplies, earthing and lighting protection.
Lot 2 of the major works and civils framework, valued at £3.7bn, is for HVDC onshore cable works. This will include, but is not limited to, design, enabling works, consenting, DC cable trench, AC cable trench, foundations and bolts for cable termination and cable haulage and pulling.
It is anticipated that the major works and civils framework will be used for the delivery of early projects such as Eastern Green Link 3, Eastern Green Link 4 and other projects of a similar size.
The £24.7bn converter systems framework is not divided into lots.
National Grid’s intention is to procure HVDC converter systems solutions utilising primarily Voltage Source Converter (VSC) technology to be confirmed on a project-by-project basis.
The scope of the framework includes supply and installation of converter systems including design, manufacture, installation, and testing of HVDC converter station technology and equipment. This could include the front-end engineering design services in relation to any or all the aforementioned scope.
Additionally, suppliers will be expected to provide turnkey solutions including civils and major works. Maintenance services may be included in the call off scope.
National Grid adds: “Some of the converter systems scope of works may be disaggregated to supply and installation of equipment only (to be defined at a project by project basis) for a number of projects. To be able to fulfil the scope for those projects with disaggregated scope, co-operation and collaboration with a civils and major works candidate will be required.
“Co-operation and collaboration with the cable contractor will be required.
“Some of the converter systems may be located on offshore platforms for a number of projects. To be able to fulfil the scope for those projects with an offshore platform, co-operation and collaboration with an offshore platform candidate will be required.”
Like the major works and civils framework, suppliers on the converter systems framework will be used for the delivery of early projects including Eastern Green Link 4 and Sealink. It may also be used for the early delivery of LionLink and other projects of a similar size and nature.
National Grid’s £21.3bn HVDC cable framework is not divided into lots. Between one and eight candidates will be invited to tender.
The suppliers will be expected to deliver design, manufacture, testing and commissioning of HVDC submarine and underground cable systems, including but not limited to extruded and mass-impregnated non-draining cable systems at different voltage ratings as well as all associated cable accessories.
Other works expected from suppliers on this framework include HVDC submarine cable lay and burial; HVDC onshore underground cable system delivery, installation and associated civils works; cable spares requirements including spare cable storage; design, engineer, prepare, procure and install landfall horizontal directional drilling (HDD) ducts and front-end engineering design services.
This framework will be used to deliver works on the early projects Eastern Green Link 4 and Sealink. It may also be used for delivery of LionLink and other projects of similar size and nature.
When it comes to using these frameworks for early projects, National Grid states: “Due to the criticality of these projects and the need for them to be realised within the timeframe set by Ofgem’s Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment framework, the call off process will be run in parallel with the procurement of the framework agreement itself. Interested parties will, therefore, be asked to express their interest in, and capacity to deliver, these early projects at the pre-qualification questionnaire stage of the framework procurement.
“As to be more fully described in the request for proposal (RFP), the interested parties that National Grid determines are capable of delivering the early projects will then be invited to participate in the early project call-off process, alongside the framework RFP.”
National Grid “reserves its rights to utilise different procurement routes”.
The frameworks will be open for utilisation by any National Grid UK subsidiary or project partners.
Potential suppliers have until 15 January to express interest.
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