HVDC Cable Framework

Description

National Grid is an international Electricity and Gas Network Company and one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world, based in the United Kingdom with operations in the north-east of the United States of America too. National Grid is looking to establish a multi-year HVDC Cable Framework to service its growing HVDC requirements. National Grid also has a developing portfolio of HVDC projects in the US, these works will be subject to a separate Procurement exercise. Please note that the scope of the HVDC Cable Framework includes but is not limited to the following areas: - 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 - HVDC submarine cable lay and burial - HVDC onshore underground cable system delivery, installation and associated civil engineering works as required (to be defined on a project-specific basis) - Cable spares requirements including spare cable storage (to be defined on a project-specific basis) - Design, engineer, prepare, procure and install landfall HDD (Horizontal Direct Drilling) ducts as required for each landfall (To be defined on a project-specific basis). - Front-end engineering design services, in relation to any or all of the aforementioned scope (to be defined on a project-specific basis) Lot 1: The scope of this Procurement includes c.15 HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) projects; certain projects, and other identified projects that it is currently anticipated will be of similar size and value and will be identified as infrastructure to enable the connection of 50GW of Offshore Wind by 2030 and Net Zero by 2050. The scope also comprises other as-yet unidentified additional major HVDC projects, the precise location and nature of which is not yet known but which will share the same key features as the other projects. The HVDC Cable Framework is intended to be used for the delivery of National Grids HVDC Cable portfolio of projects. National Grid anticipates that the HVDC Cable Framework will be used for the delivery of the following early projects: 1. Eastern Green Link 4 (EGL4) 2. Sealink If awarded, these early projects will form call-off contracts under the HVDC Cable Framework; however, 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 PQQ stage of the framework procurement. As more fully described in the RFP, the interested parties that NG 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. For the avoidance of doubt, given the parallel running of the framework and early project call-off procurements for the reasons explained, interested parties will not have confirmation of their appointment to the framework agreement before they are required to participate (if they are interested) in the call-off procurements for the early projects; however, securing a place on the framework agreement will be a condition for the award of any call-off contract. Being shortlisted for or awarded a call-off contract for the early projects is not though a condition to securing a place on the framework agreement. The HVDC Cable Framework may also be used for the delivery of the following early projects: 1. LionLink 2. Other projects of a similar size and nature Again, for the avoidance of doubt, whilst NG's current expectations regarding the early projects are as set out above, NG reserves its rights to utilise different procurement routes. Additional Information: Please note that National Grid reserves the right to award submarine HVAC cable system projects at different voltage ratings through this HVDC Cable Framework at its sole discretion, should the requirement arise. Please note that National Grid expects for most of its future submarine HVDC projects to utilise extruded cable systems, as reflected in the focus of this HVDC Cable Framework's pre-qualification questions, however National Grid retains the right at its sole discretion to award projects utilising other cable system technologies through this HVDC Cable Framework should the need arise. Additional information: In relation to section II.2.10 of the Contract Notice, variant bids may be accepted by National Grid. However, this will only apply in circumstances where the form and content of the variant has been approved by National Grid in advance prior to the Submission Deadline, and is submitted alongside a compliant bid. National Grid UK Limited will conduct the procurement and enter into the framework agreement with the successfully appointed suppliers for its own benefit and for the benefit of the entities identified below. National Grid UK Limited or any of the following entities shall be entitled to call off from the framework agreement and enter into contracts resulting from the call off: 1. Any parent undertakings or subsidiary undertakings (each term as defined in section 1162 Companies Act 2006 except that references in that section to "majority" shall be replaced by reference to "25% or more") of National Grid UK Limited and any subsidiary undertakings of any such parent undertakings at the time of the call off including without limitation: a. National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc; b. National Grid LionLink Limited; c. National Grid Nautilus Limited; d. National Grid Continental Limited; e. National Grid Interconnector Holdings Limited; f. National Grid Interconnectors Limited; and g. National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West) plc 2. Any entity that is acting as a project partner with any National Grid call off partner (identified in paragraph 1 above) and which calls off jointly with any such National Grid entity including, without limitation,: a. SP Transmission Plc; b. ScottishPower Renewables (UK) Ltd; c. Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Plc; d. TenneT TSO B.V.; e. TenneT TSO GmbH; f. TenneT Offshore GmbH; g. Elia Asset NV/SA; h. RTE Réseau de Transport d'Electricité; and i. Transmission system operators and other developers and/or operators of HVDC projects; and/or 3. Any special purpose vehicle, incorporated joint venture or contractual joint venture, between any of the parties identified in paragraphs 1 and 2 above. It should be noted that, whilst National Grid Interconnector Holdings Limited and any of its subsidiaries whether current or future, which hold an interconnector licence, and National Grid Interconnectors Limited, are included within the scope of the HVDC Cable Framework agreement, and therefore entitled to call off under it, these entities are not subject to the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 or any other relevant procurement regime. These entities' participation in this procurement process and/or the framework agreement does not cause them to be subject to those rules in whole or in part.