Contract award notice – utilities
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
London Underground Limited
5 Endeavour Square
London
E20 1JN
UK
Contact person: Jasmine Moss
Telephone: +44 7514492010
E-mail: JasmineMoss@tfl.gov.uk
NUTS: UKI
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://tfl.gov.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://service.ariba.com/Supplier.aw
I.6) Main activity
Urban railway, tramway, trolleybus or bus services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
TfL Solar Private Wire Delivery Partner
Reference number: CW88305 (tender reference WS1600084734)
II.1.2) Main CPV code
09330000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
II.1.4) Short description
This procurement was undertaken by Transport for London (TfL) on behalf of London Underground Limited (LUL).
The primary objective of TfL's Solar Private Wire project is to enable TfL to directly receive zero-carbon electricity from decentralised sources, reducing the carbon emissions associated with its operations. The project is primarily focused on private wire connections to new-build solar photovoltaic generation.
The contracting authority (LUL) has appointed an economic operator (a 'Delivery Partner') with whom it can work collaboratively in order to deliver solar private wire projects within reasonable proximity to the London Underground network. Opportunities may also extend to connections into the broader TfL estate. LUL envisages that PPAs will take the form of newly-built solar assets, and LUL may also consider existing assets on a site-by-site basis.
The arrangement takes the form of a single supplier framework agreement, allowing for individual projects to be subsequently 'called-off' (i.e. negotiated and contracted for via a private/direct wire Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)).
The framework agreement will be for a duration of four (4) years, with an option to extend for up to a further four (4) years; the option to execute any extension, and the increments by which this is exercised, will be at LUL's sole discretion.
The contracting authority (and the party to the framework agreement) will be LUL. In addition to LUL, other members of the TfL Group may call-off from the framework agreement. In this case the relevant TfL entity will be the contracting entity who will be party to the PPA.
Where LUL is mentioned in this contract notice, it may also incorporate other members of the TfL Group in its meaning.
The number of PPAs that may be entered into is not fixed or limited and the anticipated length of any PPA under the framework is approximately 25 years (subject to the specific nature of site).
The activities that LUL envisages the Delivery Partner will undertake include (but are not limited to):
(a) preparing, developing and submitting a strategy that outlines potential sites upon which solar farms may be developed (including the identification of suitable sites corresponding to the land classification (i.e. greenfield, brownfield etc.)) and developing project proposals from sites identified;
(b) obtaining all relevant approvals, consents and permissions from the relevant authorities and third parties (as applicable) in relation to any site that is to be taken forward as a solar farm; and
(c) provided that certain contractual requirements are met, undertaking necessary activities in order to design, construct, operate and maintain the solar farm and related connection assets.
Additional associated services that LUL may request from the Delivery Partner include (but are not limited to):
(a) battery storage opportunities related to the installed solar arrays; and
(b) services and products related to the optimisation of generation and efficiency of the installed solar arrays.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
175 000 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
09330000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKI
UKJ
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The procurement process was carried out under the Competitive Dialogue procedure, consisting of five (5) stages. Full details for the down selection of economic operators (bidders) at the end of each stage were provided in the procurement documents. High-level details are below.
Stage 1: Selection Questionnaire ('SQ') - Up to six (6) highest-ranking compliant bidders invited to ISOS;
Stage 2: Invitation to Submit Outline Solution ('ISOS') - Up to three (3) highest-ranking compliant bidders invited to Dialogue;
Stage 3: Invitation to Participate in Dialogue ('ITPD') - No down selection;
Stage 4: Dialogue - No down selection; and
Stage 5: Invitation to Submit Final Tender ('ISFT') - Highest-ranking compliant bidder is awarded the framework agreement.
Following evaluation of the ISFT stage, the highest-ranking bidder has been awarded the place on the framework agreement.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Commercial
/ Weighting: 15
Quality criterion: Technical
/ Weighting: 60
Price
/ Weighting:
25
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
48 month initial term (initial expiry is February 2030), with optional extension(s) of up to an additional 48 months, at the sole discretion of the contracting authority.
The total duration of contract, inclusive of any extension provision is 96 months.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
REGISTERING ON THE E-TENDERING PORTAL
Interested parties were provided with instructions on how to register and communicate with TfL in regard to this exercise, as detailed in the Contract Notice (2024/S 000-035263).
ESTIMATED TOTAL VALUE (II.1.7 & V.2.4)
The estimated value of the framework referred to in sections II.1.7 and V.2.4 has been developed assuming LUL (including members of the TfL Group) purchases renewable energy through solar farms equating to 64MW of capacity through the framework agreement. This value may fluctuate (increase) in accordance with changes in the economics of the energy market.
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Competitive dialogue
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement with a single operator.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2024/S 000-035263
IV.2.9) Information about termination of call for competition in the form of a prior information notice
The contracting authority will not award any further contracts based on the above prior information notice
Section V: Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
23/12/2025
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 15
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 6
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 15
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
SSE Utility Solutions Limited
06894120
No. 1 Forbury Place, 43 Forbury Road,
Reading
RG1 3JH
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 175 000 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
HM High Courts and Tribunal Service
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
31/03/2026