Contract award notice – utilities
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Northern Ireland Electricity Networks
120 Malone Road,
Belfast,
BT9 5HT
UK
E-mail: Charlotte.Mercier@nienetworks.co.uk
NUTS: UKN
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.nienetworks.co.uk
I.6) Main activity
Electricity
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
CA300 (2025) – Provision of Pension Accounting Advisory Services and management of pension liabilities, including advising the company in relation to triennial scheme funding valuations
II.1.2) Main CPV code
66520000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
NIE Networks wishes to enter into a Framework Agreement with one suitably qualified and
experienced organisation to provide management of pension liabilities, including advising
the company in relation to triennial scheme funding valuations. The service provider will
provide a primary point of contact for NIE Networks.
The Framework will be established for an initial period of 5 years with an option (exercisable
entirely at NIE Network’s Discretion) to extend for up to 3 further years (a maximum of 8
years).
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
890 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
66522000
66523000
66523100
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKN
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
NIE Networks wishes to enter into a Framework Agreement with one suitably qualified and experienced organisation to provide management of pension liabilities, including advising the company in relation to triennial scheme funding valuations. The service provider will provide a primary point of contact for NIE Networks.
NIE Networks have a requirement for an experienced pension advisor to provide the
following services (assignments) to the company three times in each annual period to meet International Accounting Standard 19 ‘Employee Benefits’ (IAS 19) requirements for a) annual published accounts, b) interim published accounts and c) published regulatory accounts:
• Formal terms of reference for each exercise,
• Provision of advice and methodology in relation to financial and demographic assumptions to be used in IAS19 exercises,
• Discussion with the company of approach to each exercise including assumption setting and accounting treatment of various items,
• Provision of IAS19 calculations and disclosure requirements,
• Preparation of formal reports to meet all IAS19 reporting and disclosure requirements
In addition to the pension accounting services, additional advisory services are required so that the company can meet its requirements in managing pension liabilities, including advice in relation to triennial scheme funding valuations, reviewing the investment strategy of the scheme and implementing the scheme’s long-term funding objectives.
The Framework will be established for an initial period of 5 years with an option (exercisable entirely at NIE Network’s Discretion) to extend for up to 3 further years (a maximum of 8 years).
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 30%
Price
/ Weighting:
70%
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
The Framework Agreement period is 5 (five) years with the option, exercisable exclusively by NIE Networks, to extend the Framework Agreement for up to a further 3 (three) years.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated with call for competition
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:
2025/S 000-006646
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: N/A
Contract No: CA300 (2025)
Title: CA300 (2025) Provision of Pension Accounting Advisory Services and management of pension liabilities, including advising the company in relation to triennial scheme funding valuations
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
12/12/2025
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 3
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 3
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 3
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Mercer Limited
00984275
1 Tower Place, Lower Thames Street
London
EC3R 5BU
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:
: 890 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
The Framework Agreement period is 5 (five) years with the option, exercisable exclusively by NIE Networks, to extend the Framework Agreement for up to a further 3 (three) years.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Northern Ireland Electricity Networks Limited
120 Malone Road
Belfast
BT9 5HT
UK
VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
High Court in Northern Ireland Royal Courts of Justice
Chichester Street
Belfast
BT1 3JY
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
09/01/2026