Engagement process description
The Welsh Government conducted extensive market engagement for the Bro Tathan Power Project between 2021 and 2025. This engagement involved discussions with key industry stakeholders, including:
Independent Distribution Network Operators (IDNOs)
Independent Connection Providers (ICPs)
Funders
Infrastructure Operators
Objectives of Engagement:
Test Deliverability: Assess the feasibility of the project and its implementation.
Gauge Investment Appetite: Understand the level of interest and willingness of private-sector entities to invest in the project.
Evaluate Commercial Structure: Gather feedback on the proposed Joint Venture (JV) model and its alignment with market expectations.
Key Outcomes:
Market Readiness: Strong support and readiness from stakeholders for the project.
Endorsement of JV Model: Participants favoured the formation of a single bidding consortium combining IDNO, ICP, funder, and operator capabilities.
Alignment of Expertise: The consortium structure was recognised as the most effective way to integrate technical delivery with financing and operational expertise.
This engagement has helped to shape the delivery approach and procurement strategy for the project, ensuring alignment with market expectations and maximising the potential for success.
Welsh Government is now undertaking a further phase of structured pre-procurement market engagement. This phase is intended to support the refinement of the proposed delivery, legal and commercial approach ahead of the formal procurement.
As part of this engagement, Welsh Government is inviting interested organisations to provide feedback on the proposed legal and commercial principles for the Project, as set out in further detail in the MOI. Any feedback received may be used to inform the development of the formal procurement approach.
Welsh Government also intends to offer the opportunity for meetings with interested organisations during [March and April] 2026. These meetings are intended to provide a forum for high-level discussion of the Project and the proposed approach. Participation is voluntary and will not form part of the procurement process or influence any future tender evaluation. Any documentation shared as part of the engagement process and supplier meetings will be made available via the Sell2Wales notice so that interested parties that could not make the meetings have access to the information.
Further information on how interested organisations can register their feedback in relation to the anticipated procurement approach, or request a meeting with the Welsh Government, can be found in the MOI.
Previous notices published under the PCR 2015 in connection to this opportunity are as follows:
Bro Tathan - High Voltage Power Connection
Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government
F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)
Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-016186
Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0469b6
Published 22 May 2024, 2:32pm
All interested parties are encouraged to express an interest in the forthcoming procurement by sending an email to robert.stokes@burroughs.co.uk .
Please note that organisations will not be prevented from participating in any future procurement where they do not register an interest. Any information shared by the Welsh Government during the preliminary market engagement exercise will be made available to organisations via future notice amendments.
The MOI can be found by clicking on the following link: https://www.brotathan.wales/news
*****Market Update*****
Bro Tathan Power Procurement - Market Update
The Authority is providing this update following the recent market engagement exercise that it conducted in connection with the Bro Tathan Power Procurement (the “Procurement”), as advertised via the preliminary market engagement notice that was published on the UK Find a Tender Service (FTS) and Sell2Wales platform.
Interested suppliers should note that the Authority is currently reviewing all responses that it received in the recent market engagement exercise for the Procurement and is developing further its associated tender documents.
The Authority intends to issue a further update in connection with the Procurement in due course. At this stage, it is anticipated that the Procurement will be formally launched during 2026 via the publication of a tender notice on the FTS and Sell2Wales platform.
This update is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute a formal call for competition, invitation to tender, or commitment by the Authority to commence the Procurement within any particular timeframe, or indeed at all.
Interested suppliers should monitor the Authority’s website for any future updates in relation to the Procurement (https://www.brotathan.wales/news) as well as the FTS and Sell2Wales platform.”