Contract notice – utilities
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Northern Ireland Electricity Networks Limited
120 Malone Road,
Belfast,
BT9 5HT
UK
Contact person: Charlotte Mercier
E-mail: Charlotte.Mercier@nienetworks.co.uk
NUTS: UKN
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.nienetworks.co.uk
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://e-sourcingni.bravosolution.co.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://e-sourcingni.bravosolution.co.uk
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
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
Reference number: CA300 (2025)
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.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
890 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
66522000
66523000
66523100
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKN
Main site or place of performance:
Northern Ireland
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).
Please refer to the suite of tender documents for information regarding the frequency/quantity of the services required.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
890 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 96
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
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.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
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
II.2.14) Additional information
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).
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions:
As specified within the PQQ and/or tender documents available from the address specified at I.3) above with the reference project CA300 (2025) -
Provision of Pension Accounting Advisory Services and management of pension liabilities, including advising the company in relation to triennial scheme funding valuations
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.4) Objective rules and criteria for participation
As specified within the PQQ and/or tender documents available from the address specified at I.3) above with the reference project CA300 (2025) -
Provision of Pension Accounting Advisory Services and management of pension liabilities, including advising the company in relation to triennial scheme funding valuations.
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
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.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
25/03/2025
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
Date:
28/04/2025
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published:
96 months
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 of Justice in Northern Ireland
Royal Courts of justice, Chichester Street
Belfast
BT1 3JY
UK
VI.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Northern Ireland Electricity Networks Limited
120 Malone Road
Belfast
BT9 5HT
UK
Internet address(es)
URL: www.nienetworks.co.uk
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
21/02/2025