Contract 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.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://service.ariba.com/Supplier.aw
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://service.ariba.com/Supplier.aw
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
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
II.1.2) Main CPV code
09330000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
II.1.4) Short description
This procurement is being 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) is seeking to appoint 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.
The arrangement will take 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.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
175 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
09000000
31712347
45111200
45111250
45112340
45251100
45261215
45262640
45311000
45317300
65300000
65400000
65500000
71313440
90711000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKI
UKJ
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This is a Call for Competition under the Utilities Contracts Regulations (2016) inviting candidates to participate in this competition process.
The high-level objectives for the Private Wire project are:
• To directly connect new-build renewable solar PV generation to LU's power network (and/or other parts of the TfL estate in due course); to be financed, designed, delivered, and operated by the successful bidder;
• To reduce TfL's operational carbon emissions, taking into account the whole life carbon emissions of the solar farm;
• To minimise carbon emissions during the development of the solar farm through to the decommissioning phase;
• To ensure social, environmental and economic sustainability are considered in the procurement of energy;
• To minimise disruption to wildlife and the local community; and
• To improve the biodiversity in the area of any solar facilities and meet the biodiversity net gain requirements as detailed in Volume 2 - Specification of the draft Invitation to Submit Outline (ISOS) tender pack.
LUL (or a member of the TfL Group) will purchase generation from the solar farm in accordance with the terms of the associated PPA at an agreed price. Any solar farm developed will be owned by the Delivery Partner, with LUL (or the relevant member of the TfL Group) to pay a unit price for the corresponding electricity.
Although LUL envisages that PPAs will take the form of newly-built solar assets, LUL may consider existing assets on a site-by-site basis.
The procurement process is being carried out under the Competitive Dialogue procedure and will consist of five (5) stages;
Stage 1: Selection Questionnaire ('SQ');
Stage 2: Invitation to Submit Outline Solution ('ISOS')
Stage 3: Invitation to Participate in Dialogue ('ITPD');
Stage 4: Dialogue; and
Stage 5: Invitation to Submit Final Tender ('ISFT').
This procurement process commences with an SQ through which a shortlist of the six (6) highest-ranking compliant and suitably qualified bidders will be generated. Further stages are described in detail in the available documentation.
Following evaluation of the ISFT stage, the highest-ranking bidder will be awarded the place on the framework agreement.
LUL reserves the right to award two (2) framework agreements pursuant to this procurement. Refer to section III.2.2 for further details on this provision.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 96
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
48 month initial term, 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 (I.3)
The following instructions explain TfL's e-tendering portal and provide guidance on how interested parties will be able to communicate with TfL in relation to this exercise.
(1) To register or to check if you are already registered to SAP Ariba, log on to https://service.ariba.com/Supplier.aw. Interested parties must read the instructions carefully before proceeding with registration. For help on using the SAP Ariba system, please refer to: https://support.ariba.com/Adapt/Ariba_Network_Supplier_Training.
(2) Once you have registered on SAP Ariba (or are already registered), you must also register on TfL's SAP Ariba system through the following link: https://s1-eu.ariba.com/Sourcing/Main/ad/selfRegistration?realm=TfL. Guidance on registering is available through the following link: here https://content.tfl.gov.uk/supplier-registration.pdf.
(3) Upon completion of steps 1 and/or 2, interested parties must inform Tufail Ahmed via email (TufailAhmed@tfl.gov.uk) with the following details:
- your organisation name as registered in SAP Ariba;
- your applicable supplier ID associated with TfL in SAP Ariba, in the form of SM Vendor ID, ERP ID, AN ID or ACM ID;
- your single point of contact registered on SAP Ariba; first name and surname;
- your email address registered with SAP Ariba; and
- your role in the organisation as registered with SAP Ariba.
Completion of these steps will enable TfL to invite interested parties to the event in SAP Ariba to gain access to the procurement documents, allowing interested bidders to submit their SQ submission via SAP Ariba by the deadline stated in IV.2.2.
Please contact Ariba_Supplier_Enablement@tfl.gov.uk in the first instance should you experience any problems with the portal for issues related to items 1 and 2 above.
Please contact TufailAhmed@tfl.gov.uk should you experience any other problems with the portal following completion of all three steps above.
ESTIMATED TOTAL VALUE (II.1.5)
The estimated value of the framework referred to in section II.1.5 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 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:
Bidders wishing to participate should access the detailed procurement documents referred to in this contract notice, decide on their interest in and capacity and capability to deliver the services, supplies and/or works which are the subject matter of this contract notice and complete and submit the SQ by the deadline date specified in section IV.2.2.
Further instructions and guidance are included in the SQ Instructions and other procurement documents.
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
The contracting authority expressly reserves the right to require a candidate to provide additional information supplementing or clarifying any of the information provided in response to the requests set out in the SQ.
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
Dormant supplier provisions
It should be noted that LUL reserves the right to award two (2) framework agreements pursuant to this procurement, one to each of the two highest ranked compliant bidders at ISFT stage: the first to the winning bidder (as selected in accordance with the procurement process outlined in the procurement documents), and the second as a 'dormant' supplier. Full details for the application of this provision are available within Volume 3 - Framework Agreement of the draft ISOS tender pack.
Where LUL awards a framework agreement to a dormant supplier, such framework agreement will take substantially the same form but will contain appropriate provisions in respect of when it will come into effect (i.e. where certain performance-based failures occur, resulting in a termination of the framework agreement with the winning bidder).
All other conditions related to the framework agreement are as stated in the procurement documents.
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.1.4) Information about reduction of the number of solutions or tenders during negotiation or dialogue
Recourse to staged procedure to gradually reduce the number of solutions to be discussed or tenders to be negotiated
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:
2023/S 000-010741
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
20/12/2024
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
Date:
02/02/2025
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: 9 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.3) Additional information
The contracting authority is a complex organisation operating both as a subsidiary of TfL which is a functional body of the Greater London Authority (GLA) under the direction of the Mayor of London and as a provider of transport services. The contract or contracts (if any) resulting from this call for competition may be awarded by and may be for the benefit of the contracting authority and/or any of TfL's subsidiaries.
Any part of the contracting authority and/or any of TfL's subsidiaries may award contracts as appropriate.
The contracting authority reserves the right to award the contract in whole or in part or not at all as a result of this call for competition.
The contracting authority shall not be liable for any costs or expenses incurred by any bidders in considering and/or responding to the procurement process.
If applicable, all discussions and meetings will be conducted in English.
Tenders and supporting documents must be priced in sterling and all payments made under the contract will be in sterling.
The contracting authority intends to use electronic means including the internet in carrying out the procurement process.
The contracting authority strongly supports and implements the GLA Group Responsible Procurement Policy. Details about the policy can be found on: https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/gla_group_responsible_procurement_policy_2021.pdf.
Further details as to the application of the Greater London Authority Group Responsible Procurement Policy to this procurement will be set out in the tender documents.
Further information on TfL may be found at www.tfl.gov.uk.
The contracting authority may interview any or all companies who express an interest in tendering for this work.
The framework agreement and call-off contract may include special conditions relating to performance, which may include economic, innovation-related, environmental, social and/or employment-related considerations.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
HM Courts and Tribunal Service
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
In accordance with the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/274), Part 5.
Please note that award decision notices (standstill letters) will be issued under Regulation 101 (and a Regulation 102 standstill period will be observed) at the completion of the ISFT stage.
This is the point at which the award decision is taken and at which the competitive procurement process concludes (but without prejudice to the dormant supplier provision as described in III.2.2).
No further standstill letters will be issued, and there will be no further standstill periods observed.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
31/10/2024