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National Grid hereby informs the market of an upcoming opportunity and to identify suppliers that may be able to supply the works required for the Major Projects Partnership and the Major Projects QUDM it will be called off from. This will include primarily 33 to 132kV Substation Construction, Underground Cabling and Overhead Tower Line Construction and Overhead Wood Pole Line Construction works.
ED3 (Electricity Distribution 3) refers to the next five-year electricity distribution price control period (2028-2033), set by Ofgem, which will determine how distribution network operators (DNOs) plan and invest in Britain's electricity system. It is important because it will shape the scale, pace and delivery of network upgrades needed to support growing demand, connect new generation, and enable the transition to low carbon technologies, while ensuring services remain reliable, affordable, and responsive to customer needs. Delivery will involve close collaboration with key partners, who will play a vital role in enabling investment in infrastructure, innovation and network resilience to meet the needs of customers and communities over the coming period.
Substation Construction
Works under Substation Construction comprise of the following indicative list, specific to working within a live high-voltage (primarily 33 to 132kV) distribution network substation environment, with a typical project estimated between £200,000 and £5million:
Procurement and supply chain management
Subcontractor management
Civil engineering
Protection and control systems installation, configuration and commissioning
Mechanical and electrical installation, testing and commissioning
An indicative list of work types is as follows:
New Build AIS/GIS
AIS/GIS Substation Extension
Major AIS/GIS Substation Asset Replacement Operators may be required to procure products that are to be selected from a list of suppliers that has been pre-approved by National Grid, to accept free-issue equipment and services supplied from contracts that National Grid has placed, or to accept the novation of such a contract after it has been placed by National Grid, for example:
Power transformers
Protection and Control
Gas Insulated Switchgear
Air Insulated Switchgear
Consumables
National Grid is currently looking at awarding these works to contractors on a regional basis.
Overhead Tower Line Construction
Works under Overhead Tower Line Construction comprises of the following illustrative list for Tower Overhead Line Construction works with typical project estimated between £500,000 and £20million. Scope shall include but is not limited to, the following indicative types of works (primarily 33 to 132kV):
| Lot | Title | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lot 1 | — |
Consultation & Engagement
Support the Client in the development of consultation materials as required
Attend and present at consultation events and support the preparation of consultation responses
Input into Consultation Report, liaise with Consents Integrator and engage with consultees as required
Enabling Works: Pre-construction activities required before commencing the construction of main works including highway and service diversions, ground preparation and remediation, flood mitigation works, demolition of structures, soil stripping and removal, bridge construction, obtaining (including submission and payments of fees) of relevant permits and licences and environmental mitigation works
Traffic management
Landscaping
Maintenance for agreed period of time within the planning permission and/or consent specification or as agreed with the relevant stakeholder and/or in line with Biodiversity Net Gain obligations
These works will be across all four DNO licence areas of NGED and successful contractors may be appointed nationally.
Overhead Wood Pole Line Construction
Works under Overhead Wood Pole Line Construction comprises of the following illustrative list for Wood Pole Line Construction works (primarily 33 to 132kV) with typical project estimated between £50,000 and £2million. Scope shall include but is not limited to, the following indicative types of works:
Supply or collect free issue wood poles and install to National Grid specification
Carry out all electrical works in accordance with designs for new and replacement overhead wood pole construction
Traffic management
These works will be across all four DNO licence areas of NGED and successful contractors may be appointed nationally.
Underground Cabling
Works under Underground Cabling comprise of the following illustrative list for Underground Cabling Construction works with typical project estimated between £200,000 and £10million. Scope shall include but is not limited to, the following indicative types of works (primarily 33 to 132kV):
Cable Jointing up to 132kV
Provision of jointing resources for cable system installation using client-issued materials
Jointing resources and equipment for non-client-issued jointing tasks
Procurement and supply chain management
Subcontractor management
Civil engineering associated with the works
Temporary works design for jointing techniques
Cable Pulling: Delivery of all required cable pulling installations including supply (as required) access, cable trenches, duct installation, jointing, testing, backfilling and cable installation elements
Cable Removal: Removal of existing buried HV cable equipment and any associated above ground equipment such as terminations, oil tanks or kiosks including their foundations
National Grid is currently looking at awarding these works to contractors on a regional basis.
Multi-Disciplinary Works
These works are designed to allow Contractors to offer more than one service from the above areas as a package of works and covers the requirements of all the above works
Contractors may be awarded works that covers two, three or all four of the work required in the above-described scope
These works will typically include the largest and most complex of NGED's projects
These works will be across all four DNO licence areas of NGED and successful contractors may be appointed nationally.
Scope generally applicable to all work categories
Liaison with and management of the interface with any affected landowner, statutory body or undertaker during the delivery of the works (e.g., Local Highways Authority, Network Rail, Environment Agency, Distribution Network Operators)
Coordinate with Lands Team for survey access
Assist with S172 evidence compilation and other requirements
Planning, management, delivery and reporting of all surveys required to support the project at all stages of its lifecycle, including:
Site walkover surveys to verify desktop work
Borehole, Perform soil, Intrusive surveys (e.g., foundation inspections), Existing asset and Utility surveys
Development of outline design, associated drawings and technical reporting required for inclusion within the planning and/or consent application and the construction works information
Production of design, which is in accordance with the Client's requirements, eliminates hazards as far as reasonably practicable for the whole life of the assets, facilitates a safe and efficient construction phase and gives due regard to Client's environmental and sustainability requirements
Enact the role of Principal Designer in accordance with the CDM regulations 2015 for the development and/or delivery phase and formerly appoint the Principal Designer Representative as required
Review the System Design Specification for completeness and identify any gaps
Review any design works prior to engagement to understand any limitations and restrictions to be carried forward into the subsequent design stage
Discharge relevant conditions associated with any approved planning permission and/or consent to ensure these are factored into the detailed design
Proactively engage and share design information with other design disciplines involved in the project(s) to ensure that all requirements are considered such that a robust, holistic design can be achieved
Effectively manage design change ensuring that appropriate communication channels are maintained and document/drawing version control well established
Responsible for the detailed design, including construction and maintenance design, temporary works design and detailed electrical safety design
Design management and coordination to reduce interface risk
Design and provision of all temporary and permanent access to enable the construction and maintenance of the works
Site Establishment: Establishment of construction welfare compounds for the delivery of the whole or parts of the project including supply and installation of site welfare facilities, fencing and site security, temporary connections for water, drainage, and electricity, and removal of site establishment upon project completion with reinstatement of disturbed ground
Project & Programme Management
Site management, including acting as Principal Contractor under the CDM Regulations
Deliver the works in accordance with all National Grid Management of Works procedures
Proactively manage, in line with industry best practise, all aspects of the works in terms of safety, quality, security and environmental compliance
Liaise with all affected Landowners/Grantors affected by the works
Liaise with Client site staff including operational and project delivery teams
Ensure that all site records are maintained, and that site document control is properly managed
Provision of all requirements to maintain a safe and secure site in line with National Grid policies and procedures
Temporary Works: Design, management and provision of all temporary works required for the delivery of the scope
Ensure sufficient and competent resources are deployed on the project to deliver the project in accordance with all National Grid standards and specifications
Support the Client at any technical stakeholder meetings
This Preliminary Market Engagement does not constitute a commitment by National Grid to commence a procurement or to award a contract.