Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2016-02-13
Buyer: RTE (Réseau de Transport d'Électricité) and FAB Link Limited
Country: FR
Region: FRANCE
Contract type: Supplies
Procedure: Negotiated procedure
CPV classification: 31121110 | 31200000 | 45231400
Submission deadline: 2016-03-14
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: The FAB project is a 2 x 700MW HVDC electrical interconnector project with an operating voltage of +/- 320 kV between France and the UK, via the Channel Island of Alderney, supported by 2 partners: Réseau de Transport d'Électricité (RTE) and FAB Link Ltd. The project comprises Voltage Sourced Converter (VSC) stations (1 in UK near Exeter airport and 1 in France at Menuel and an option for a third in Alderney), and, approx 4x170km of HVDC submarine cable and approx 4x50km of HVDC land cable in France and the UK.
This contract notice is for 2 HVDC VSC converter stations, one in the UK and one in France, with the capacity to connect the converter stations with a capacity of 2 x 700MW (2 balanced monopoles) at the receiving end and an operating voltage of +/- 320 kV.
The scope includes the detail design,engineering, construction, testing, commissioning, spares provision, operational handover and warranty and maintenance of the converter stations. It also includes 400kV hybrid switch bays in the NGET Exeter substations, AC interconnecting cables between Exeter and the FAB converter station and all associated protection and control Equipment (6x5km of onshore UK HVAC cables).
RTE Réseau de Transport d'Electricité (www.rte-france.com) is responsible for developing, maintaining and operating all electricity transmission assets in France, French Territorial Waters and the French Exclusive Economic Zone, and for ensuring the secure supply of power. RTE is the owner of all transmission assets in France, including the French ends of the existing interconnectors to Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Britain. In addition to FAB, RTE is currently developing a number of other HVDC interconnectors to neighbouring countries.
FAB Link Ltd is a joint venture company incorporated in Guernsey. The purpose of the company is the development, procurement, financing, construction and operation of the UK and Alderney portion of the FAB project. It is 50 % owned by Transmission Investment LLP and 50 % owned by Alderney Renewable Energy. FAB Link has been awarded a cap and floor regime by Ofgem and will raise funds for the investment through a project finance process.
Alderney Renewable Energy (www.are.gg) is the developer of the tidal power resources on Alderney. On 13.11.2008 ARE secured a 65 year licence from The States of Alderney and the Alderney Commission for Renewable Energy. The licence provides ARE with access to Alderney's Territorial waters, an area of 48 square miles, and permits ARE to install tidal turbines and infrastructure for renewable energy systems. ARE is currently developing a 300MW project, Race Tidal.
Transmission Investment (www.transmissioninvestment.com) is a UK-based firm that specialises in the development, acquisition, financing and management of electricity transmission assets. Transmission Investment is a partner in Transmission Capital Partners (for more information see: www.transmissioncapital.com) and through this it runs five offshore wind project connections in the UK.
In the case of Joint venture/ consortium, PQQ responses will be accepted from Applicants provided that at least one entity involved in the Joint venture /consortium has registered interest before the closing date stated within the Contract Notice. All joint venture/consortium members will be required to sign non-disclosure agreements with FAB Link Ltd/ RTE prior to submitting PQQ responses and Applicants shall notify FAB Link Ltd/ RTE of the identity of all Joint venture/consortium members prior to submitting PQQ responses.
FAB Link Ltd and RTE reserve the right to ask all parties of the joint venture/consortia to be jointly and severally liable in case of attribution.
Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are prescribed within the PQQ. FAB Link Limited and RTE reserve the right to review at any given point in time.
The applicable law of the future contract will be decided before the ITT launch. The applicable law will be the French or the English Law.
Applicants or leaders of joint venture/consortia must request to participate in the pre-qualification process by email to agnes.labrousse@rte-france.com
The PQQ and subsequent ITT will be run through 1 online e-sourcing portal. An account will be created for a nominated individual and an invitation e-mail with login instructions will be issued to you when the PQQ goes live.