Public procurement notice: Contract Award Notice
Published: 2021-11-02
Buyer: EirGrid plc
Country: IE
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Competitive procedure with negotiation
CPV classification: 65300000: Electricity distribution and related services | 65400000 | 71314000: Energy and related services | 71314300: Energy-efficiency consultancy services | 71621000
Estimated value: 45500000 EUR
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: The purpose of the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) was to invite qualification applications from interested parties for the provision of consultancy advisory services, technical and economic studies, technical consulting and managed services under a multi-party supplier framework agreement. Candidates were invited to submit a qualification application for inclusion on the tender list for one or more or all of the applicable Lots in accordance with the PQQ.
Up to Three companies were appointed to Lots 1, 2 and 3 and up to four companies were appointed to Lots 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, subject to the quality of responses received.
In order to meet the electricity, decarbonisation and renewable policy objectives of the Ireland and Northern Ireland governments, significant grid development in both Ireland and Northern Ireland will be required.  There are different approaches that could be adapted to reach these policy objectives.  EirGrid requires the successful Tenderers to have Transmission Network planning and development experience to assist with the network aspects of reaching the 2030 targets and 2050 targets in the following areas:
The framework agreement period is be for an initial duration of five years with the option to extend one or more Lots annually for up to an additional three years, subject always to the satisfactory performance of the members.
The estimated spend of EUR 2,500,000 is taking into account the full duration of the contract including the possible extensions.
In order to achieve the 2030 renewable generation policy ambitions, EirGrid is developing a programme of work which will enable us to enhance our system operations capability out to 2030. This all-island programme of work is currently called Operational Pathways to 2030 and it will build upon the pioneering programme of activity that was carried out as part of EirGrid and SONI’s “Delivering a Secure Sustainable Electricity System (DS3)” Programme previously established in 2011.
In that context, the key objectives of the all island Operational Pathways to 2030 Programme are as follows:
•	Increase the amount of non-synchronous renewable generation on the Irish and Northern Irish power system in a safe and secure manner;
•	Identify the technical scarcities that make the 95%+ SNSP target challenging to achieve, and provide incentives for the industry to invest in developing new technologies to address these;
•	Increase the instantaneous amount of non-synchronous renewable generation that can be accommodated on the power system to 95%+ SNSP on an enduring basis;
•	Develop and implement operational policies and tools in the control centres to ensure the new technologies are utilised effectively
The ultimate measure of achievement for the programme will be the ability of EirGrid and SONI to operate the power system of Ireland and Northern Ireland in a way that enables the government ambitions and targets of 70%+ of electricity being met by renewable energy sources by 2030.
It is envisaged that successful Tenderers will be required to complete some or all of the following over the course of the framework:
o	Develop or assist with development of future operational strategies and approaches for a power system with high levels of variable non-synchronous renewables
The framework agreement period is be for an initial duration of five years with the option to extend one or more Lots annually for up to an additional three years, subject always to the satisfactory performance of the members.


Winner: CESI S.p.A.
Award value: 45500000
Number of bids: 6