Public procurement notice: Contract Award Notice
Published: 2020-10-21
Buyer: EirGrid plc
Country: IE
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Negotiated procedure
CPV classification: 71314000: Energy and related services
Award criteria: Lowest price

Technical requirements: Under the requirements of European Network Codes, interconnector capacity is considered firm. The interconnector operators manage the commercial exposure associated with physical unavailability on the link. This objective is captured under the SEM NRA decision on Balance Responsibility, as set out in the ‘Interim Cross Zonal TSO Arrangements for GB-ISEM go-live’ where interconnector owners are assigned responsibility for management of imbalance charges in the event of a forced outage.
Imbalance charges will arise under a forced outage as EWIC capacity normally utilised by the market can no longer be delivered as the interconnector is unavailable.
In order to effectively manage imbalance exposure in the event of a forced outage and reduce the overall exposure to the TUoS customer it is necessary for EirGrid PLC to engage an energy trader on behalf of (EIDAC).
Under the requirements of European Network Codes, interconnector capacity is considered firm. The interconnector operators manage the commercial exposure associated with physical unavailability on the link. This objective is captured under the SEM NRA decision on Balance Responsibility, as set out in the ‘Interim Cross Zonal TSO Arrangements for GB-ISEM go-live’ where interconnector owners are assigned responsibility for management of imbalance charges in the event of a forced outage.
Imbalance charges will arise under a forced outage as EWIC capacity normally utilised by the market can no longer be delivered as the interconnector is unavailable.
In order to effectively manage imbalance exposure in the event of a forced outage and reduce the overall exposure to the TUoS customer it is necessary for EirGrid PLC to engage an energy trader on behalf of (EIDAC). The trading partner will buy and sell energy in both the Irish and GB electricity markets (carry out trading) on behalf of EIDAC to reconcile the market position of the EWIC at both ends of the link.
The scope of requirements is expected to include, but is not limited to registration (at their cost) of Balancing Mechanism Units (BMUs) in both Elexon and SEM that should have a combined Generation and Demand Capacity of at least 1030 MW (representing the full potential swing of the interconnector).
The Energy Trading Partner will then be permitted under specific notification events to combine trades in relation to the East West Interconnector with their market based trades subject to the requirement that the BMU can facilitate the size of trades required.
The scope will also require Communications between EirGrid PLC and the Trading Partner, Reporting, Credit cover and Conflict of interest mitigation.
The initial contract period envisaged is 3 years with the possibility to extend annually up to a further 2 years, subject always to the satisfactory performance of the supplier.
The estimated spend of EUR 2 million is taking into account the full duration of the contract including the possible extensions.
1) Interested parties must register their interest on the eTenders web site (www.etenders.gov.ie) in order to be included on the mailing list for clarifications. All information relating to attachments, including clarifications and changes, will be published on the Irish Government Procurement Opportunities Portal (www.etenders.gov.ie) only. Registration is free of charge. The contracting authority will not accept responsibility for information relayed (or not relayed) via third parties.
3) The contracting authority will not be responsible for any costs, charges or expenses incurred by candidates or tenderers.
5) It will be a condition of award that candidates are tax compliant and are in a position to produce a valid tax clearance certificate or eTax Clearance from the Revenue Commissioners when requested.
6) If for any reason it is not possible to award the contract one or more of the tenderers invited following the conclusion of this competitive process, the contracting authority reserves the right to award the contract to the next ranked tenderer as appropriate.