Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2019-12-09
Buyer: EirGrid plc
Country: IE
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Negotiated procedure
CPV classification: 72000000 | 72212517 | 72212700: Utility software programming services | 72212781 | 72212983
Estimated value: 3800000 EUR
Submission deadline: 2020-01-10
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: Υπηρεσίες τεχνολογίας των πληροφοριών: παροχή συμβουλών, ανάπτυξη λογισμικού, Διαδίκτυο και υποστήριξη
EirGrid has a requirement for a Ramping Margin Tool to be developed and deployed in the control centres. This tool enables grid controllers to accurately schedule the Ramping Margin reserve services, thereby enabling more effective management of changing demand and generation profiles with increased wind integration. The scope of this contract will be to design and deliver a Ramping Margin Tool to be deployed in the control centres in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The tool will need to take a range of data inputs (outlined in more detail below), perform a calculation to determine the Ramping Margin requirements and input these values back into the EirGrid Market Management System (MMS). The expectation is that this tool will be a key resource to the grid controllers in the control centres and therefore will need to be available on a 24 x 7 basis. The tool will provide a significant contribution to the scheduling, dispatch, real time control and trading processes.
EirGrid has a requirement for a Ramping Margin Tool to be developed and deployed in the control centres. This tool enables Grid Controllers to accurately schedule the Ramping Margin reserve services, thereby enabling more effective management of changing demand and generation profiles with increased wind integration. The scope of this contract will be to design and deliver a Ramping Margin Tool to be deployed in the control centres in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The tool will need to take a range of data inputs (outlined in more detail below), perform a calculation to determine the Ramping Margin requirements and input these values back into the EirGrid Market Management System (MMS). The expectation is that this tool will be a key resource to the Grid Controllers in the control centres and therefore will need to be available on a 24 x 7 basis. The tool will provide a significant contribution to the scheduling, dispatch, real time control and trading processes. EirGrid envisages qualifying up to 3 candidates from this pre-qualification process, subject to the quality of responses received. The services agreement will commence on the services commencement date and will be for an initial duration of 3 years with an option to extend. Given the complexity of EirGrid system set-up, the software installed is likely to become embedded into EirGrid/SONI systems architecture. This may lead to the requirement for ongoing support. Pursuant to Article 50.F as set out in Council Directive 2014/25/EU as transposed into Irish law by the European Union (Award of Contracts by Utility Undertakings) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 286 of 2016) (the ‘Regulations’) EirGrid/SONI may extend the services agreement with the successful tenderer for up to a maximum of 20 years on an annual basis, subject always to the satisfactory performance of the supplier and EirGrid/SONI requirements.
The duration of the delivery contract will be up to project completion which will include for development, installation and integration of the tool in accordance with agreed programme.
The services agreement will commence on the services commencement date and will be for an initial duration of 3 years with an option to extend. Given the complexity of EirGrid system set-up, the software installed is likely to become embedded into EirGrid/SONI systems architecture. This may lead to the requirement for ongoing support. Pursuant to Article 50.F as set out in Council Directive 2014/25/EU as transposed into Irish law by the European Union (Award of Contracts by Utility Undertakings) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 286 of 2016) (the ‘Regulations’) EirGrid/SONI may extend the services agreement with the successful tenderer for up to a maximum of 20 years on an annual basis, subject always to the satisfactory performance of the supplier and EirGrid/SONI requirements.
1) Interested parties must register their interest on the eTenders website (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 1 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;
7) At its absolute discretion, the contracting authority may elect to terminate this procurement process or any contract awarded;
8) Please note in relation to all documents, that where reference is made to a particular standard, make, source, process, trademark, type or patent, that this is not to be regarded as a de facto requirement. In all such cases it should be understood that such indications are to be treated strictly and solely for reference purposes only, to which the words ‘or equivalent’ will always be appended;
9) Without prejudice to the principle of equal treatment, the contracting authority is not obliged to engage in a clarification process in respect of questionnaires with missing or incomplete information. Therefore, candidates are advised to ensure that they return fully completed questionnaires in order to avoid the risk of elimination from the competition.
The contracting authority will not conclude this contract to which a standstill period applies in accordance with Council Directive 2014/25/EU, until after the expiry of the standstill period which commences on the day following the date of notification on concerned candidates and tenderers. The duration of the standstill period will be 14 calendar days where notifications are sent electronically or by fax and 16 calendar days where these are sent by any other means. The statutory instrument mentioned above provides that review procedures are available in the High Court to a person who has or has had an interest in obtaining the reviewable public contract and alleges that he or she has been harmed or is at risk of being harmed by an infringement of the law in relation in this contract.

Eligibility requirements: Please see information memorandum and pre-qualification questionnaire attached to this notice.

Award value: 3800000