Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

Tender description

WECA is publishing this notice to invite pre-tender early market engagement only and this notice is not a call for competition. The South West Energy Hub is hosted by the West of England Combined Authority and supports organisations across the wider South West of England to identify, develop and implement energy projects. It has been tasked by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to deliver the Green Homes Grants (GHG) Local Authority Delivery (LAD) Phase 2. GHG was announced in the Chancellor’s Summer Economic Update in July 2020 as part of a green recovery. This GBP 2 billion programme will include GBP 1.5 billion of retrofit grants, available as vouchers directly to homeowners and landlords; and GBP 0.5 billion for fuel poor households, delivered as GHG LAD, through BEIS and the five Energy Hubs across the country. BEIS allocated a Phase 1 grant pot of GBP 200 million for immediate delivery in 2020/2021, which local authorities bid for directly to BEIS; followed by Phase 2 of GBP 300 million which will be delivered through the Energy Hubs. The SW Energy Hub has been given a regional allocation of c. GBP 52 million, to be delivered by the end of 2021. GHG LAD will help low income households improve the energy efficiency of their homes and reduce their energy bills. A low income is defined as those with a combined household income of no more than GBP 30 000. Eligible homes will be those with Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) rated E, F or G and D (up to 50 % of the SW Energy Hub area). Households in any tenure will be eligible. It is anticipated that the energy efficiency and clean heating measures installed will cost no more than GBP 10 000 per property on average (for owner occupiers). Social and private landlords will be expected to match fund at least 33 %, with grant limited to a GBP 5 000 average. The strategic objectives for GHG LAD are: • achieving net zero carbon emissions in the UK by 2050; • delivering a green recovery from Covid-19; • meeting the Fuel Poverty Target for England to raise poor quality homes to EPC Band C; • decarbonising heat. We are still in the process of finalising our approach however we recognise that we will rely on the market to ensure successful delivery. To facilitate this, we are holding a market engagement event via Zoom on the 7 January at 13.00-14.00. We are particularly interested to engage with: • delivery agents/scheme administrators; • householder engagement; • Retrofit co-ordinators; • retrofit assessors/auditors. We will issue a more detailed agenda and further guidance once the attendee list has been finalised however the aims of the event are to: • introduce the project and explain our approach in more detail; • describe the challenges; • issue a questionnaire to gather feedback to our approach and to answer any pertinent questions. If you are interested in attending the event please can you email procurement@westofengland-ca.gov.uk with your company name, attendee names and email addresses. The closing date for applications is 5 January at 17.00 — emails received after this date cannot be accepted. Please use this email purely to request attendance and not to ask any specific questions as we will unable to answer these at this time. Failure to attend this event will not preclude or disadvantage any bidder in any future procurement process. WECA is publishing this notice to invite pre-tender early market engagement only and this notice is not a call for competition. The South West Energy Hub is hosted by the West of England Combined Authority and supports organisations across the wider South West of England to identify, develop and implement energy projects. It has been tasked by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to deliver the Green Homes Grants (GHG) Local Authority Delivery (LAD) Phase 2. GHG was announced in the Chancellor’s Summer Economic Update in July 2020 as part of a green recovery. This GBP 2 billion programme will include GBP 1.5 billion of retrofit grants, available as vouchers directly to homeowners and landlords; and GBP 0.5 billion for fuel poor households, delivered as GHG LAD, through BEIS and the five Energy Hubs across the country. BEIS allocated a Phase 1 grant pot of GBP 200 million for immediate delivery in 2020/2021, which local authorities bid for directly to BEIS; followed by Phase 2 of GBP 300 million which will be delivered through the Energy Hubs. The SW Energy Hub has been given a regional allocation of c. GBP 52 million, to be delivered by the end of 2021. GHG LAD will help low income households improve the energy efficiency of their homes and reduce their energy bills. A low income is defined as those with a combined household income of no more than GBP 30 000. Eligible homes will be those with Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) rated E, F or G and D (up to 50 % of the SW Energy Hub area). Households in any tenure will be eligible. It is anticipated that the energy efficiency and clean heating measures installed will cost no more than GBP 10 000 per property on average (for owner occupiers). Social and private landlords will be expected to match fund at least 33 %, with grant limited to a GBP 5 000 average. The strategic objectives for GHG LAD are: • achieving net zero carbon emissions in the UK by 2050; • delivering a green recovery from Covid-19; • meeting the Fuel Poverty Target for England to raise poor quality homes to EPC Band C; • decarbonising heat. We are still in the process of finalising our approach however we recognise that we will rely on the market to ensure successful delivery. To facilitate this, we are holding a market engagement event via Zoom on the 7 January at 13.00-14.00. We are particularly interested to engage with: • delivery agents/scheme administrators; • householder engagement; • retrofit co-ordinators; • retrofit assessors/auditors. We will issue a more detailed agenda and further guidance once the attendee list has been finalised however the aims of the event are to: • introduce the project and explain our approach in more detail; • describe the challenges; • issue a questionnaire to gather feedback to our approach and to answer any pertinent questions. If you are interested in attending the event please can you email procurement@westofengland-ca.gov.uk with your company name, attendee names and email addresses. The closing date for applications is 5 January at 17.00 — emails received after this date cannot be accepted. Please use this email purely to request attendance and not to ask any specific questions as we will unable to answer these at this time. Failure to attend this event will not preclude or disadvantage any bidder in any future procurement process.