Electricity distribution and control apparatus

Tender description

MIL owns the Moyle Interconnector (MIC), a High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) electricity connection between Northern Ireland (NI) and Scotland. MIL now seeks to appoint Siemens Gas and Power GmbH & Co KG and Siemens Transmission and Distribution Ltd (hereafter ‘Siemens GPTD’) to upgrade various aspects of the control and protection system of MIC. MIL is publishing this transparency notice to inform economic operators of its intention to enter into a contract with Siemens GPTD pursuant to Regulation 50(1)(e) and/or 50(1)(c) of the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016. The employer's requirements will be delivered over a period of approximately 34 months expected to begin in March 2020. It involves the replacement of the controls and protection at the MIC Converter Stations, which presently use Siemens group technology installed in 2001. The contract covers the detailed design, manufacture, factory testing, installation and commissioning of the upgraded control system and related items. MIL owns the Moyle Interconnector (MIC), a High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) electricity interconnector between Northern Ireland (NI) and Scotland. Siemens plc (a subsidiary of Siemens AG) designed, constructed and commissioned the MIC using Siemens’ group proprietary technology, parts, infrastructure and components. Commissioned in 2001, the link provides 500 MW of interconnection capacity between the NI and GB electricity grids. The MIC is a critical infrastructure asset to wider NI society and also offers support to the GB grid when required. As such, MIL always seeks to maintain class-leading reliability and availability of the asset. MIC, in common with most HVDC links, is a bespoke solution, specific to its operating environment, and the services it is expected to deliver. MIL now seeks to appoint Siemens Gas and Power GmbH & Co KG and Siemens Transmission and Distribution Ltd (hereafter referred to as Siemens GPTD) to upgrade various aspects of the control and protection system of the MIC. This is the first time that the control system has been upgraded since the MIC was commissioned and represents a significant investment for MIL. Siemens GPTD are subsidiaries of Siemens AG that have responsibility for developing, servicing, upgrading and installing HVDC systems in the United Kingdom, using Siemens’ group proprietary technology. MIL is publishing this transparency notice to inform economic operators of its intention to enter into a contract with Siemens GPTD pursuant to Regulation 50(1)(e) and/or 50(1)(c) of the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016. The employer’s requirements will be delivered over a period of approximately 34 months and is expected to begin in March 2020. It involves the replacement of the control and protection system at the MIC Converter Stations, which presently use Siemens group technology commissioned in 2001. The contract covers the detailed design, manufacture, factory testing, installation and commissioning of the upgraded control system and related items. The upgraded control system will include replacements for; — pole control, — DC protection, — station control, — telecommunications, — valve base electronics, — transient fault recorders, — HMI workstations. The upgraded control system will deliver a highly robust cyber security design. It will also address the demands of the evolving ac networks in Scotland and Northern Ireland, including provision of reliable ancillary services to both grids. Some of the related items included in the contract are: the delivery of training, provision of a replica installed at the National HVDC Centre, Cumbernauld, and the provision and delivery of spare parts.