C410 (2025) Low Voltage Monitoring

Tender description

NIE Networks intends to undertake a procurement process to acquire, install and manage Low Voltage (LV) monitoring devices for pole mounted and ground mounted secondary substations. LV monitoring devices will be located across NIE Networks’ infrastructure providing granular data from secondary substations to increase the visibility of low voltage distribution networks. This is critical for cost efficient LV network planning and operation in the face of rapid growth in distributed generation and flexible low carbon technologies driving more dynamic and complex power flows. LV monitors will measure voltage from busbars and current from LV feeders used to calculate other electrical features such as active, reactive, apparent power, current and voltage harmonics. These measurements will support use cases of LV monitoring data for LV network operation and LV network planning such as transformer loading and cable health assessment. Records will be periodically reported and stored in a data centre, allowing access to NIE Networks engineers for the analysis, planning and operation of the LV distribution network. NIE Networks intends to establish a framework arrangement under which it shall appoint economic operators to enter into separate framework agreements. It is anticipated that each framework agreement awarded will be for a period of five (5) years with an option, exercisable entirely at the discretion of the contracting entity and subject to the terms of the framework agreement, to extend by a further optional period of up to three (3) years, with a total potential duration of eight (8) years. NIE Networks estimates that the total spend under framework agreements could be up to £20 million over the total potential eight-year duration. This Periodic Indicative Notice is to undertake pre-market engagement only which will inform the further development of the future procurement process. Lot 1: NIE Networks wishes to engage with LV monitoring suppliers in order to gain a greater understanding of the current market for LV monitoring devices for secondary substations and explore the range of supplies and associated installation and data management services available. NIE Networks would like to invite interested LV Monitoring suppliers to pre-market engagement meetings to view and discuss options for the supply, commissioning and management of LV monitors including: 1. LV monitors for pole mounted substations 2. LV monitors for ground mounted substations 3. Characteristics of data communication, data transmission, data storage and data analytic systems 4. Installation of LV monitors Suppliers should register their interest via email to ruadhrai.okane@nienetworks.co.uk by Monday 24th June 2024 providing the names of a maximum of 3 people who will attend. Suppliers must also provide a short description of their experience in this area as NIE Networks reserves the right to shortlist attendees on the basis of direct relevant experience in this area. Should the Pre-Market Engagement Supplier Information Event be oversubscribed, NIE Networks may be required to restrict the total number of suppliers at NIE Networks’ sole discretion. It is anticipated that Pre-Market Engagement meetings with interested suppliers will take place on Tuesday 2nd and / or Wednesday 3rd July 2024 either: a) in person at NIE Networks’ Belfast offices; or b) via the Zoom video conferencing platform. Any information from these meetings may be used to assist final procurement decisions and will be included within the final procurement documents which will be made available to all participating suppliers when the future procurement process is launched. The future procurement for these requirements will be launched separately. NIE Networks intends to use Achilles UVDB to conduct the Pre-Qualification phase of the procurement process. Therefore, any interested parties will be required to be suitably registered with Achilles UVDB (www.achilles.com/uvdb/) to participate in the future procurement process. Additionally, expressing an interest in this pre-market engagement will not necessarily be a pre-requisite in respect of the future tender competition. Please note that this Periodic Indicative Notice is not a Call for Competition. Additional information: This Periodic Indicative Notice is for information only in respect of the Supplier Information Event. The future procurement process is anticipated to be launched via Achilles UVDB at a later date, currently this is anticipated to be in August / September 2024.