Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS): Shadow Training Provider Brief

Tender description

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) wishes to establish a contract for services to develop, accredit and deliver a suite of training courses underpinning the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS). Upcoming regulation is due to mandate certain technical requirements for heat networks, under HNTAS. These requirements are set to span across several elements of a network (i.e. energy centre, district distribution network, communal distribution network, thermal substation, and consumer connection), and also apply temporally across a range of stages within a network’s lifecycle (i.e. feasibility, design, commissioning and operation and maintenance). The introduction of these requirements is due to apply to both new build and existing networks, and introduce the need for the vast majority of existing networks to undertake works to meet performance and reliability thresholds. As such, we know that there will be increased demand for existing heat network skills, as well as an emergent demand for new roles that will be introduced by regulation. Most of the new roles (e.g. HNTAS assessors, HNTAS coordinators, etc) will result from the new regulatory obligations to track the compliance of networks with technical standards through HNTAS. DESNZ are now issuing this market engagement document to suppliers outlining their proposed requirements, for the purpose of gaining understanding of the supplier’s appetite to undertake the work. This market engagement exercise is not a mechanism to shortlist potential bidders; its purpose is simply to gain an understanding of market interest on DESNZ requirements. Through this market engagement exercise, DESNZ will assess suppliers’ appetite to undertake this work and provide any clarification questions that suppliers might have at this stage. We are looking for a supplier, or consortium of suppliers, with experience of accrediting and delivering heat network training.