Official UK procurement notice
Bell 429 Component Support and Power-by-the-Hour (PBH) Programme
Authority: NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION PLC (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Authority is seeking a suitably qualified Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or authorised support provider to deliver a comprehensive helicopter component support and lifecycle management programme for its Bell 429 aircraft fleet.
The service shall provide a flight-hour-based support solution designed to maximise aircraft availability, maintain airworthiness, reduce component ownership risk, and provide predictable maintenance expenditure through a fixed hourly charging mechanism.
- How the procedure runs: National Grid intends to conduct a Competitive Flexible Procedure with a single tender submission stage. Suppliers are requested to register their interest to enable secure onboarding to National Grid's Ariba sourcing platform. Following onboarding, National Grid will issue the confidential procurement documents through Ariba, the tender documents, including the technical requirements, commercial schedules, contract documents and response templates. Suppliers will submit a complete tender through Ariba. National Grid will assess tenders against the published award criteria and assessment methodology. Tender evaluation will commence upon receipt of completed submissions. The evaluation may consist of any negotiation, dialogue, tender rounds, down-selection stages, or planned refinement of award criteria.
CPV: Repair and maintenance services of helicopters
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£2,000,000
- Economic & financial standing
Suppliers may be required to demonstrate that they have the legal and financial capacity to perform the contract. This will include demonstrating sufficient financial standing, taking account of the nature, complexity, value, duration and risk profile of the contract, and an ability to meet all applicable legal, statutory and regulatory requirements relevant to its performance. The detailed conditions of participation, supporting evidence requirements, assessment methodology and any applicable minimum thresholds will be set out in the associated tender documentation issued to suppliers.
- Technical & professional ability
Suppliers will be required to demonstrate the technical ability, relevant experience, competent resources, systems and organisational capability necessary to perform the contract. This includes meeting National Grid's applicable standard supplier requirements and all project-specific technical requirements. Detailed conditions of participation, minimum standards and evidence requirements will be provided in the associated tender documentation issued through National Grid's e-tendering platform. References to particular qualifications, accreditations or standards include permitted equivalents.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (2)
- Technical Submission: 65%
- Commercial Submission: 35%
Published award criteria (2)
- Technical Submission
- Commercial Submission
- Economic & financial standing
Suppliers may be required to demonstrate that they have the legal and financial capacity to perform the contract. This will include demonstrating sufficient financial standing, taking account of the nature, complexity, value, duration and risk profile of the contract, and an ability to meet all applicable legal, statutory and regulatory requirements relevant to its performance. The detailed conditions of participation, supporting evidence requirements, assessment methodology and any applicable minimum thresholds will be set out in the associated tender documentation issued to suppliers.
- Technical & professional ability
Suppliers will be required to demonstrate the technical ability, relevant experience, competent resources, systems and organisational capability necessary to perform the contract. This includes meeting National Grid's applicable standard supplier requirements and all project-specific technical requirements. Detailed conditions of participation, minimum standards and evidence requirements will be provided in the associated tender documentation issued through National Grid's e-tendering platform. References to particular qualifications, accreditations or standards include permitted equivalents.
- Price carries 35 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3.5 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 30 Jul 2026, 12:46 BST
- Last source update
- 6 Oct 2026, 12:08 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 15 Dec 2026
- Authority reference
WS5873177285- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-094208- Accelerated
- Qualifying planned procurement notice
- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d78aFind a Tender
- How it runs
National Grid intends to conduct a Competitive Flexible Procedure with a single tender submission stage. Suppliers are requested to register their interest to enable secure onboarding to National Grid's Ariba sourcing platform. Following onboarding, National Grid will issue the confidential procurement documents through Ariba, the tender documents, including the technical requirements, commercial schedules, contract documents and response templates.
Suppliers will submit a complete tender through Ariba.
National Grid will assess tenders against the published award criteria and assessment methodology.
Tender evaluation will commence upon receipt of completed submissions. The evaluation may consist of any negotiation, dialogue, tender rounds, down-selection stages, or planned refinement of award criteria.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 16 Oct 2026, 15:00 BST
- Submission deadline
- 16 Oct 2026, 15:00 BST
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Suppliers wishing to participate in this opportunity should complete the attached 'Expression of Interest (EOI) & SAP Ariba On-boarding Form' and return it to [email protected]
Suppliers are requested to register their interest by 16th October at 15:00 to enable Ariba onboarding and secure access to the documents.
Registration is an administrative access step and is not an evaluated stage. Suppliers that miss this date should contact National Grid promptly. Access may be facilitated where reasonably practicable before the submission deadline.
Documents will be issued in www.ariba.com ↗
Timeline
30 Jul 2026 → 1 Jan 2027 · 6 dates- Planning notice published83 days ago30 Jul 2026, 12:46 BST
- Next notice expected43 days ago8 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published15 days ago6 Oct 2026, 12:08 BST
- Submission deadline5 days ago16 Oct 2026, 15:00 BST
- Today21 Oct 2026
- Award decision expected byin 56 days15 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 72 days1 Jan 2027
Notice history
5 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 30 Jul 2026- Planned procurement notice published30 Jul 2026, 12:46 BSTUK3
- Planned procurement notice published31 Jul 2026, 11:27 BSTUK3
- Tender notice published6 Oct 2026, 12:08 BSTUK4
- Published value updated6 Oct 2026, 12:08 BST
- Status changed to active6 Oct 2026, 12:08 BST
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (6)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Planned procurement notice Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- Planned procurement notice Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender