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planningFind a Tender · planning Update

Ground Investigations Services

Buyer: SSE SERVICES PLC →

BuyerSSE SERVICES PLC
Statusplanning
DeadlineNot published
Value£30,000,000
Published19 Feb 2025

What is being bought

This Pipeline Notice is seeking Expressions of Interest from suppliers who can provide the full range of Ground Investigations (GI) Services throughout the UK and Ireland. The GI Services will inform the design of electrical assets including, but not limited to, the following: • High voltage cable installation • Onshore windfarm GI services • Overhead Line (OHL) towers • Substations SSE is currently developing a formal tender for the provision of Ground Investigations Services, which it is aiming to launch within the next 6-9 months. It is anticipated the Ground Investigations Services will be contracted under a non-committal framework(s) and will run for an initial 3-year period, with extension options available (subject to agreement by SSE). SSE is a purpose-led company involved principally in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity; and also in the supply of energy and related services to customers. SSE has a number of Business Units that include SSEN Transmission, SSEN Distribution, SSE Renewables, SSE Thermal, SSE Airtricity and SSE Corporate. This Pipeline Notice is being issued by SSE Services PLC, which covers all of SSE's Group companies in the UK and Ireland. SSEN Transmission Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Transmission (SSEN Transmission) are responsible for the electricity transmission network in the north of Scotland, maintaining and investing in the high voltage electricity transmission network. SSEN Transmission's network consists of underground and subsea cables, overhead lines on wooden poles or steel towers, and electricity substations. SSEN Distribution Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Distribution (SSEN Distribution) are the electricity Distribution Network Operator (DNO) responsible for delivering power to over 3.9 million homes and businesses across central southern England and the north of Scotland. SSE Renewables SSE Renewables is a leading developer and operator of renewable energy generation, headquartered in the UK and Ireland, with a growing presence internationally. SSE Renewables focus on onshore and offshore wind, hydro, solar and battery storage. SSE Thermal SSE Thermal is responsible for the flexible generation subsidiary of SSE plc, focusing on flexible energy generation and storage assets including carbon capture and storage (CCS), hydrogen, energy-from-waste, energy storage and gas generation. SSE Airtricity SSE Airtricity is the retail subsidiary of SSE plc, supplying green electricity, natural gas and energy-related services to homes and businesses in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. SSE Corporate SSE Corporate includes Human Resources, Corporate Affairs, Legal, Procurement and Finance. Range of Services Required SSE will require suppliers under the framework to provide a range of Ground Investigations Services as below. The specification shall be the UK Specification for Ground Investigation 3rd Edition, published by ICE Publishing. SSE requires suppliers who have the necessary resources and technical capabilities to provide the services which are anticipated, but not limited, to include the following: • General items, amenities, and additional items • Cable Percussion boring and Dynamic Sampling • Rotary drilling • Sonic Drilling • Pitting and trenching • Sampling and monitoring during intrusive investigation • Dynamic Probing and cone penetration testing • Geophysical surveys • Field testing • Instrumentation • Installation monitoring and sampling (during Fieldwork Period) • Installation monitoring and sampling (post Fieldwork Period) • Geotechnical laboratory testing • Geoenvironmental laboratory testing • Technical support from ground practitioners and other personnel • Long term storage of samples Minimum Criteria to be invited to take part in a PQQ/Tender 1. Confirmation your organisation currently provides the full range of Ground Investigations Services as listed above, across the UK and Ireland 2. Please evidence that your organisation has held similar Ground Investigations Service contracts, within the last 5 years which have informed the design of any of the following electrical assets: • High voltage cable installation • Onshore windfarm GI services • Overhead Line (OHL) towers • Substations SSE may exercise discretion from the minimum criteria where required. Please email your Expression of Interest with supporting information (total maximum word limit - 1 side of A4) to show you meet the minimum criteria to Clare Macdonald Strategic Procurement Officer at: clare.macdonald@sse.com If you have any further questions, please email them to the address above. The deadline for submission of your Expression of Interest with the supporting information is 16:00hours 25th March 2025

Delivery location

UK

Categories

Engineering services 71300000Construction work 45000000Public utilities 65000000Construction-related services 71500000Industrial site investigation 90715220

What is included

ItemCategoryQuantity
1Not publishedNot published

Comparable-procurement analytics

Benchmarked against retained Find a Tender procedures with CPV division 71. The category anchor is Engineering services (71300000); this is a deliberately broad market comparator. The comparison is shown at several levels rather than pretending one company or region is always the best benchmark.

Comparison setProceduresReported bids per procedureNamed award suppliersPrice evidence
Market: CPV division 7110,1205 median · 30 average (4,042 of 10,120 with a bid count)4.2 average (4,447 of 10,120 with named award suppliers)Not published
Same buyer1Not publishedNot publishedNot published
Delivery region: UK2,3825 median · 59.1 average (893 of 2,382 with a bid count)6.7 average (1,006 of 2,382 with named award suppliers)Not published
Similar published value (0.5×–2×)3857 median · 37.7 average (3 of 385 with a bid count)8.7 average (3 of 385 with named award suppliers)Not published

“Reported bids” is an official aggregate, sometimes reported per lot; it is the closest available competition measure. “Named award suppliers” are winners, not all applicants.

Price-outcome signal

Not enough comparable procedures currently publish both a GBP tender value and a usable lowest-valid-bid value to calculate a responsible price-reduction benchmark. Tenderline deliberately does not infer a saving from named award suppliers or from missing award values.

Procurement strategy & market signals

Framework agreementYes
Dynamic purchasing systemNo
Competitive procurementNot published
Recurring requirementNot published
Procurement method rationaleNot published
Rationale classificationsNot published
Special regimeNot published
Covered byNot published
Submission policyNot published
Selection criteriaNot published
Risk detailsNot published

Planning & early market engagement

BudgetNot published
No-engagement rationaleNot published
Planning documents0
Planning milestones0

No planning milestones published.

Related procurements

No linked framework, prior procurement or reprocurement published.

Documents & submission route

No documents are published in the current source record.

Source data inventory

Diagnostic view. “Not published” means this current release does not provide a value.

OCIDocds-h6vhtk-04e38d
Latest release ID005716-2025
Latest release timestampWed Feb 19 2025 08:45:51 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Sourcefind-a-tender
Official notice URLNot published
Tender statusplanning
Procurement methodselective
Procurement method detailsRestricted procedure
Main procurement categoryservices
Above thresholdNot published
Legal basisNot published
Tender period: start2025-06-02T00:00:00+01:00
Tender period: endNot published
Expression of interest deadlineNot published
Enquiry deadlineNot published
Award period: startNot published
Award period: endNot published
Submission method detailsNot published
Submission languagesNot published
Electronic catalogue policyNot published
Total tender value£30,000,000
Tender lots in source0
Tender items in source1
Tender documents in source0
Awards in latest release0
Contracts in latest release0
Parties in latest release1

Notice history

DateEventReference
19 Feb 2025planningUpdate005716-2025
18 Feb 2025planning005690-2025

All source data

Unmodified official OCDS data retained by Tenderline for this procurement process.

Complete current OCDS release JSON
{
  "id": "005716-2025",
  "tag": [
    "planningUpdate"
  ],
  "date": "2025-02-19T08:45:51Z",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-04e38d",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-COH-02366879",
    "name": "SSE SERVICES PLC"
  },
  "tender": {
    "id": "8776",
    "items": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "region": "UK"
          }
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      }
    ],
    "title": "Ground Investigations Services",
    "value": {
      "amount": 30000000,
      "currency": "GBP"
    },
    "status": "planning",
    "techniques": {
      "hasFrameworkAgreement": true,
      "hasDynamicPurchasingSystem": false
    },
    "description": "This Pipeline Notice is seeking Expressions of Interest from suppliers who can provide the full range of Ground Investigations (GI) Services throughout the UK and Ireland. The GI Services will inform the design of electrical assets including, but not limited to, the following:\n•\tHigh voltage cable installation \n•\tOnshore windfarm GI services\n•\tOverhead Line (OHL) towers\n•\tSubstations\n\nSSE is currently developing a formal tender for the provision of Ground Investigations Services, which it is aiming to launch within the next 6-9 months.\nIt is anticipated the Ground Investigations Services will be contracted under a non-committal framework(s) and will run for an initial 3-year period, with extension options available (subject to agreement by SSE).\n\nSSE is a purpose-led company involved principally in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity; and also in the supply of energy and related services to customers. SSE has a number of Business Units that include SSEN Transmission, SSEN Distribution, SSE Renewables, SSE Thermal, SSE Airtricity and SSE Corporate.\nThis Pipeline Notice is being issued by SSE Services PLC, which covers all of SSE's Group companies in the UK and Ireland.  \n\nSSEN Transmission\nScottish and Southern Electricity Networks Transmission (SSEN Transmission) are responsible for the electricity transmission network in the north of Scotland, maintaining and investing in the high voltage electricity transmission network. SSEN Transmission's network consists of underground and subsea cables, overhead lines on wooden poles or steel towers, and electricity substations.\nSSEN Distribution\nScottish and Southern Electricity Networks Distribution (SSEN Distribution) are the electricity Distribution Network Operator (DNO) responsible for delivering power to over 3.9 million homes and businesses across central southern England and the north of Scotland.\n\nSSE Renewables\nSSE Renewables is a leading developer and operator of renewable energy generation, headquartered in the UK and Ireland, with a growing presence internationally. SSE Renewables focus on onshore and offshore wind, hydro, solar and battery storage.\n\nSSE Thermal\nSSE Thermal is responsible for the flexible generation subsidiary of SSE plc, focusing on flexible energy generation and storage assets including carbon capture and storage (CCS), hydrogen, energy-from-waste, energy storage and gas generation.\n\nSSE Airtricity\nSSE Airtricity is the retail subsidiary of SSE plc, supplying green electricity, natural gas and energy-related services to homes and businesses in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.\n\nSSE Corporate\nSSE Corporate includes Human Resources, Corporate Affairs, Legal, Procurement and Finance.\n\nRange of Services Required\nSSE will require suppliers under the framework to provide a range of Ground Investigations Services as below.\nThe specification shall be the UK Specification for Ground Investigation 3rd Edition, published by ICE Publishing.\nSSE requires suppliers who have the necessary resources and technical capabilities to provide the services which are anticipated, but not limited, to include the following:\n\n•\tGeneral items, amenities, and additional items\n•\tCable Percussion boring and Dynamic Sampling\n•\tRotary drilling\n•\tSonic Drilling\n•\tPitting and trenching\n•\tSampling and monitoring during intrusive investigation\n•\tDynamic Probing and cone penetration testing\n•\tGeophysical surveys\n•\tField testing\n•\tInstrumentation\n•\tInstallation monitoring and sampling (during Fieldwork Period)\n•\tInstallation monitoring and sampling (post Fieldwork Period)\n•\tGeotechnical laboratory testing\n•\tGeoenvironmental laboratory testing\n•\tTechnical support from ground practitioners and other personnel\n•\tLong term storage of samples\n\n\n\n\nMinimum Criteria to be invited to take part in a PQQ/Tender\n1.\tConfirmation your organisation currently provides the full range of Ground Investigations Services as listed above, across the UK and Ireland \n2.\tPlease evidence that your organisation has held similar Ground Investigations Service contracts, within the last 5 years which have informed the design of any of the following electrical assets:\n•\tHigh voltage cable installation \n•\tOnshore windfarm GI services\n•\tOverhead Line (OHL) towers\n•\tSubstations\n\nSSE may exercise discretion from the minimum criteria where required.\n\nPlease email your Expression of Interest with supporting information (total maximum word limit - 1 side of A4) to show you meet the minimum criteria to Clare Macdonald Strategic Procurement Officer at:\n\nclare.macdonald@sse.com\n\nIf you have any further questions, please email them to the address above.\n\nThe deadline for submission of your Expression of Interest with the supporting information is 16:00hours 25th March 2025",
    "suitability": {
      "sme": true,
      "vcse": false
    },
    "tenderPeriod": {
      "startDate": "2025-06-02T00:00:00+01:00"
    },
    "classification": {
      "id": "71300000",
      "scheme": "CPV",
      "description": "Engineering services"
    },
    "contractPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2028-10-31T23:59:59Z",
      "startDate": "2025-11-03T00:00:00Z"
    },
    "procurementMethod": "selective",
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Restricted procedure",
    "additionalClassifications": [
      {
        "id": "45000000",
        "scheme": "CPV",
        "description": "Construction work"
      },
      {
        "id": "65000000",
        "scheme": "CPV",
        "description": "Public utilities"
      },
      {
        "id": "71500000",
        "scheme": "CPV",
        "description": "Construction-related services"
      },
      {
        "id": "90715220",
        "scheme": "CPV",
        "description": "Industrial site investigation"
      }
    ]
  },
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "GB-COH-02366879",
      "name": "SSE SERVICES PLC",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UK",
        "locality": "READING",
        "postalCode": "RG13JH",
        "countryCode": "GB",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "43 Forbury Road"
      },
      "details": {
        "url": "http://www.sse.com"
      },
      "identifier": {
        "id": "02366879",
        "scheme": "GB-COH"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "name": "Clare Macdonald",
        "email": "clare.macdonald@sse.com"
      }
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "initiationType": "tender",
  "previousNotice": "005690-2025"
}
Complete JSON history (2 releases)
19 Feb 2025 · 005716-2025 · planningUpdate
{
  "id": "005716-2025",
  "tag": [
    "planningUpdate"
  ],
  "date": "2025-02-19T08:45:51Z",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-04e38d",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-COH-02366879",
    "name": "SSE SERVICES PLC"
  },
  "tender": {
    "id": "8776",
    "items": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "deliveryAddresses": [
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    "title": "Ground Investigations Services",
    "value": {
      "amount": 30000000,
      "currency": "GBP"
    },
    "status": "planning",
    "techniques": {
      "hasFrameworkAgreement": true,
      "hasDynamicPurchasingSystem": false
    },
    "description": "This Pipeline Notice is seeking Expressions of Interest from suppliers who can provide the full range of Ground Investigations (GI) Services throughout the UK and Ireland. The GI Services will inform the design of electrical assets including, but not limited to, the following:\n•\tHigh voltage cable installation \n•\tOnshore windfarm GI services\n•\tOverhead Line (OHL) towers\n•\tSubstations\n\nSSE is currently developing a formal tender for the provision of Ground Investigations Services, which it is aiming to launch within the next 6-9 months.\nIt is anticipated the Ground Investigations Services will be contracted under a non-committal framework(s) and will run for an initial 3-year period, with extension options available (subject to agreement by SSE).\n\nSSE is a purpose-led company involved principally in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity; and also in the supply of energy and related services to customers. SSE has a number of Business Units that include SSEN Transmission, SSEN Distribution, SSE Renewables, SSE Thermal, SSE Airtricity and SSE Corporate.\nThis Pipeline Notice is being issued by SSE Services PLC, which covers all of SSE's Group companies in the UK and Ireland.  \n\nSSEN Transmission\nScottish and Southern Electricity Networks Transmission (SSEN Transmission) are responsible for the electricity transmission network in the north of Scotland, maintaining and investing in the high voltage electricity transmission network. SSEN Transmission's network consists of underground and subsea cables, overhead lines on wooden poles or steel towers, and electricity substations.\nSSEN Distribution\nScottish and Southern Electricity Networks Distribution (SSEN Distribution) are the electricity Distribution Network Operator (DNO) responsible for delivering power to over 3.9 million homes and businesses across central southern England and the north of Scotland.\n\nSSE Renewables\nSSE Renewables is a leading developer and operator of renewable energy generation, headquartered in the UK and Ireland, with a growing presence internationally. SSE Renewables focus on onshore and offshore wind, hydro, solar and battery storage.\n\nSSE Thermal\nSSE Thermal is responsible for the flexible generation subsidiary of SSE plc, focusing on flexible energy generation and storage assets including carbon capture and storage (CCS), hydrogen, energy-from-waste, energy storage and gas generation.\n\nSSE Airtricity\nSSE Airtricity is the retail subsidiary of SSE plc, supplying green electricity, natural gas and energy-related services to homes and businesses in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.\n\nSSE Corporate\nSSE Corporate includes Human Resources, Corporate Affairs, Legal, Procurement and Finance.\n\nRange of Services Required\nSSE will require suppliers under the framework to provide a range of Ground Investigations Services as below.\nThe specification shall be the UK Specification for Ground Investigation 3rd Edition, published by ICE Publishing.\nSSE requires suppliers who have the necessary resources and technical capabilities to provide the services which are anticipated, but not limited, to include the following:\n\n•\tGeneral items, amenities, and additional items\n•\tCable Percussion boring and Dynamic Sampling\n•\tRotary drilling\n•\tSonic Drilling\n•\tPitting and trenching\n•\tSampling and monitoring during intrusive investigation\n•\tDynamic Probing and cone penetration testing\n•\tGeophysical surveys\n•\tField testing\n•\tInstrumentation\n•\tInstallation monitoring and sampling (during Fieldwork Period)\n•\tInstallation monitoring and sampling (post Fieldwork Period)\n•\tGeotechnical laboratory testing\n•\tGeoenvironmental laboratory testing\n•\tTechnical support from ground practitioners and other personnel\n•\tLong term storage of samples\n\n\n\n\nMinimum Criteria to be invited to take part in a PQQ/Tender\n1.\tConfirmation your organisation currently provides the full range of Ground Investigations Services as listed above, across the UK and Ireland \n2.\tPlease evidence that your organisation has held similar Ground Investigations Service contracts, within the last 5 years which have informed the design of any of the following electrical assets:\n•\tHigh voltage cable installation \n•\tOnshore windfarm GI services\n•\tOverhead Line (OHL) towers\n•\tSubstations\n\nSSE may exercise discretion from the minimum criteria where required.\n\nPlease email your Expression of Interest with supporting information (total maximum word limit - 1 side of A4) to show you meet the minimum criteria to Clare Macdonald Strategic Procurement Officer at:\n\nclare.macdonald@sse.com\n\nIf you have any further questions, please email them to the address above.\n\nThe deadline for submission of your Expression of Interest with the supporting information is 16:00hours 25th March 2025",
    "suitability": {
      "sme": true,
      "vcse": false
    },
    "tenderPeriod": {
      "startDate": "2025-06-02T00:00:00+01:00"
    },
    "classification": {
      "id": "71300000",
      "scheme": "CPV",
      "description": "Engineering services"
    },
    "contractPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2028-10-31T23:59:59Z",
      "startDate": "2025-11-03T00:00:00Z"
    },
    "procurementMethod": "selective",
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Restricted procedure",
    "additionalClassifications": [
      {
        "id": "45000000",
        "scheme": "CPV",
        "description": "Construction work"
      },
      {
        "id": "65000000",
        "scheme": "CPV",
        "description": "Public utilities"
      },
      {
        "id": "71500000",
        "scheme": "CPV",
        "description": "Construction-related services"
      },
      {
        "id": "90715220",
        "scheme": "CPV",
        "description": "Industrial site investigation"
      }
    ]
  },
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    {
      "id": "GB-COH-02366879",
      "name": "SSE SERVICES PLC",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
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      "address": {
        "region": "UK",
        "locality": "READING",
        "postalCode": "RG13JH",
        "countryCode": "GB",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "43 Forbury Road"
      },
      "details": {
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      },
      "identifier": {
        "id": "02366879",
        "scheme": "GB-COH"
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    }
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}
18 Feb 2025 · 005690-2025 · planning
{
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  "date": "2025-02-18T17:07:52Z",
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        "id": "1",
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    "title": "Ground Investigations Services",
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      "hasFrameworkAgreement": true,
      "hasDynamicPurchasingSystem": false
    },
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      "startDate": "2025-06-02T00:00:00+01:00"
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    },
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      "startDate": "2025-11-03T00:00:00Z"
    },
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        "id": "71500000",
        "scheme": "CPV",
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      },
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      },
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        "id": "02366879",
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}