Official UK procurement notice
HEAT NETWORK DEVELOPMENT PARTNER
Authority: Plymouth City Council (Local council)·On behalf of: BURO HAPPOLD LIMITED
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionPlymouth City Council (PCC) was seeking a Development Partner (DP) to develop and deliver a heat network(s) in the Plymouth's South Coast and Derriford areas. Initially, the DP will be responsible for design and commercialisation of the proposed heat network, up to an approval gateway. The DP will be required to meet minimum mandatory requirements for the proposed heat network, set out in the Development Agreement. If approval is granted the delivery stage will commence. The DP will use a special purpose vehicle in which Plymouth City Council will hold a "golden share"
PCC has undertaken commercialisation work in relation to an initial phase of a heat network in Plymouth's South Coast area, which identified a viable commercial scheme using a significant waste heat source (South West Water Central Plant). A number of public and private sector entities, such as the University of Plymouth, Arts University Plymouth, Devon & Cornwall Police, Plymouth City Council, National Marine Aquarium, Theatre Royal and Plymouth Community Homes are interested in being connected to the heat network to meet their Net Zero ambitions, other parties may join the scheme in future.
The Plymouth South Coast and Derriford areas have been identified through the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero's heat network zoning pilot, as being suitable for low-carbon heat networks. Exclusive rights to develop heat networks in these areas will be subject to the outcome of future Zoning Regulations.
Plymouth City Council have secured government Green Heat Network Fund grant towards the new heat network costs, including commercialisation and construction costs. The remaining development and delivery funding will be provided by the appointed Development Partner.
The contract will consist of two stages: the Development Stage culminating in an approval gateway, and subject to that approval, the Delivery Stage.
The Delivery Stage shall be subject to an evergreen (in perpetuity) Shareholders' Agreement. Therefore, the contract end dates and associated contract value below have been included for system purposes only based on the Council's best current estimate.
- How the procedure runs: Stage 1: Conditions of Participation; Stage 2: Interim Tender Response Phase (Legal and Technical Submission only) - this stage will not be evaluated, but used to inform the dialogue meetings Stage 3: Dialogue Meetings - Two dialogue meetings: 1 - Legal and Commercial elements; and 2 - Technical elements Stage 4: Final Tender Response; Stage 5: Preferred Supplier Stage Full details contained in Tender Documentation
CPV: District-heating mains construction work · Energy and related services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£3,500,000,000
- Condition of participationshortlisting
- Conditions of Participation
- Confirmation of Core Supplier Information
- Additional Exclusions Information
- Financial Capacity
- Insurance
- Technical Ability
- Data Protection
- Health and Safety
- Business Continuity
- Requirement under section 73 of the Act
- Modern Slavery Act
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 (3)
- Technical: 50%
- Commercial: 40%
- Social Value: 10%
Published award criteria (3)
- Technical: Proposed Team - 23 Development Methodology - Development Stage - 23 Delivery Methodology - Mobilisation Stage - 18 Subcontracting & Supply Chain - 16 Operations Methodology - 20 Total - 100 The sum of awarded points for Technical Award Criterion will then be converted into 50% available for this criterion. Detailed listing of all criterial and weightings is included in Tender Documentation.
- Commercial: Qualitative Commercial Sub-Criterion - 70 out of 100 Tariff & Pricing - 42 Hurdle Equity IRR (Qualitative) - 29 Deliverability of Finance - 29 Sub Total for this Sub-Criterion - 100 The sum of awarded points for Qualitative Commercial Sub-Criterion will then be converted into 70% available for this sub-criterion. Quantitative Commercial Sub-Criterion - 30 out of 100 Hurdle Equity IRR (Quantitative) - 100 Sub Total for this Sub-Criterion - 100 The sum of awarded points for Quantitative Commercial Sub-Criterion will then be converted into 30% available for this sub-criterion. Total for Commercial Criterion - 100 The sum of weightings achieved for Quantitative and Qualitative Commercial Sub-Criteria will then be converted into 40% available for this Criterion. Detailed listing of all criterial and weightings is included in Tender Documentation.
- Social Value: SV - TOMs National Procurement Calculator Sub-Criterion - 60 out of 100 Qualitative elements - 50 Quantitative elements - 50 Sub-Total for TOMs National Procurement Calculator Sub-Criterion - 100 The sum of awarded points for this sub-criterion will then be converted into 60% available for this sub-criterion. Building Resilient Communities Sub-Criterion - 40 out of 100 The sum of awarded points for this sub-criterion will then be converted into 40% available for this sub-criterion. Overall Social Value Total - 100 The sum of awarded points for TOMs National Procurement Calculator and Building Resilient Communities sub-criteria will then be converted into 10% available for Social Value criterion. Detailed listing of all criterial and weightings is included in Tender Documentation.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
- Conditions of Participation
- Confirmation of Core Supplier Information
- Additional Exclusions Information
- Financial Capacity
- Insurance
- Technical Ability
- Data Protection
- Health and Safety
- Business Continuity
- Requirement under section 73 of the Act
- Modern Slavery Act
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 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
- Works
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Concession
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 11 Mar 2025, 15:46 GMT
- Last source update
- 19 Aug 2026, 15:40 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 25 May 2026
- Authority reference
26155- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-040135- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04ebb1Find a Tender
- How it runs
Stage 1: Conditions of Participation;
Stage 2: Interim Tender Response Phase (Legal and Technical Submission only) - this stage will not be evaluated, but used to inform the dialogue meetings
Stage 3: Dialogue Meetings - Two dialogue meetings: 1 - Legal and Commercial elements; and 2 - Technical elements
Stage 4: Final Tender Response;
Stage 5: Preferred Supplier Stage
Full details contained in Tender Documentation
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 15 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline
- 15 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 8 Aug 2025, 17:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
11 Mar 2025 → 19 Aug 2026 · 11 dates- Planning notice published11 Mar 2025, 15:46 GMT
- Market engagement30 Apr 2025, 23:59 BST
The preliminary market engagement related to this project will take the form of a Bidders Day which will be held on 10th April 2025 in Commonwealth Suite, Crowne Plaza, Armada Way PLYMOUTH PL1 2HJ maps.app.goo.gl/uE5csanftaMC1zUi6 ↗
Main session:
Suppliers interest in bidding for this opportunity should complete an online registration form following the link: forms.office.com/e/ksM9Aqzdt2 ↗ .
Places are limited.
Due to venue capacity, we are forced to restrict the number of representatives to 3 per organisation. Booking of places will be on first come first serve basis.
Networking session:
There will also be an opportunity for local suppliers to attend a networking lunch (from 12.30pm) to find out how they might become involved in the project. Suppliers wishing to join the networking session should register using the following link: forms.office.com/e/fmJ66qHeDs ↗. Places are limited.
Any queries regarding the Bidders Day should be emailed to the team on: [email protected]
- Next notice expected12 May 2025, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published15 Jul 2025, 15:55 BST
- Clarification questions by8 Aug 2025, 17:00 BST
- Submission deadline15 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent174 days ago29 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST
- Standstill ends161 days ago11 May 2026, 23:59 BST
- Award decision expected by147 days ago25 May 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts124 days ago18 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published61 days ago19 Aug 2026, 15:40 BST
Notice history
8 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 11 Mar 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published11 Mar 2025, 15:46 GMTUK2
- Tender notice published15 Jul 2025, 15:55 BSTUK4
- Status changed to active15 Jul 2025, 15:55 BST
- Procurement method changed15 Jul 2025, 15:55 BST
- Contract award notice published29 Apr 2026, 15:12 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete29 Apr 2026, 15:12 BST
- Contract signature expected12 Jun 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published19 Aug 2026, 15:40 BSTUK7
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-03: 1 release · 11 Mar 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEAT NETWORKS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY NO.1 LIMITED, Vital Energi Utilities Limitedjoint award15 Jun 2026 – 31 Dec 2097Options: The contract will consist of two stages: the Development Stage culminating in an approval gateway, and subject to that approval, the Delivery Stage. The Delivery Stage shall be subject to an evergreen (in perpetuity) Shareholders' Agreement. Therefore, the contract end dates and associated contract value above have been included for system purposes only based on the Council's best current estimate. | £3,500,000,000 | 23 Apr 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 1 · HEAT NETWORKS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY NO.1 LIMITED, Vital Energi Utilities Limited
- Signed
- 28 Jul 2026
- Value
- £3,500,000,000
- Period
- 29 Jul 2026 – 29 Jul 2096
- Status
- active
- Options
- The contract will consist of two stages: the Development Stage culminating in an approval gateway, and subject to that approval, the Delivery Stage. The Delivery Stage shall be subject to an evergreen (in perpetuity) Shareholders' Agreement. Therefore, the contract end dates and associated contract value above have been included for system purposes only based on the Council's best current estimate.
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- wonVITAL ENERGI UTILITIES LIMITED · North West England
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
4 public bodies on the noticeOther public bodies
- AMBERSIDE ADVISORS LTDProcuring entitycommercial advice, commercial tender documentation, FVRAT and commercial tender evaluation
- BURGES SALMON LLPProcuring entitylegal support
- BURO HAPPOLD LIMITEDProcuring entityProject management and technical support, drafting technical reference scheme and requirements, technical tender evaluation
Bidders & participating suppliers
2 commercial parties on the notice- HEAT NETWORKS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY NO.1 LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- VITAL ENERGI UTILITIES LIMITEDAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (7)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender