Official UK procurement notice
NBI Energy Centre - CHP Engines - Next Generation Infrastructure Programme
Authority: JOHN INNES CENTRE (Public body)·On behalf of: AECOM LIMITED
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThis package of works forms part of the Next Generation Infrastructure (NGI) Programme, a funded development programme looking to develop the facilities across Norwich Research Park to transform the existing capabilities of John Innes Centre (JIC) and The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL), both internally recognised centres of excellence in plant and microbial science. NGI will address the deterioration of infrastructure at JIC and TSL to create a world-class facility that will engage with its surroundings, is outward looking and promotes collaboration and innovation to supercharge JIC and TSL's ability to translate scientific knowledge into practical solutions.
As part of the NGI Programme, JIC to looking to procure, on behalf of the Norwich Bioscience Institutes (NBI), the services of a specialist supplier for the proposed design, supply, installation and ongoing service provision associated with a Combined Heat and Power system (CHP Engines) within the new NBI Energy Centre located at JIC.
This is a two stage tendering process where:
(i) At Stage One: proposed procurement for the design of the CHP engines through a pre-construction services agreement following assessment of tender returns from the market; and
(ii) At Stage Two: proposed procurement for the supply, installation and ongoing service provision through a construction contract (JCT Design and Build 2024 with client amends) and a service agreement following assessment of a tender return from the tenderer successful at Stage One.
- How the procedure runs: JIC will conduct a Competitive Flexible Procedure through a two-stage tendering process. Stage One Tenderers are required to submit tenders in response to the Invitation to Tender (ITT), addressing all items in the the gateway criteria, conditions to participation and award criteria summarised in this tender notice and further detailed in the ITT. A virtual technical briefing on the MEP design requirements will be held at 14:00 - 15:30 on 17 March 2026, which all interested Tenderers are invited to attend. A recording and responses to queries raised will be issued to interested Tenderers the next day. Details of how to attend are included in the ITT. Stage One Tender Returns will be assessed based on the following: Gateway Criteria - all tender returns will be assessed on this criteria on a pass/fail basis. Conditions to Participation - only those tender returns that satisfy the Gateway Criteria will be assessed on this criteria. Award Criteria - only those tender returns that satisfy both the Gateway Criteria and the Conditions to Participation will be assessed on this criteria. A negotiation period with the tenderer(s) who has the highest score on the award criteria will be undertaken to agree the key terms for the ongoing services arrangements in line with the JIC requirements set out in the ITT. If JIC, acting reasonably, is unable to reach any agreement on its key requirements with the highest scoring Tenderer, JIC reserves the right in its sole discretion to enter this negotiation phase with the second highest scoring Tenderer and so on to identify the most advantageous offer. JIC expects to make an award following evaluation of the tenders submitted in response to the ITT. However following completion of the evaluation of all returns and the identification of the most advantageous offer (according to the process outlined above and in the ITT), JIC reserves the right in its sole discretion to enter into dialogue with the most advantageous offer in order to refine elements of the contract, works, services and cost prior to execution of the contract. An award for Stage One will be in respect of a pre-construction services agreement for the project (PCSA). The full procedure for the Stage One tendering stage, including a timetable for any clarifications and scoring criteria, is further set out in the ITT. Stage Two The Tenderer appointed under the PCSA will, amongst other things, develop the RIBA Stage 4 design and cost for the full delivery of the project. The construction contract and service agreement may be awarded following completion of Stage Two at the sole discretion of JIC.
CPV: Construction work · Repair and maintenance services of building installations
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1No awardRenewalPublished value£11,500,000
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)
- Quality: 60%
- Commercial: 40%
Published award criteria (2)
- Quality: Capacity and Capability to deliver the design, supply and installation of the CHP Engines
- Commercial: Pricing proposals for pre-construction services and supply, installation and ongoing maintenance of CHP engines.
- 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
- Cancelled
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 18 Feb 2026, 14:05 GMT
- Last source update
- 24 Jun 2026, 16:10 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 1 Jul 2026
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-020579- Latest notice
- Transparency notice (UK5)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-065722Find a Tender
- How it runs
JIC will conduct a Competitive Flexible Procedure through a two-stage tendering process.
Stage One
Tenderers are required to submit tenders in response to the Invitation to Tender (ITT), addressing all items in the the gateway criteria, conditions to participation and award criteria summarised in this tender notice and further detailed in the ITT.
A virtual technical briefing on the MEP design requirements will be held at 14:00 - 15:30 on 17 March 2026, which all interested Tenderers are invited to attend. A recording and responses to queries raised will be issued to interested Tenderers the next day. Details of how to attend are included in the ITT.
Stage One Tender Returns will be assessed based on the following:
Gateway Criteria - all tender returns will be assessed on this criteria on a pass/fail basis.
Conditions to Participation - only those tender returns that satisfy the Gateway Criteria will be assessed on this criteria.
Award Criteria - only those tender returns that satisfy both the Gateway Criteria and the Conditions to Participation will be assessed on this criteria.
A negotiation period with the tenderer(s) who has the highest score on the award criteria will be undertaken to agree the key terms for the ongoing services arrangements in line with the JIC requirements set out in the ITT. If JIC, acting reasonably, is unable to reach any agreement on its key requirements with the highest scoring Tenderer, JIC reserves the right in its sole discretion to enter this negotiation phase with the second highest scoring Tenderer and so on to identify the most advantageous offer.
JIC expects to make an award following evaluation of the tenders submitted in response to the ITT. However following completion of the evaluation of all returns and the identification of the most advantageous offer (according to the process outlined above and in the ITT), JIC reserves the right in its sole discretion to enter into dialogue with the most advantageous offer in order to refine elements of the contract, works, services and cost prior to execution of the contract.
An award for Stage One will be in respect of a pre-construction services agreement for the project (PCSA).
The full procedure for the Stage One tendering stage, including a timetable for any clarifications and scoring criteria, is further set out in the ITT.
Stage Two
The Tenderer appointed under the PCSA will, amongst other things, develop the RIBA Stage 4 design and cost for the full delivery of the project. The construction contract and service agreement may be awarded following completion of Stage Two at the sole discretion of JIC.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 21 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 7 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
- Electronic submission
- Not allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
JIC invites interested suppliers to contact [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected] to request the Invitation to Tender (ITT) documents. The ITT provides instructions on what needs to be submitted for tender. Tender returns in compliance with the ITT instructions must be returned by email to the contacts above by 12 noon on 21 April 2026 to be considered for evaluation.
Timeline
18 Feb 2026 → 17 Jul 2026 · 8 dates- Planning notice published249 days ago18 Feb 2026, 14:05 GMT
- Market engagement233 days ago5 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
Interested suppliers are requested to contact [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected] for more information.
JIC will then be in touch to invite appropriate interested suppliers to discussions with the project team with a view to informing options for the delivery of the project. JIC would like to evaluate options and interest in bidding for the design, supply, installation, commissioning and ongoing maintenance of CHP engines.
- Tender notice published233 days ago6 Mar 2026, 16:07 GMT
- Clarification questions by201 days ago7 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline187 days ago21 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
- Latest notice published123 days ago24 Jun 2026, 16:10 BST
- Award decision expected by115 days ago1 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts100 days ago17 Jul 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
8 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 18 Feb 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published18 Feb 2026, 14:05 GMTUK2
- Tender notice published6 Mar 2026, 16:07 GMTUK4
- Published value published: £11,500,0006 Mar 2026, 16:07 GMT
- Status changed to active6 Mar 2026, 16:07 GMT
- Procurement method changed6 Mar 2026, 16:07 GMT
- Deadline published: 7 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST6 Mar 2026, 16:07 GMT
- Tender notice published19 Mar 2026, 16:38 GMTUK4
- Transparency notice published24 Jun 2026, 16:10 BSTUK5
Published amendments (1)
Following requests from interested suppliers, a two-week extension to the Tender Period has been granted and accordingly: (i) the deadline for tender queries is 12noon on 7 April 2026 (ii) deadline for tender returns is 12 noon on 21 April 2026 (ii) estimated contract start date is 17 July 2026
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
3 public bodies on the noticeOther public bodies
- AECOM LIMITEDProcess contact pointProcuring entityCost and Procurement Manager
- TURNER & TOWNSEND PROJECT MANAGEMENT LIMITEDProcuring entityProject Manager
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender 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