Official UK procurement notice
Project Shared - Alpha Phase
Authority: UK POWER NETWORKS (OPERATIONS) LIMITED
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionUK Power Networks (Operations) Limited intends to enter into a collaboration with The First Element Group Limited and Frazer‑Nash Consultancy Limited for the delivery of the Alpha Phase of Project SHARED, funded under Ofgem's Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF).
The project aims to evaluate whether hydrogen-based resilience solutions can provide a cost‑effective alternative to traditional reinforcement in rural areas where electricity supply interruptions are prevalent. The work involves identifying viable hydrogen technologies, developing engineering concepts, undertaking network simulations, assessing stakeholder needs, and producing evidence to support potential future demonstrations. Services will be delivered collaboratively by the three Project Partners, each responsible for specific work packages defined in the Project Plan. Work will be carried out through workshops, design activities, laboratory testing, engineering analysis, stakeholder engagement, and preparation of formal reports. Each partner will appoint a project manager and participate in monthly reporting, joint reviews, and progress meetings.
The total estimated value of the Alpha Phase is
£562,562, comprising:
- UK Power Networks (Operations) Limited: £122,330 total costs
- The First Element Group Limited: £155,700 total
costs
- Frazer‑Nash Consultancy Limited: £284,532 total
costs
Ofgem SIF funding sought amounts to £499,526, with the remaining £63,036 provided as partner contributions in accordance with the funding rules.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedProcedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 4 Mar 2026, 13:23 GMT
- Last source update
- 16 Mar 2026, 16:53 GMT
- Authority reference
CW17327- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-023733- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Delivery area
- Not published
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-066206Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Prototypes Development
- Published justification
Prototypes and development
The following conditions under Schedule 5 of PA23 apply:
Paragraph 2(C) - other research, experiment, study or development
This phase involves a research study aimed at developing technology in collaboration with partners. It is not expected to generate monetary value.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- —
Timeline
16 Mar 2026 → 26 Mar 2026 · 2 dates- Notice published219 days ago16 Mar 2026, 16:53 GMT
- Standstill ends209 days ago26 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
Notice history
3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 4 Mar 2026- Transparency notice published4 Mar 2026, 13:23 GMTUK5
- Contract award notice published16 Mar 2026, 16:53 GMTUK6
- Contract signature expected27 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frazer-Nash Consultancy Limited, THE FIRST ELEMENT GROUP LTDjoint award27 Mar 2026 – 27 Dec 2026 | £562,562 | 2 Mar 2026standstill to 26 Mar 2026 | Standstill |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
2 commercial parties on the notice- FRAZER-NASH CONSULTANCY LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- THE FIRST ELEMENT GROUP LTDAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender