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Published 23 Jun 2025, 11:45 BST

Official UK procurement notice

SONI064 – DS3 System Services – Volume Capped – Gate 13

Official notice

Authority: SONI Ltd (Public body)

12 lotsServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdUtilitiesSME suitableMax 11 lots to bidMax 11 lots per supplier
Sectors: Architecture & Engineering (71) Delivery: UK
Published estimate€79,685,074total for 12 lots · €95,622,088 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 23 Jul 2025
Lots 12max 11 won per supplier · max 11 to bid
Contract term 7 moends 30 Apr 2026 · up to 30 Jun 2026 with extensions · starts 1 Oct 2025

What is being bought12 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

Following review by the Regulatory Authorities of the TSOs’ Report on Ensuring a Secure, Reliable and Efficient Power System in July 2011 the TSOs were requested by the SEM Committee to put in place a programme of work to solve the challenges associated with increased levels of penetration of variable non-synchronous renewable generation.

  • The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 1 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT.

CPV: Energy and related services

Lots and requirements (12)Procurement structure

12 lots · all with a published value · a supplier may bid for at most 11 and win at most 11 of them
Lot #1POR L1NI - Primary Operating ReserveRenewal 7 moSMEPublished value€6,640,422

Primary Operating Reserve or ‘POR’ has the meaning given to it in the grid code

Contract period: 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Apr 2026 (7 mo) · up to 30 Jun 2026 with extensionsValue: €6,640,422 exc. VAT · €7,968,509 inc. VAT
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.
Lot #2SOR L2NI - Secondary Operating ReserveRenewal 7 moSMEPublished value€6,640,422

Secondary Operating reserve or ‘SOR’ has the meaning given to it in the grid code

Contract period: 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Apr 2026 (7 mo) · up to 30 Jun 2026 with extensionsValue: €6,640,422 exc. VAT · €7,968,506 inc. VAT
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.
Lot #3TOR1 L3NI - Tertiary 1 Operating ReserveRenewal 7 moSMEPublished value€6,640,422

Tertiary 1 operating reserve or ‘TOR1’ has the meaning given to it in the grid code.

Contract period: 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Apr 2026 (7 mo) · up to 30 Jun 2026 with extensionsValue: €6,640,422 exc. VAT · €7,968,506 inc. VAT
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.
Lot #4TOR2 L4NI - Tertiary 2 Operating ReserveRenewal 7 moSMEPublished value€6,640,422

Tertiary 2 operating reserve or ‘TOR2’ has the meaning given to it in the grid code

Contract period: 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Apr 2026 (7 mo) · up to 30 Jun 2026 with extensionsValue: €6,640,422 exc. VAT · €7,968,503 inc. VAT
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.
Lot #5RRD L5NI - Replacement Reserve (De-Synchronised)Renewal 7 moSMEPublished value€6,640,422

RR (De-synchronised)’ means replacement reserve provided by the providing unit when: (i) not Synchronised to the power system in the

case of a synchronous providing unit, or

(ii) when connected to the power system and operating at a level less or equal to 0 MW in the case of an energy storage providing unit, or

(ii) when connected to the power system in the case of a demand side unit

Contract period: 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Apr 2026 (7 mo) · up to 30 Jun 2026 with extensionsValue: €6,640,422 exc. VAT · €7,968,506 inc. VAT
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: Option for each TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.
Lot #6RRS L6NI - Replacement Reserve (Synchronised)Renewal 7 moSMEPublished value€6,640,422

RR (Synchronised)’ means Replacement Reserve provided by the Providing Unit when: (i) synchronised to the power system in the case of

a synchronous providing unit, or

(ii) when connected to the power system and operating at a level greater than 0 MW in the case of an energy storage providing unit or

power park module.

II.2.5) Award criteri

Contract period: 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Apr 2026 (7 mo) · up to 30 Jun 2026 with extensionsValue: €6,640,422 exc. VAT · €7,968,506 inc. VAT
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: Option for each TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.
Lot #7SSRP L7NI - Steady State Reactive PoweRenewal 7 moSMEPublished value€6,640,422

Steady-state reactive power or ‘SSRP’ means reactive power capability (Leading) and reactive power capability

Contract period: 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Apr 2026 (7 mo) · up to 30 Jun 2026 with extensionsValue: €6,640,422 exc. VAT · €7,968,506 inc. VAT
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.
Lot #8SIR L8NI - Synchronous Inertial ResponsRenewal 7 moSMEPublished value€6,640,422

Synchronous Inertial Response (SIR) is the kinetic energy (at a Frequency of 50 Hz) of a centrally dispatched synchronous providing unit

multiplied by the SIR factor (SIRF)

Contract period: 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Apr 2026 (7 mo) · up to 30 Jun 2026 with extensionsValue: €6,640,422 exc. VAT · €7,968,506 inc. VAT
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.
Lot #9RM1 L9NI - Ramping Margin 1 HourRenewal 7 moSMEPublished value€6,640,422

Ramping Margin 1 is the increased MW Output and/or MW Reduction that a providing unit can provide to

the company within one hour of the company issuing a dispatch instruction to a service provider and that the providing unit can maintain

for a further two hours after the one hour period has elapsed. It is limited by the lowest availability in that three hour period.

Contract period: 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Apr 2026 (7 mo) · up to 30 Jun 2026 with extensionsValue: €6,640,422 exc. VAT · €7,968,506 inc. VAT
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme
Lot #10RM3 L10NI - Ramping Margin 3 HourRenewal 7 moSMEPublished value€6,640,422

Ramping Margin 3 is the increased MW Output and/or MW reduction that a providing unit can provide to the company within three hours

of the company issuing a dispatch instruction to a service provider and that the providing unit can maintain for a further 5 hours after the 3

hour period has elapsed. It is limited by the lowest availability in that 8 hour period

Contract period: 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Apr 2026 (7 mo) · up to 30 Jun 2026 with extensionsValue: €6,640,422 exc. VAT · €7,968,506 inc. VAT
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.
Lot #11RM8 L11NI - Ramping Margin 8 HouRenewal 7 moSMEPublished value€6,640,422

Ramping Margin 8 is the increased MW Output and/or MW reduction that a providing unit can provide to the company within eight hours

of the company issuing a dispatch instruction to a service provider and that the providing unit can maintain for a further 8 hours after the 8

hour period has elapsed. It is limited by the lowest availability in that 16 hour period.

Contract period: 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Apr 2026 (7 mo) · up to 30 Jun 2026 with extensionsValue: €6,640,422 exc. VAT · €7,968,506 inc. VAT
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.
Lot #12FFR L12NI - Fast Frequency ResponseRenewal 7 moSMEPublished value€6,640,432

Fast Frequency Response (FFR) is the additional MW Output or MW reduction required compared to the pre- incident MW output or MW

reduction, which is fully available from a providing unit within 2 seconds after the start of an event and sustainable up to 10 seconds after

the start of the event.

Contract period: 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Apr 2026 (7 mo) · up to 30 Jun 2026 with extensionsValue: €6,640,432 exc. VAT · €7,968,522 inc. VAT
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Open 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
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
Yes · next expected 1 Jan 2026
First published
23 Jun 2025, 11:45 BST
Last source update
23 Jun 2025, 11:45 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 25 Sept 2025
Authority reference
SONI064
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-034327
Latest notice
Tender notice (UK4)
Classification (CPV)
Energy and related services
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-055192 Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
23 Jul 2025, 12:00 BST
Clarification deadline
4 Jul 2025, 12:00 BST
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

23 Jun 2025 → 1 Oct 2025 · 5 dates
  1. Tender notice published
    23 Jun 2025, 11:45 BST
  2. Clarification questions by
    4 Jul 2025, 12:00 BST
  3. Submission deadline
    23 Jul 2025, 12:00 BST
  4. Award decision expected by391 days ago
    25 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
  5. Contract starts386 days ago
    1 Oct 2025, 00:00 BST

Notice history

1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender
  1. Tender notice published
    23 Jun 2025, 11:45 BST
    UK4

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

SONI Ltd

Contracting authorityPrivate utilityNorthern Irish devolved regulations apply GB-PPON: PPVY-9479-DHPY 12 Manse Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT6 9RTContact name, email, phone

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender