Photovoltaic Installations

Thames Water are looking for a number of partners to help us achieve our aim of reducing our reliance on electricity from the grid. We are looking for both EPC contractors to install solar systems for us and funding partners to both fund and install solar systems for us. We are interested in a range of systems from ground mount to roof mount to reservoir floating systems to innovative engineering structures as well as ancillaries that will help us use energy more effectively.

Please note that the estimated total value in II.1.5 is a broad estimate which covers both lots.

Funding, Build and Ownership of PV Installations

Whole of Thames Water Region.

This lot is aimed at companies who can finance, source and install solar installations on our sites and continue to own the installation for at least 15 years (with some earlier buyback options) through a transferable power purchase agreement and lease agreement (for the Thames Water land utilised) where Thames Water use/export all electricity generated, at the end of which, the installation ownership would transfer to Thames Water or the installation would be removed.

The scope of this lot is as follows:

1) Finalise design of the installation to maximise efficiency;

2) Source products required;

3) Install system (or use installation partners. We would not normally expect you to use suppliers under our Lot 1 as we expect you to already have established relationships with construction partners) in line with relevant industry standards, TW standards and TW approved specification;

4) Commission, operate and maintain the system for the life of our agreement;

5) Disposal or transfer of ownership.

We will pay for the installation through a price per kWh for energy generated, determined by the framework agreement commercial structure.

As part of your power purchase agreement, you will be required to achieve an agreed minimum performance ratio.

We are looking to award a number of agreements under this lot to cover all types of installations.

We will use the tender process to enable us to award a number of initial contracts under the framework agreement for specific sites, with the opportunity to enter into mini-competitions for other sites during the term of the framework agreement.

Contracts awarded under framework agreements shall be awarded based on specific criteria: value for money, delivery timescales, technical solution/capability, performance ratios and risk to TW.

Estimated value stated in II.2.6), is a broad estimate at this stage.

Any agreement awarded would be for an initial duration of 5 years, with options to extend annually up to a maximum overall term of 8 years. Power purchase agreements awarded under the framework agreement will typically be of 15-25 year length along with a lease agreement for the same term.

Funding, Build and Ownership of PV Installations

All suppliers who wish to respond to this notice must request a pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) by using the link in Section I.3) of this notice, i.e. https://www.thameswater.co.uk/procurement

Thames Water Utilities Ltd will incorporate a standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. That notification will provide full information on the award decision. The standstill period, which will be for a minimum of 10 calendar days, provides time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract is entered into.

The Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).