Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade

Description

As stated in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise Command Paper, published by the Ministry of Defence on 25th March 2024, AWE Plc ("AWE") is modernising its infrastructure to deliver the current and next generation warheads for the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent, and to support the UK to become a world-leader in new nuclear technologies. We have two complex infrastructure programmes: 1) Future Material Campus (FMC) - focusing on the required investment to renew AWE's manufacturing and storage capability for nuclear materials and increasing capability for material recovery. 2) Future Infrastructure Programme (FIP) - focusing on delivering AWE's wider infrastructure needs in relation to new office accommodation; laboratories; testing facilities, site services, and advanced manufacturing facilities. This framework will focus on upgrading existing electrical network under the Future Infrastructure Programme. However, there is the possibility that works could also be carried out in the Future Material Campus. o Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade (EIU) - focusing on delivering AWE's wider electrical infrastructure needs across both Aldermaston and Burghfield sites in relation to new build substations, substation asset replacement, substation construction works, substation civil works, enabling works, High Voltage 11kV (HV) & Low Voltage (LV) underground cabling. AWE's strategic aspirations are: - Upgrade and modernise its electrical network infrastructure - Improve network resilience and obsolescence management - Benefit from modern standards and requirements - Reduce the cost base of new infrastructure This PIN Notice specifically relates to the support required to enable the Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade Programme (EIU). AWE is seeking interest from suppliers to take part in pre-market engagement activities regarding the establishment of a potential 10-year Framework arrangement to deliver its strategic infrastructure priorities. Our Electrical Infrastructure Programme will grow significantly over the coming years, and AWE is looking to appoint suppliers through this procurement with the capacity and capability to meet the programme's increasing demand. AWE will carry out further pre-market engagement activities with interested suppliers to investigate the current market capabilities and capacity for the programme, and to allow suppliers the opportunity to understand AWE and its ambitions in more detail. AWE intends to run a competition in the future, in advance of this we are seeking to engage with the market on the best procurement strategy to adopt. This PIN calls for interested suppliers to indicate their interest in participating in an initial request for information (henceforth 'RFI') pre-market engagement exercise. Suppliers interested in responding to the PIN will be required to successfully undergo an AWE security assessment before participation in the RFI. For the avoidance of doubt, suppliers who do not participate in the initial RFI will still be allowed to take part in subsequent market engagement and procurement activities, subject to meeting AWE's security requirements (as detailed on the Acknowledgement Proforma). This PIN relates to the potential procurement of a long-term framework for the upgrade of AWE's electrical infrastructure. Scope of the framework include, but not limited to: 1) Substation Construction Works: - Design and construction of new substations or extension of existing substations - Early Contractor Involvement - Detailed Design Services - Principal Contractor and Principal Designer under CDM Regulations 2015 2) Site Establishment: - Site prep, site facilities, temporary draining, waste management, creation of a suitable CDM compound, utility diversions 3) High Voltage Cabling: - Supply and installation of 11kV HV power cables, and associated Auxiliary cabling, Pilots and Earths 4) Low Voltage Cabling: - Supply and installation of LV power cables, and associated Feeder Pillars or building isolators 5) Substation Enabling Works: - Civil enabling works to facilitate the construction of new substations and/or extension of the existing substations, surveys and diversions 6) Electrical Works: - Electrical works required to facilitate the construction of new substations and/or extension of existing substations - Cabling, including jointing, terminations and testing. - Electrical installations - Testing and commissioning of all assets 7) Substation Civil Works: - Civil works required to facilitate the construction of new substations and/or extension of existing substations - Excavation and temporary works - Foundations The RFI will aim to test the early thinking around the Electrical Infrastructure Framework procurement as well as understand market appetite (including perceived barriers to entry faced by suppliers new to AWE) and industry views on current best practice, lessons learnt, new innovations, procurement and partnering vehicles. This will help inform the development of the procurement strategy. Additional information: Suppliers interested in participating in the RFI are required to register their interest to ElectricalInfrastructure@awe.co.uk, including in the title of their email submission "Electrical Infrastructure Framework" and reference number AWE0054. AWE shall undertake a security assessment against the information suppliers submit in the proforma. If suppliers successfully meet AWE's security requirements the RFI and a Non-Disclosure agreement (NDA) will be sent to the nominated email address provided in their proforma. In addition, the NDA will need to be signed and returned before further market engagement information is released to the supplier. If suppliers successfully meet AWE's security requirements (as detailed on the Acknowledgement Proforma), the RFI will be sent to the nominated email address provided in their proforma. For the avoidance of doubt, suppliers will not be invited to respond to the RFI if, in the sole opinion of AWE, they do not meet the necessary security requirements. We ask that suppliers register their interest in participating in the RFI by 16:00 Friday 18th October BST to allow supplier responses to be fully considered as part of our contracting model design process. However, suppliers can register interest in participating in the RFI at ANY point up to the issue of the tender notice. AWE will hold a virtual presentation to provide details to interested parties about our requirement. This will take place on MS Teams at 13:00 on Wednesday 23rd October 2024 BST and will last approximately 45 minutes. After this presentation, all attendees are invited to submit a written response to the Request for Information Questionnaire. AWE may undertake subsequent pre-market engagement activities as our sourcing strategy develops. This may be in the form of round table discussions, face-to-face meetings, webinars or further RFIs. For the avoidance of doubt, suppliers who do not participate in the initial RFI, will still be allowed to take part in subsequent pre-market engagement activities subject to meeting AWE's security requirements as detailed below. The nature of this PIN is such that AWE intends to operate restrictions within the relevant procurement legislation in order to protect essential national security interests. If an economic operator has connections with any hostile entity or foreign states which are deemed by AWE to pose a risk to the UK's national security interests or is otherwise considered not to possess the reliability necessary to exclude risks to the security of the United Kingdom, AWE reserves its right to exclude them from this exercise. In issuing this PIN and engaging with the market, AWE is not committing to conduct any procurement in relation to this programme. Equally non-participation in this Market Engagement will not be taken into account in any future procurement activities and will not preclude any organisation from submitting a tender in any future competitions.

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