TfL Solar Private Wire Delivery Partner

Description

This procurement is being undertaken by Transport for London (TfL) on behalf of London Underground Limited (LUL).
The primary objective of TfL's Solar Private Wire project is to enable TfL to directly receive zero-carbon electricity from decentralised sources, reducing the carbon emissions associated with its operations. The project is primarily focused on private wire connections to new-build solar photovoltaic generation.
The contracting authority (LUL) is seeking to appoint an economic operator (a 'Delivery Partner') with whom it can work collaboratively in order to deliver solar private wire projects within reasonable proximity to the London Underground network. Opportunities may also extend to connections into the broader TfL estate.
The arrangement will take the form of a single supplier framework agreement, allowing for individual projects to be subsequently 'called-off' (i.e. negotiated and contracted for via a private/direct wire Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)).
The framework agreement will be for a duration of four (4) years, with an option to extend for up to a further four (4) years; the option to execute any extension, and the increments by which this is exercised, will be at LUL's sole discretion.
The contracting authority (and the party to the framework agreement) will be LUL. In addition to LUL, other members of the TfL Group may call-off from the framework agreement. In this case the relevant TfL entity will be the contracting entity who will be party to the PPA.
Where LUL is mentioned in this contract notice, it may also incorporate other members of the TfL Group in its meaning.
The number of PPAs that may be entered into is not fixed or limited and the anticipated length of any PPA under the framework is approximately 25 years (subject to the specific nature of site).
The activities that LUL envisages the Delivery Partner will undertake include (but are not limited to):
(a) preparing, developing and submitting a strategy that outlines potential sites upon which solar farms may be developed (including the identification of suitable sites corresponding to the land classification (i.e. greenfield, brownfield etc.)) and developing project proposals from sites identified;
(b) obtaining all relevant approvals, consents and permissions from the relevant authorities and third parties (as applicable) in relation to any site that is to be taken forward as a solar farm; and
(c) provided that certain contractual requirements are met, undertaking necessary activities in order to design, construct, operate and maintain the solar farm and related connection assets.
Additional associated services that LUL may request from the Delivery Partner include (but are not limited to):
(a) battery storage opportunities related to the installed solar arrays; and
(b) services and products related to the optimisation of generation and efficiency of the installed solar arrays.

The contracting authority is a complex organisation operating both as a subsidiary of TfL which is a functional body of the Greater London Authority (GLA) under the direction of the Mayor of London and as a provider of transport services. The contract or contracts (if any) resulting from this call for competition may be awarded by and may be for the benefit of the contracting authority and/or any of TfL's subsidiaries.
Any part of the contracting authority and/or any of TfL's subsidiaries may award contracts as appropriate.
The contracting authority reserves the right to award the contract in whole or in part or not at all as a result of this call for competition.
The contracting authority shall not be liable for any costs or expenses incurred by any bidders in considering and/or responding to the procurement process.
If applicable, all discussions and meetings will be conducted in English.
Tenders and supporting documents must be priced in sterling and all payments made under the contract will be in sterling.
The contracting authority intends to use electronic means including the internet in carrying out the procurement process.
The contracting authority strongly supports and implements the GLA Group Responsible Procurement Policy. Details about the policy can be found on: https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/gla_group_responsible_procurement_policy_2021.pdf.
Further details as to the application of the Greater London Authority Group Responsible Procurement Policy to this procurement will be set out in the tender documents.
Further information on TfL may be found at www.tfl.gov.uk.
The contracting authority may interview any or all companies who express an interest in tendering for this work.
The framework agreement and call-off contract may include special conditions relating to performance, which may include economic, innovation-related, environmental, social and/or employment-related considerations.

This is a Call for Competition under the Utilities Contracts Regulations (2016) inviting candidates to participate in this competition process.
The high-level objectives for the Private Wire project are:
• To directly connect new-build renewable solar PV generation to LU's power network (and/or other parts of the TfL estate in due course); to be financed, designed, delivered, and operated by the successful bidder;
• To reduce TfL's operational carbon emissions, taking into account the whole life carbon emissions of the solar farm;
• To minimise carbon emissions during the development of the solar farm through to the decommissioning phase;
• To ensure social, environmental and economic sustainability are considered in the procurement of energy;
• To minimise disruption to wildlife and the local community; and
• To improve the biodiversity in the area of any solar facilities and meet the biodiversity net gain requirements as detailed in Volume 2 - Specification of the draft Invitation to Submit Outline (ISOS) tender pack.
LUL (or a member of the TfL Group) will purchase generation from the solar farm in accordance with the terms of the associated PPA at an agreed price. Any solar farm developed will be owned by the Delivery Partner, with LUL (or the relevant member of the TfL Group) to pay a unit price for the corresponding electricity.
Although LUL envisages that PPAs will take the form of newly-built solar assets, LUL may consider existing assets on a site-by-site basis.
The procurement process is being carried out under the Competitive Dialogue procedure and will consist of five (5) stages;
Stage 1: Selection Questionnaire ('SQ');
Stage 2: Invitation to Submit Outline Solution ('ISOS')
Stage 3: Invitation to Participate in Dialogue ('ITPD');
Stage 4: Dialogue; and
Stage 5: Invitation to Submit Final Tender ('ISFT').
This procurement process commences with an SQ through which a shortlist of the six (6) highest-ranking compliant and suitably qualified bidders will be generated. Further stages are described in detail in the available documentation.
Following evaluation of the ISFT stage, the highest-ranking bidder will be awarded the place on the framework agreement.
LUL reserves the right to award two (2) framework agreements pursuant to this procurement. Refer to section III.2.2 for further details on this provision. Additional information: REGISTERING ON THE E-TENDERING PORTAL (I.3)
The following instructions explain TfL's e-tendering portal and provide guidance on how interested parties will be able to communicate with TfL in relation to this exercise.
(1) To register or to check if you are already registered to SAP Ariba, log on to https://service.ariba.com/Supplier.aw. Interested parties must read the instructions carefully before proceeding with registration. For help on using the SAP Ariba system, please refer to: https://support.ariba.com/Adapt/Ariba_Network_Supplier_Training.
(2) Once you have registered on SAP Ariba (or are already registered), you must also register on TfL's SAP Ariba system through the following link: https://s1-eu.ariba.com/Sourcing/Main/ad/selfRegistration?realm=TfL. Guidance on registering is available through the following link: here https://content.tfl.gov.uk/supplier-registration.pdf.
(3) Upon completion of steps 1 and/or 2, interested parties must inform Tufail Ahmed via email (TufailAhmed@tfl.gov.uk) with the following details:
- your organisation name as registered in SAP Ariba;
- your applicable supplier ID associated with TfL in SAP Ariba, in the form of SM Vendor ID, ERP ID, AN ID or ACM ID;
- your single point of contact registered on SAP Ariba; first name and surname;
- your email address registered with SAP Ariba; and
- your role in the organisation as registered with SAP Ariba.
Completion of these steps will enable TfL to invite interested parties to the event in SAP Ariba to gain access to the procurement documents, allowing interested bidders to submit their SQ submission via SAP Ariba by the deadline stated in IV.2.2.
Please contact Ariba_Supplier_Enablement@tfl.gov.uk in the first instance should you experience any problems with the portal for issues related to items 1 and 2 above.
Please contact TufailAhmed@tfl.gov.uk should you experience any other problems with the portal following completion of all three steps above.
ESTIMATED TOTAL VALUE (II.1.5)
The estimated value of the framework referred to in section II.1.5 has been developed assuming LUL (including members of the TfL Group) purchases renewable energy through solar farms equating to 64MW of capacity through the framework agreement. This value may fluctuate (increase) in accordance with changes in the economics of the energy market.

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