Published date: 21 November 2017

This notice was replaced on 23 March 2018

This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:

Awarded contract (published 23 March 2018)

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Contract summary

Industry

  • Natural gas - 09123000

  • Hydrogen - 24111600

  • Energy and related services - 71314000

    • Research and development services and related consultancy services - 73000000

    • Market research services - 79310000

Location of contract

SW1H 0ET

Value of contract

£50,000 to £80,000

Procurement reference

TRN 1391/11/2017

Published date

21 November 2017

Closing date

19 December 2017

Contract start date

15 January 2018

Contract end date

20 April 2018

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (below threshold)

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

This procedure can be used for procurements below the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

BEIS wishes to commission a research project to understand the logistical requirements associated with transitioning UK domestic properties from natural gas to hydrogen, specifically from the meter and downstream, including the associated costs, timescales and related trade-offs.


Heat refers to any energy that is used, or might be used, for the purposes of heating or cooling in buildings, including cooking, providing hot water and in industrial processes. The Climate Change Act places a statutory obligation on the UK Government to make an 80% reduction in 1990 greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Achieving nearly zero carbon heating continues to be identified by government analysis as an important feature of any lowest cost pathway to 2050. Heat currently accounts for ~48% of UK energy consumption and approximately one third of our greenhouse gas emissions. Almost 70% of our heat is currently generated by natural gas. 85% of households are connected to the gas grid. The Clean Growth Strategy, published in October 2017, outlines the challenges and opportunities involved in decarbonising heat in buildings and industry. It sets out that there are a range of low carbon heating technologies with the potential to support the scale of change needed. At present, it is not clear which approach will work best at scale and offer the most cost-effective, long term answer.

Converting the gas grid to hydrogen is one potential option for decarbonising the UK's heat.

This project will seek to understand the logistical requirements, costs, and timescales associated with transitioning UK domestic properties from natural gas to hydrogen, specifically from the meter and downstream, including the trade-offs which will impact on those costs and timescales.

"Logistical requirements" will include (but not necessarily limited to):
- Planning for the works/surveying the home
- The training and qualification of engineers to complete the works
- Arranging for access to homes as required to complete the works
- Stopping the flow of gas to the home
- Purging the in-home gas and heating system
- Checking that the pipes downstream of the meter are safe and carrying out any necessary remedial works . (The checks referred to here are regarding standard safety checks such as inspecting pipes for leaks and ensuring safe connection to appliances etc. Checks relating specifically to the safe transportation of hydrogen will be out of scope of this project.)
- Provision of kit (meters/sensors)
- Provision of and installation of gas appliances (on a like-for-like basis - it is to be assumed that hydrogen appliances will be available) and ancillary works
- Testing the kit and appliances
- Testing the heating and gas system
- Education (ensuring occupiers understand how to use the equipment safely).
For the purposes of this project it should be assumed that hydrogen infrastructure is in place upstream of the meter.
More details can be found in the attached ITT

More information

Attachments

Additional text

How to Apply:

If you wish to take part in this procurement please see the attached Tender documents attached to this Notice and send your completed proposal to jenna.owen@beis.gov.uk
Any late submissions will not be considered. BEIS reserves the right to halt the procurement process and to not award a contract. BEIS will not be held liable for recovery of costs from unsuccessful bids if a contract is not awarded. All costs will be borne by the bidding organisations. If a contract is created it will be upon BEIS Standard Terms and Conditions or the Short Form Terms and Conditions, which are available on Contracts Finder with this notice. The completed tender submission must be emailed to jenna.owen@beis.gov.uk before the deadline of 16:00 Tues 19th December 2017. After reviewing and evaluating the written proposals, BEIS may decide to hold bid clarification meetings with suppliers. If successful and upon contract signature, the supplier is expected to attend a kick-off meeting taking place on week commencing 15th January 2018. Project completion is required by 20 April 2018.

About the buyer

Contact name

Jenna Owen

Address

1 Victoria Street
Level 6, Abbey 2/Victoria 1
London
SW1H 0ET
England

Telephone

0300 068 5285

Email

jenna.owen@beis.gov.uk