Official UK procurement notice
East Coast Hydrogen Specialist Services Framework Lot 6
Authority: NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED (Public body)
What is being bought6 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionNorthern Gas Networks Limited (NGN) has established a framework agreement for the provision of specialist Design Validation and Assurance services in support of the East Coast Hydrogen (ECH) programme. The ECH project is a major infrastructure initiative to develop a hydrogen transmission and distribution network across the North East of England, supporting the transition to a low-carbon energy system and the UK's net zero targets.
This Contract Award Notice relates solely to Lot 6 - Design Validation & Assurance. This lot provides independent technical assurance of engineering design outputs across the lifecycle of the ECH programme, including the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED), Development Expenditure (DEVEX), and subsequent phases.
Services delivered under Lot 6 include, but are not limited to: independent validation of design compliance with applicable regulatory, safety, and technical standards; review and assurance of engineering design outputs including network architecture, pipeline systems, above-ground installations, and control systems; and verification of safety integrity, hazard studies, and risk mitigation measures.
The appointed supplier(s) will provide structured assurance through stage-gated reviews, ensuring traceability from requirements through to design outputs, and confirming that designs are safe, compliant, and aligned with best practice. This includes assessment of constructability, operability, maintainability, and interface management across the project.
Deliverables include assurance reports, validation statements, and the identification and tracking of corrective actions, providing confidence that the design is fit for purpose and ready to progress to detailed design and construction.
The framework enables NGN to award call-off contracts for independent design assurance services, supporting the safe, compliant, and effective delivery of the ECH programme.
- How the procedure runs: This procurement will follow the following process: - Tender notice issued (this notice) for at least 30 days - Interested suppliers to contact NGN and be invited to Conditions of Participation via Market Dojo (Pass/Fail) Suppliers who Pass the Conditions of Participation will be invited to PQQ - PQQ end date 30th January 2026 - PQQ responses evaluated Suppliers who score over 60% at Stage 1 of the PQQ will progress to Stage 2 of the PQQ (Project Specific questions). In Lots 1, 2, 4, & 5, a maximum of 6 bidders in each Lot will progress through to RFP which will be decided by a ranking of the top highest scorers. In Lots 3 & 6, a maximum of 8 bidders in each Lot will progress through to RFP which will also be decided by a ranking of the top highest scorers. - RFP live for at least 25 days - RFP responses will be assessed in two stages. The first stage will assess technical competence and resources where a threshold score will need to be achieved to progress into Stage 2. The second stage will assess commercials. The overall score will be calculated by adding the scores in both Stages with the highest score being successful. - Best and Final Offer or supplementary stages requested where applicable (all these will be notified of before tender submission deadline) - Final evaluations completed - Suppliers notified of the outcome Full details are made available in the tender scope. If supplementary stages are required throughout the process, or stages noted in the strategy defined above are no longer required, it is at NGN's discretion to include or remove stages. It is at the discretion of NGN to change the weightings/criteria or add additional sub criteria/weightings to the PQQ or RFP if there is a need to do so before the submission deadline of the relevant stage. Any changes to the evaluation criteria will be communicated to all Bidders
CPV: Architectural and related services · Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services · Architectural, engineering and planning services · Construction consultancy services · Construction management services · Professional services for the gas industry
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Framework period
- 3 yrs · up to 10 yrs from 1 Jun 2026
Published description of the framework
Lot 1,2,4,5 - Total 2 suppliers -
LOT 6 - Total 3 suppliers.
All of these operate by Primary & Secondary Suppliers:
Call off contracts under the framework will be negotiated with the Primary Supplier. If agreement on the price for the work cannot be reached, or the Primary Supplier cannot meet the required timelines, or where the Primary Supplier performed poorly on a previous work package, then the Secondary Supplier will have the opportunity to bid for the work. NGN also reserves the right to undertake a mini tender to award work packages under the framework.
LOT 3 - Total 4 Suppliers
Mini Tenders / Direct Award:
Call off contracts under the framework will be awarded via mini tenders and the most advantageous tender will be chosen to deliver the work. NGN also reserves the right to direct award work packages through single negotiation with one Supplier.
Lots and requirements (6)Procurement structure
6 lots · all with a published valueEvery one of these 6 lots carries the same published figure, £1,600,000: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.
Lot #1Project Management OfficeAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
All suppliers who request to participate will be invited to complete the Conditions of Participation questionnaire
Lot #2Strategic Advisory ServicesAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
Lot #3Hydrogen Market FrameworkAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
Lot #4Economic and Financial ModellingAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
Lot #5Construction Advisory ServicesAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
Lot #6Design Validation & AssuranceAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
- “East Coast Hydrogen Specialist Services Framework Lot 6” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 15 Dec 2025, 15:40 GMT
- Last source update
- 27 May 2026, 14:50 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 1 Jun 2026
- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-083006- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f5fdFind a Tender
- How it runs
This procurement will follow the following process:
- Tender notice issued (this notice) for at least 30 days
- Interested suppliers to contact NGN and be invited
to Conditions of Participation via Market Dojo (Pass/Fail)
Suppliers who Pass the Conditions of Participation will be invited to PQQ
- PQQ end date 30th January 2026
- PQQ responses evaluated
Suppliers who score over 60% at Stage 1 of the PQQ will progress to Stage 2 of the PQQ (Project Specific questions).
In Lots 1, 2, 4, & 5, a maximum of 6 bidders in each Lot will progress through to RFP which will be decided by a ranking of the top highest scorers.
In Lots 3 & 6, a maximum of 8 bidders in each Lot will progress through to RFP which will also be decided by a ranking of the top highest scorers.
- RFP live for at least 25 days
- RFP responses will be assessed in two stages. The first stage will assess technical competence and resources where a threshold score will need to be achieved to progress into Stage 2. The second stage will assess commercials. The overall score will be
calculated by adding the scores in both Stages with the highest score being successful.
- Best and Final Offer or supplementary stages requested where applicable (all these will be notified of before tender submission deadline)
- Final evaluations completed
- Suppliers notified of the outcome
Full details are made available in the tender scope.
If supplementary stages are required throughout the process, or stages noted in the strategy defined above are no longer required, it is at NGN's discretion to include or remove stages.
It is at the discretion of NGN to change the weightings/criteria or add additional sub criteria/weightings to the PQQ or RFP if there is a need to do so before the submission deadline of the relevant stage.
Any changes to the evaluation criteria will be communicated
to all Bidders
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 23 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Appointment period ends
- 23 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
The aim of this Tender Notice is to:
- Ensure we provide bidders with adequate information to determine if they wish to proceed with this tender event.
- Provide NGN with a more detailed understanding of the interest within the market.
The Tender Notice process is the first stage of multistage procurement process. All interested suppliers must follow the below steps in order to proceed with the conditions of participation and PQQ stages of this procurement event:
Sign up or Sign in to NGNs Tendering Portal - Market Dojo. Follow this link to do so:
secure.marketdojo.com/signup ↗
When you have logged in to your dashboard, you'll need to click the 'Show all or enter invite code' button under the Event Invitations section.
You'll need to enter this code: E8BABAF8D7
It will then notify NGN to approve you onto the tender event. Once approved you will be given access to the event, where you'll be taken to the Conditions of Participation stage, this stage is a pass/fail and will be locked until after the PQQ submission deadline. Any supplier who fails this stage will automatically be withdrawn from the process and will not gain access to the PQQ. All suppliers who pass this stage will be automatically taken to
the PQQ where they will be given a deadline and detail to complete.
Once the PQQ has been evaluated by NGNs internal evaluation team all those who meet the criteria will be sent to the RFP stage where NGN will assess against award criteria.
Timeline
15 Dec 2025 → 1 Jun 2026 · 6 dates- Tender notice published316 days ago15 Dec 2025, 15:40 GMT
- Admission / appointment period ends277 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown23 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Assessment summaries sent154 days ago27 May 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published153 days ago27 May 2026, 14:50 BST
- Contract starts149 days ago1 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
- Award decision expected by148 days ago1 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
Notice history
10 events · 6 releases on Find a Tender · since 15 Dec 2025- Tender notice published15 Dec 2025, 15:40 GMTUK4
- Tender notice published16 Dec 2025, 14:27 GMTUK4
- Contract award notice published19 May 2026, 06:44 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete19 May 2026, 06:44 BST
- Contract award notice published19 May 2026, 19:17 BSTUK6
- Contract award notice published22 May 2026, 15:18 BSTUK6
- Contract award notice published27 May 2026, 14:50 BSTUK6
- Contract signature expected1 Jun 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract signature expected4 Jun 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract signature expected8 Jun 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Published amendments (1)
The notice has been updated to include the Market Dojo invite code - E8BABAF8D7
Routine re-releases (6)
- 2026-05: 1 release · 19 May 2026
- 2025-12: 2 releases · 15 Dec 2025, 16 Dec 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast£1,600,000 inc. VAT is the framework's published maximum, restated by the publisher on 4 award rows. It is one ceiling, not 4 separate sums, and no share per lot is published; those rows read “ceiling above”.
| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · Project Management Office1 award | |||
| Baringa Partners, ChandlerKBSSME, GLEEDS LLP, Turner & Townsend Infrastructure LtdSpecialist Services LOT 1 - Project Management Office1 Jun 2026 – 31 May 2029 · up to 31 May 2036Extensions: Extensions may be exercised in whole or in part and will be confirmed in writing prior to the expiry of the initial term or any subsequent extension period. Breakdown of Extensions: Initial term: 3 years (1 June 2026 to 31 May 2029) Extension Period 1: 12 months (to 31 May 2030) Extension Period 2: 12 months (to 31 May 2031) Extension Period 3: 12 months (to 31 May 2032) Extension Period 4: 12 months (to 31 May 2033) Extension Period 5: 12 months (to 31 May 2034) Extension Period 6: 12 months (to 31 May 2035) Extension Period 7: 12 months (to 31 May 2036) | £16,000,000 inc. VAT | 15 May 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 2 · Strategic Advisory Services1 award | |||
| Baringa Partners, Guidehouse Europe Limited, KPMG, OVE ARUP & PARTNERS LIMITEDEast Coast Hydrogen Specialist Services Framework Lot 21 Jun 2026 – 31 May 2029 · up to 31 May 2036Extensions: Breakdown of Extensions: Initial term: 3 years (1 June 2026 to 31 May 2029) Extension Period 1: 12 months (to 31 May 2030) Extension Period 2: 12 months (to 31 May 2031) Extension Period 3: 12 months (to 31 May 2032) Extension Period 4: 12 months (to 31 May 2033) Extension Period 5: 12 months (to 31 May 2034) Extension Period 6: 12 months (to 31 May 2035) Extension Period 7: 12 months (to 31 May 2036) | ceiling above | 19 May 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 3 · Hydrogen Market Framework1 award | |||
| Baringa Partners, DNV UK LimitedVCSE, ELLWOODS LIMITED, Guidehouse Europe Limited, OVE ARUP & PARTNERS LIMITED, RINA tech Uk limitedEast Coast Hydrogen Specialist Services Framework Lot 38 Jun 2026 – 31 May 2029 | ceiling above | 22 May 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 4 · Economic and Financial Modelling1 award | |||
| Baringa Partners, Guidehouse Europe Limited, KPMG, OVE ARUP & PARTNERS LIMITEDEast Coast Hydrogen Specialist Services Framework Lot 48 Jun 2026 – 31 May 2029 · up to 31 May 2036Extensions: Extensions may be exercised in whole or in part and will be confirmed in writing prior to the expiry of the initial term or any subsequent extension period. Breakdown of Extensions: Initial term: 3 years (1 June 2026 to 31 May 2029) Extension Period 1: 12 months (to 31 May 2030) Extension Period 2: 12 months (to 31 May 2031) Extension Period 3: 12 months (to 31 May 2032) Extension Period 4: 12 months (to 31 May 2033) Extension Period 5: 12 months (to 31 May 2034) Extension Period 6: 12 months (to 31 May 2035) Extension Period 7: 12 months (to 31 May 2036) | ceiling above | 22 May 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 5 · Construction Advisory Services1 award | |||
| supplier not published | — | 2 Mar 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 6 · Design Validation & Assurance1 award | |||
| OVE ARUP & PARTNERS LIMITED, Penspen Limited, QEMS Limited, RINA tech Uk limited, WITTEVEEN+BOS UK LIMITED, idverde Ltd8 Jun 2026 – 31 May 2029 · up to 31 May 2036Extensions: Extensions may be exercised in whole or in part and will be confirmed in writing prior to the expiry of the initial term or any subsequent extension period. Breakdown of Extensions: Initial term: 3 years (1 June 2026 to 31 May 2029) Extension Period 1: 12 months (to 31 May 2030) Extension Period 2: 12 months (to 31 May 2031) Extension Period 3: 12 months (to 31 May 2032) Extension Period 4: 12 months (to 31 May 2033) Extension Period 5: 12 months (to 31 May 2034) Extension Period 6: 12 months (to 31 May 2035) Extension Period 7: 12 months (to 31 May 2036) | ceiling above | 27 May 2026 | Awarded |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
14 commercial parties on the notice- BARINGA PARTNERS LLPFramework contractor
- CUMMING GROUP INFRASTRUCTURE LTDFramework contractor
- DNV UK LIMITEDFramework contractor
- ELLWOODS LIMITEDFramework contractor
- GLEEDS LLPFramework contractor
- GUIDEHOUSE EUROPE LIMITEDFramework contractor
- KPMG LLPFramework contractor
- OVE ARUP & PARTNERS LIMITEDFramework contractor
- PENSPEN LIMITEDFramework contractor
- QEMS LIMITEDFramework contractor
Show 4 more suppliers
- RINA TECH UK LIMITEDFramework contractor
- TURNER & TOWNSEND INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITEDFramework contractor
- WITTEVEEN+BOS UK LIMITEDFramework contractor
- idverde LimitedFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (9)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender