Official UK procurement notice
Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade Framework
Authority: AWE PLC
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionAWE Plc ("AWE") is embarking on a critical transformation of its infrastructure as part of the national endeavour to support the UK's nuclear deterrent and has been refining and formalising a new approach to infrastructure delivery, designed to drive greater consistency, pace, and long-term value.
This model is being largely implemented via 3 programmes:
- Future Materials Campus: A programme to renew existing facilities for the manufacture of nuclear components, storage of nuclear materials, provide improved science and analysis capabilities, and invest in new capabilities for nuclear material recovery.
- Future Infrastructure Programme: a programme that focuses on delivering wider infrastructure needs e.g. new office accommodation; laboratories; testing facilities, site services, and advanced manufacturing facilities.
- Estates and Liabilities management: on-going liabilities management to run programmes that safely decommission and demolish legacy facilities and manage generated waste via seeking suppliers with experience of the same.
This framework focuses on upgrading the electrical network under FIP, with the possibility of some works supporting the Future Materials Campus.
Strategic aspirations are to upgrade and modernise AWE's electrical network infrastructure, improve network resilience and obsolescence management, to benefit from modern standards and requirements, while reducing the cost base of new infrastructure. The Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade Programme will grow significantly over the coming years, and AWE looks to appoint 2 partners through this procurement, with the capacity and capability to meet the programme's increasing demand.
The Framework is a zero-value contract against which AWE may call off work for the Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade programme. The Framework will provide no guarantee of any work to any Supplier, it is a contract mechanism against which AWE may (but is not obliged) to call off work from the relevant Supplier for the Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade Framework. Full Framework Information "ITP Volume 2 Framework Specification" will be available to Suppliers that have registered and been granted access, as below.
AWE will award a place on the Framework to the 2 highest scoring suppliers, that offer the most advantageous tenders that is, the tenders that balance price with quality, technical capability, and sustainability. There will be a transparent mechanism to award work under the Framework as set out in the procurement documents
Bidders should download, complete and sign the Electrical Infrastructure Non-Disclosure Agreement and Tender Security Questionnaire available from the Defence Sourcing Portal here contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opport… ↗ and return these by email to: electricalinfrastructure@awe.co.uk. The deadline for submission of these documents is 12:00 on 23rd January 2026 in order to gain access to the Invitation to Participate and associated procurement documents.
Once AWE has reviewed and signed the documents where appropriate, Bidders will be invited to the Invitation to Participate stage of the procurement where they will have access to the detailed documentation.
A list of the documentation to be provided at the different stages of this procurement will be found in Appendix A of 'EIU - ITP - About the Procurement' and further details of the assessment approach that will apply under this procurement, will be found in "EIU - ITP Vol1. Instruction for Suppliers."
- Not divided into lots: The use of lots was considered but discounted following market engagement. Feedback indicated that using lots would complicate the interface between multiple suppliers, introducing avoidable risk and impacting delivery. A turnkey model without lots was subsequently identified as the preferred delivery approach.
- How the procedure runs: This Procurement will have 6 stages: 1. Invitation to Participate via Non-disclosure Agreement and Tender Security Questionnaire 2. Invitation to Submit Initial Tenders from a bid list of up to 5 Suppliers 3. Supplementary Presentation Stage from up to 3 down-selected Suppliers 4. Supplementary Invitation to Submit Final Tender from up to 3 down-selected Suppliers 5. Preferred Supplier Stage with 2 down-selected Suppliers 6. Contract Award Decision Please note: i )The process may include negotiation in the Supplementary Stages. ii) Award criteria and weightings for Invitation to Participate: - Capability 60%; - Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and Principal Contractor capability 10%; Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and Principal Designer capability 10%; - Health & Safety 5%; - Quality 5%; - Environment Management, Performance and Sustainability 10%. This is in addition to pass/fail questions for Cyber Security, Foreign Ownership and Control Information, Export Control, CDM Regulations, and Environmental Management, Performance, and Sustainability. iii) Award criteria and weightings for Invitation to Submit an Initial Tender: - Tenders will be assessed using the weighted value for money index methodology. - Overall weightings will be confirmed in the Invitation to Submit an Initial Tender documents and will be distributed between as follows: 50-70% Quality (including Technical and Social Value, with at least 10% attributed to Social Value), 30-40% Commercial. - AWE reserves the right to refine award criteria at a later stage of the procurement process.
- No preliminary market engagement: A UK2 preliminary market engagement notice has not been issued as preliminary market engagement notice was carried out under the prior regime (PCR 2015) under prior information notice reference 2024/S 000-030137.
CPV: Building completion work · Building construction work · Electrical installation work of electrical distribution apparatus · Electrical installation work of transformers · Electrical parts of machinery or apparatus · Electrical wiring and fitting work · Electricity distribution and control apparatus · Electricity supplies · Mechanical engineering installation works · Prefabricated units and components · Site preparation work · Substation construction work · +1 more
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Places
- up to 2 suppliers
- Framework period
7 yrs · up to 15 yrs from 11 Jan 2027, AWE has a long term programme for electrical upgrades, refurbishment and replacements of substations, high voltage and low voltage cables. The selected Framework term of 15 years, that is 7 years plus a further 8 years (2 terms of 4 years each), aligns with guidance provided in the Construction Playbook on longer-term contracting and portfolios, noting that these arrangements enable standardisation and give Suppliers the certainty needed to invest in productivity and innovation. Adopting a 15 year framework aligns with these principles and will help maintain continuity and support stable supply chain mobilisation. Replacing suppliers mid-programme due to a shorter framework terms would disrupt delivery, cause remobilisation delays, increase risk and undermine the efficiencies and consistency the Playbook seeks to achieve
Published description of the framework
There will be a transparent mechanism to award work under the Framework as set out in the procurement documents. Please refer to 'EIU - ITP - About the Procurement' document.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£650,000,000
- Economic & financial standing
Suppliers must demonstrate that they have the legal standing to perform the contract and meet minimum financial thresholds. These thresholds are stated in the procurement documents.
- Technical & professional ability
Suppliers must demonstrate relevant technical ability and experience in delivering similar projects in high-security and/or regulated environments. These conditions of participation are stated in the procurement documents.
This procurement involves a Defence and Security contract and classified information. AWE will undertake a security assessment against the information provided in the supplier registration before release of any associated procurement documents. Meeting the required national security clearance is a condition of participation. Suppliers will not be invited to participate further if, as a result of this assessment (or on other grounds), they do not meet the necessary security requirements. The procurement will operate within the relevant legislation to protect essential national security interests. If a Supplier has connections with any hostile entity or foreign state deemed to pose a risk to UK national security, or is otherwise considered not to possess the necessary reliability on national security grounds, AWE reserves the right to exclude them from the procurement.
Full details of all other conditions of participation, the evidence required, and the assessment methodology are provided in the procurement documents.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
The Invitation To Participate will be assessed against the award criteria and weightings as follows:
- Capability 60%;
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and Principal Contractor capability 10%;
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and Principal Designer capability 10%;
- Health & Safety 5%;
- Quality 5%;
- Environment Management, Performance and Sustainability 10%.
This is in addition to pass/fail questions in terms of Cyber Security, Foreign Control and Ownership Information, Export Control, Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and Environmental Management, Performance, and Sustainability.
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).
- Commercial
- Quality
- Economic & financial standing
Suppliers must demonstrate that they have the legal standing to perform the contract and meet minimum financial thresholds. These thresholds are stated in the procurement documents.
- Technical & professional ability
Suppliers must demonstrate relevant technical ability and experience in delivering similar projects in high-security and/or regulated environments. These conditions of participation are stated in the procurement documents.
This procurement involves a Defence and Security contract and classified information. AWE will undertake a security assessment against the information provided in the supplier registration before release of any associated procurement documents. Meeting the required national security clearance is a condition of participation. Suppliers will not be invited to participate further if, as a result of this assessment (or on other grounds), they do not meet the necessary security requirements. The procurement will operate within the relevant legislation to protect essential national security interests. If a Supplier has connections with any hostile entity or foreign state deemed to pose a risk to UK national security, or is otherwise considered not to possess the necessary reliability on national security grounds, AWE reserves the right to exclude them from the procurement.
Full details of all other conditions of participation, the evidence required, and the assessment methodology are provided in the procurement documents.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
The Invitation To Participate will be assessed against the award criteria and weightings as follows:
- Capability 60%;
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and Principal Contractor capability 10%;
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and Principal Designer capability 10%;
- Health & Safety 5%;
- Quality 5%;
- Environment Management, Performance and Sustainability 10%.
This is in addition to pass/fail questions in terms of Cyber Security, Foreign Control and Ownership Information, Export Control, Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and Environmental Management, Performance, and Sustainability.
- “Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade Framework” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 2 suppliers, 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
- Works
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Defence & security
- 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
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 9 Jan 2026, 14:06 GMT
- Last source update
- 9 Jan 2026, 14:06 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 2 Nov 2026
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-001900- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0602edFind a Tender- Contract terms summary
All suppliers must comply with PPN018.
- How it runs
This Procurement will have 6 stages:
- Invitation to Participate via Non-disclosure Agreement and Tender Security Questionnaire
- Invitation to Submit Initial Tenders from a bid list of up to 5 Suppliers
- Supplementary Presentation Stage from up to 3 down-selected Suppliers
- Supplementary Invitation to Submit Final Tender from up to 3 down-selected Suppliers
- Preferred Supplier Stage with 2 down-selected Suppliers
- Contract Award Decision
Please note:
i )The process may include negotiation in the Supplementary Stages.
ii) Award criteria and weightings for Invitation to Participate:
- Capability 60%;
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and Principal Contractor capability 10%;
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and Principal Designer capability 10%;
- Health & Safety 5%;
- Quality 5%;
- Environment Management, Performance and Sustainability 10%.
This is in addition to pass/fail questions for Cyber Security, Foreign Ownership and Control Information, Export Control, CDM Regulations, and Environmental Management, Performance, and Sustainability.
iii) Award criteria and weightings for Invitation to Submit an Initial Tender:
- Tenders will be assessed using the weighted value for money index methodology.
- Overall weightings will be confirmed in the Invitation to Submit an Initial Tender documents and will be distributed between as follows: 50-70% Quality (including Technical and Social Value, with at least 10% attributed to Social Value), 30-40% Commercial.
- AWE reserves the right to refine award criteria at a later stage of the procurement process.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 5 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Appointment period ends
- 5 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 19 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Responses must be submitted by the stipulated deadline via the Defence Sourcing Portal (contracts.mod.uk ↗). Please note that the tender will be by invitation only following completion of the non-disclosure and tender security questionnaires. Access to the Opportunity Listing is open to any supplier.
Any responses not submitted in this manner will not be considered.
The deadline for submitting a non-disclosure agreement and tender security questionnaire is 23 January 2026 at 12:00, Invitation to Participate documents will be released 26 January 2026, the deadline for submitting an invitation is 5 March 2026 at 12:00.
Timeline
9 Jan 2026 → 11 Jan 2027 · 5 dates- Tender notice published290 days ago9 Jan 2026, 14:06 GMT
- Clarification questions by249 days ago19 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Admission / appointment period ends235 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown5 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Today27 Oct 2026
- Award decision expected byin 6 days2 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 75 days11 Jan 2027
Notice history
1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender- Tender notice published9 Jan 2026, 14:06 GMTUK4
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: 1. Please download, complete and sign the following documents available from the Defence Sourcing Portal here https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=60647 -Electrical Infrastructure Non Disclosure Agreement -Tender Security Questionnaire 2. Send completed documents to electricalinfrastructure@awe.co.uk. 3. AWE will review and sign the documents where appropriate, returning copies via email 4. AWE reserves the right to send further messages to bidders seeking clarity on the content of their submission. Please ensure you monitor inboxes and the portal for further updates. 5. Bidders that have completed and received counter-signed versions of the non-disclosure agreement and tender security questionnaire will be invited to the next stage. 6. The closing for submitting the non-disclosure agreement and tender security questionnaire is 23 January 2026 12:00 midday 7. The expected release date of the Invitation to Participate is 26 January 2026. Details of documentation to be provided at the different stages of this procurement can be found in Appendix A of 'EIU - ITP - About the Procurement'
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender