Prototype Retrofit Project · UK public procurement notice

The relevant justifications are paragraph 2 (Prototypes and development) and paragraph 5 (single suppliers) of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023.

Paragraph 2 of Schedule 5 (Prototypes and development): The project is being developed by LBC as a prototype to test the suitability of a retrofit solution to provide more affordable and more sustainable homes for its residents. It is being developed with L&G, supported by a specialist energy services platform provided by Sero. The prototype seeks to test the suitability and viability of an off-balance sheet, project finance structure (ESCo) that will provide the funding, installation, maintenance and operation of Energy-as-a-Service assets (Solar PV and BESS) onto residential properties owned by LBC for 30 year period. The project is unprecedented in both its offering and scale and duration. Approximately 3,000 homes are within scope, representing approximately 9% of LBC’s housing stock. This is a prototype which is part of a wider programme of piloting different routes to decarbonisation. It involves the development of novel goods and services at the request of LBC as a trial for an even larger investment at some point in the future, which it is envisaged can be made subject to a competitive procurement.

Paragraph 5 of Schedule 5 (single suppliers): the project is being developed by LBC together with a partnership between L&G and Sero who have developed know-how and other intellectual property rights relevant to the prototype solution LBC wishes to develop. LBC is not aware of any reasonable alternatives that would allow for a competitive procurement of the proposed prototype.