Testing Facilities Upgrades · UK public procurement notice

Offshore Renewable Energy (“ORE”) Catapult continually invests in the development of its world-leading test and validation facilities in Blyth to meet industry requirements to derisk and accelerate future technology investment, advance research and innovation in offshore renewable energy technologies, and facilitate the UK’s drive towards Net Zero.

As the next generation of offshore wind turbines grow ever larger, so we must continue to keep pace with technology, and we are working closely with industry and Government to ensure that we are well positioned to meet future demands.

Whilst we continue to seek further investment, our expansion of capabilities requires extensive planning, and we are therefore in the early stages of engaging with a potential supply chain to consider costs, requirements, and capabilities ahead of any decisions.

ORE Catapult is therefore hosting an early market engagement event on Wednesday 21 September 2022, at its site in Blyth, Northumberland, which will provide the opportunity for suppliers to visit the facility and to hear first-hand our vision, the pipeline, the complexities, and potential risks of the future requirement.

We recognise that some suppliers may be interested in one or both requirements to upgrade our testing facilities, we have therefore split the event into the following sessions:

• Event 1 - 1100 – 1300 hrs - Facility to support testing of Wind Turbine Rotor Blades up to 180m in length– this will include design and build of necessary new structural building(s), active tilting test hub, cranes, hydraulic, control and data acquisitions systems. This has a total estimated contract value of £30m and completion is expected in 2024.
• Event 2 - 1400 – 1600 hrs - Drive train testing facility which will include design and build to upgrade or replace the site power supply, the test bench motor (torque) capacity, force application system (FAS), grid emulation capacity, cooling systems and ancillaries necessary to raise the current test capabilities from 14MW to 25MW turbines as a minimum. This entire project has a total estimated contract value of £55.6m and completion in 2025.

If you wish to participate in both sessions, lunch will be provided by ORE Catapult and the time could be used as a networking event, allowing you to connect with the supply chain and bolster your sub-contractor opportunities.

Please note that the two (2) projects mentioned above are most likely to consist of at least two (2) separate construction tenders, but there may be further smaller tenders, depending on the outcome of the early market engagement event. Due to the complexity of the upgrades, the two (2) main construction tenders are anticipated to follow the “Competitive Procedure with Negotiation” procurement process. Suppliers are to note that the pre-qualification questionnaires (“PQQ”) for the two (2) main construction projects are likely to be published by end of September 2022.

NB: suppliers are to note that this PIN will not be used to reduce procurement timescales.

To find out more and to register your interest to attend the event please complete the attached Event Attendance Form and email to procurement@ore.catapult.org.uk. Alternatively, email procurement@ore.catapult.org.uk and we will send you further event attendance information.