Lined Rock Caverns

{
  "awards": [
    {
      "aboveThreshold": true,
      "contractPeriod": {
        "endDate": "2028-02-25T23:59:59Z",
        "startDate": "2026-02-26T00:00:00Z"
      },
      "documents": [
        {
          "datePublished": "2025-12-30T15:52:42Z",
          "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
          "documentType": "awardNotice",
          "format": "text/html",
          "id": "086493-2025",
          "noticeType": "UK5",
          "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086493-2025"
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      ],
      "id": "1",
      "items": [
        {
          "additionalClassifications": [
            {
              "description": "Environmental engineering consultancy services",
              "id": "71313000",
              "scheme": "CPV"
            }
          ],
          "deliveryAddresses": [
            {
              "country": "GB",
              "countryName": "United Kingdom",
              "region": "UKK"
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            {
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              "countryName": "United Kingdom",
              "region": "UKL"
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      "milestones": [
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      "status": "pending",
      "suppliers": [
        {
          "id": "GB-COH-1014622",
          "name": "Environmental Resources Management Limited"
        }
      ],
      "value": {
        "amount": 600000,
        "amountGross": 720000,
        "currency": "GBP"
      }
    }
  ],
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-COH-05046791",
    "name": "Wales \u0026 West Utilities Limited"
  },
  "date": "2025-12-30T15:52:42Z",
  "id": "086493-2025",
  "initiationType": "tender",
  "language": "en",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05fe56",
  "parties": [
    {
      "additionalIdentifiers": [
        {
          "id": "PMVL-3238-DQDX",
          "scheme": "GB-PPON"
        }
      ],
      "address": {
        "country": "GB",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Newport",
        "postalCode": "NP10 8FZ",
        "region": "UKL21",
        "streetAddress": "Wales \u0026 West House"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "wwuprocurement@wwutilities.co.uk",
        "name": "Peter Tune"
      },
      "details": {
        "classifications": [
          {
            "description": "Private utility",
            "id": "privateUtility",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE"
          }
        ],
        "url": "https://www.wwutilities.co.uk/"
      },
      "id": "GB-COH-05046791",
      "identifier": {
        "id": "05046791",
        "scheme": "GB-COH"
      },
      "name": "Wales \u0026 West Utilities Limited",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
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    },
    {
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        {
          "id": "PGDZ-8278-DQXN",
          "scheme": "GB-PPON"
        }
      ],
      "address": {
        "country": "GB",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "London",
        "postalCode": "EC3A 8AA",
        "region": "UKI31",
        "streetAddress": "2nd Floor Exchequer Court, 33 St Mary Axe"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "Stephan.Gaiser-Porter@erm.com"
      },
      "details": {
        "scale": "large",
        "url": "http://www.erm.com",
        "vcse": false
      },
      "id": "GB-COH-1014622",
      "identifier": {
        "id": "1014622",
        "scheme": "GB-COH"
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      "name": "Environmental Resources Management Limited",
      "roles": [
        "supplier"
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  ],
  "tag": [
    "award",
    "contract"
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  "tender": {
    "description": "Overview\nThe UK has an extensive network for the Transmission and Distribution of natural gas, delivering around 600TWh of gaseous fuel to Domestic, Commercial, and Industrial consumers, and almost 300TWh to generate power. In energy terms, the UK uses around three times more gas than electricity. Around 85% of households use gas as their primary source of heating.\nThe UK has challenging and legally binding targets to reach Net Zero by 2050. In response to this the UK Government issued \"The Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution\" at the end of 2020 to demonstrate its commitment to tackling greenhouse gas emissions. This set the UK\u0027s ambition to be amongst the leading countries investigating the use of hydrogen for industry and heating. This was followed by a dedicated Hydrogen Strategy in 2021 which set firm commitments around low carbon hydrogen production and trials.\nWales \u0026 West Utilities is undertaking a major programme of change to support decarbonisation and deliver a Net Zero gas network.\nGeneral Description of the Works (Project Summary)\nThis project forms Phase 2 of an ongoing programme of works exploring the potential application of a novel lined rock cavern (LRC) hydrogen storage concept within WWU\u0027s network. Building on Phase 1 work, the project will provide early-stage, exploratory support to further understanding on the concept and to test its potential suitability within the network context. The work is developmental in nature and is intended to inform internal strategic understanding, rather than to progress delivery, implementation or commercial deployment. \nThe scope requires the integration of specialist technical and regulatory expertise under the direction of a single consultant, with continuity of knowledge from previous phases being critical. Activities are focused on refining assumptions, and improving understanding of key constraints and uncertainties associated with the concept.\nThe project is not intended to deliver investment-ready outputs, detailed design, or commercially deployable solutions. Any investigative activities and very limited in scale and undertaken solely to support early-stage concept testing and development. \nScope of Contractors Work\nThe Supplier will deliver Phase 2 of an ongoing programme of early-stage development work relating to a novel lined rock cavern hydrogen storage concept.\nThe Supplier will provide technical and strategic support, drawing on specialist expertise where required, to further understanding of the concept and to test its potential suitability within WWU\u0027s network area.\nIn particular, the supplier will:\n\u2022\tDevelop and refine regional subsurface understanding within previously identified areas of interest, using existing information and specialist interpretation of results\n\u2022\tSupport progressive narrowing of potential locations to inform conceptual understanding of where the lined rock cavern concept may be technically applicable\n\u2022\tProvide high-level advisory input on surface, planning, and permitting context relevant to early-stage concept development\n\u2022\tTest and refine key technical assumptions of the lined rock cavern concept through specialist analysis and interpretation\n\u2022\tUndertake limited and targeted investigative activities, where necessary, solely to support early stage understanding of subsurface conditions in relation to the concept\n\u2022\tProvide qualitative consideration of commercial and strategic factors relevant to the early-stage development of the concept\n\u2022\tIntegrate and synthesise specialist inputs into internal-facing briefing materials and reports\nAll services will be delivered to support early-stage design and development, and to test suitability of the concept, rather than to progress delivery, implementation, or commercial deployment.\nAnticipated Total Cost of the Contract is \u00a3600,000.\nContract Term is two (2) years.",
    "documents": [
      {
        "description": "Not published",
        "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
        "id": "conflictOfInterest"
      }
    ],
    "id": "WWU1542",
    "legalBasis": {
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      "scheme": "UKPGA",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
    },
    "lots": [
      {
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        "status": "complete"
      }
    ],
    "procurementMethod": "direct",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
    "procurementMethodRationale": "Other research, experiment, study or development.\nBuilding on Phase 1 work, the project will provide early-stage, exploratory support to further our understanding of the lined rock caverns concept and to test its potential suitability within the network context. The work is developmental in nature and is intended to inform internal strategic understanding, rather than to progress delivery, implementation or commercial deployment.\nThe scope requires the integration of specialist technical and regulatory expertise under the direction of ERM, with continuity of knowledge from previous phases being critical. Activities are focused on refining assumptions, and improving understanding of key constraints and uncertainties associated with the concept.\nThe project is not intended to deliver investment-ready outputs, detailed design, or commercially deployable solutions. Any investigative activities and very limited in scale and undertaken solely to support early-stage concept testing and development.\nEnvironment Resource Management Ltd is the only supplier can deliver the complete range of specialist work required for this project, and this includes but is not limited to:\u0027\n\u2022\tTaking energy innovation from low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) to high TRL, including scale-up strategies and demonstration.\n\u2022\tComprehensive contractor safety management across all lifecycle stages (qualification, induction, execution, close out) and leadership engagement for safety culture.\n\u2022\tSubsurface clearance procedures, including critical zones, excavation buffers, and authorisation protocols before ground disturbance.\n\u2022\tPermit-to-work systems, daily site access controls, health \u0026 safety plans, RAMS and method statement requirements.\n\u2022\tTender documentation standards, including warranties, commissioning consultant lists, parking arrangements, and waste/recycling plans.\n\u2022\tUnderground civil engineering methods (bolting, shotcrete, concrete reinforcement), drilling, venting, and dewatering techniques.\n\u2022\tMultidisciplinary engineering for injection and storage projects, including reservoir modelling, geophysical evaluation, drilling/completion programs.\n\u2022\tEPC/EPCM roles, contracting strategies, procurement processes, and construction controls for time, cost, and performance.\n\u2022\tProject lifecycle management from feasibility through commissioning, start-up, and operations, including O\u0026M procedure development.\n\u2022\tCommercial governance requirements, subcontractor qualification, and integration of safe practices into supplier management decisions.\n\u2022\tSustainability and inclusive design guidelines for new projects, including environmental performance and accessibility standards.\n\u2022\tMonitoring systems, closure management, and long-term environmental protection measures for subsurface projects.\n\u2022\tRegulatory compliance strategies and HSE protocols for energy storage facilities.",
    "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
      {
        "id": "prototypesDevelopment"
      }
    ],
    "specialRegime": [
      "utilities"
    ],
    "status": "complete",
    "title": "Lined Rock Caverns"
  }
}