Maentwrog Hydro Power Station Optimisation Services

Nuclear Decommissioning AuthoritycontractFind a TenderRef ocds-h6vhtk-056518Procurement Act 2023SME suitablepending

Estimated value

Awarded value

£1.1m

Awarded 20 Jul 2026

Suppliers

1

1 SME

Lots

1

1 awarded

Published

21 Jul 2026

Description

NDA is a non-departmental public body charged, on behalf of government, with the mission to clean-up the UK’s earliest nuclear sites safely, securely and cost effectively. We’re committed to overcoming the challenges of nuclear clean-up and decommissioning, leaving the 17 nuclear sites ready for their next use. We do this work with care for our people, communities and the environment, with safety, as always, our number one priority. We also play an important role in supporting government’s aspiration for the UK to be a global leader in the civil nuclear sector. We strive to deliver best value for the UK taxpayer by focusing on reducing the highest hazards and risks, while ensuring safe, secure, and environmentally responsible operations at our sites. We seek ways to reduce the level of public funding from government by generating revenue through our commercial activities. Maentwrog Hydroelectric Power Station (“Maentwrog”) is a 28MW hydroelectric plant owned by NDA and operated by Magnox Limited (“Magnox”). The NDA is seeking to engage with economic operators obtain feedback regarding a forthcoming tender to appoint an economic operator to deliver energy generation and trading optimisation services for the NDA's Maentwrog Hydropower station asset. The core service to be delivered includes, but is not limited to the provision of trading available energy generation capacity within the wholesale market, based upon fundamental and technical analysis, market expertise and available generation capacity based upon water volumes, rainfall and available measurements within defined operational parameters. The aim of this procurement is to increase income generation to support the NDA in delivering it's mission. It is anticipated that the agreement may be based upon a 2 year initial term with 2 twelve month optional extensions. It is anticipated that the total contract value will be circa £240,000 and £500,000 for the initial term, with a potential income value between £480,000 and £800,000 across a potential total 4-year term, subject to Supplier performance. Please note, we appreciate that income will change based upon market conditions and fluctuations, therefore these are indicative estimates.

Scope

Reference
C32127
Commercial tool
Standalone contract
Contract dates
24 May 2026 to 24 May 2028
Possible extension to 24 May 2030

2 x12 month extensions

CPV classifications
71314000
65410000
79930000
09300000
38551000
51112200
72227000
31682000
09310000
71314200
72228000
71314300
71241000
65400000
65300000
Contract locations
UK, United Kingdom
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)

Award criteria

Criteria the buyer will use to evaluate bids.

NameDescriptionTypeWeighting
T1 - Trading MethodologyPlease detail you proposed trading methodology for the Maentwrog Hydro Power Plant in compliance with Document 2 - Optimisation Specification. Your answer should include the following areas: • Details of a draft Trading Risk Management Strategy which details how you will trade the asset in line with parameters defined within Document 2 - Optimisation Specification. • Forecasting & profiling, technical & fundamental analysis • Appropriate Resource Allocation • Alignment with NDA’s defined risk appetite • Breadth of market access • Alignment with operational parameters detailed within Document 2 - Optimisation Specification • Learning from experience (LFE)quality10.00%
T2 - Ensuring Additional return on InvestmentDescribe the processes and procedures you have in place to support your strategy delivery, which ensure the return of additional income over and above N2EX. Your answer should cover the following areas: • Flexibility to respond to market movements • Diversification of markets • Revenue stacking opportunities and processes in place to utilise and benefit from the opportunities available to this asset • Market intelligence and data, including how you plan to utilise information and knowledge available to ensure the best possible income generation for the asset. • Ensuring site level knowledge is captured and continually considered in strategy execution • Continuous review of appropriate market access and availability • Any additional opportunities not evident within this tender which may demonstrate additional benefitquality15.00%
T3 - Performance & Contract ManagementPlease explain how you will ensure your organisation successfully performs under this contract. Within your response, please detail the contract management processes and resources you will deploy to ensure successful delivery. Your answer should include the following areas: Identification of contract management team, including a dedicated account manager and support services. A robust and appropriate approach to stakeholder management. Facilitation of access to market expert Review meetings attendance from appropriate representatives The production, distribution and review of Key Performance Indicators, Management Information & Learning from Experience. Presentation of additional opportunities. Identification and management of risk collaboratively Dispute resolution, escalation processes & procedures Tracking of forecasted additional return on investment, performance and maximum opportunity available Cascading of market knowledge and regulation updates and through newsletters and training available on a free of charge basis. To support NDA colleagues with internal and external stakeholder engagement activities and publications.quality10.00%
T4 - System & Dispatch Integration SolutionPlease provide an explanation of your proposed integration design solution detailing the infrastructure, connectivity, security protocols, testing and required maintenance. Additionally, please attached a single line diagram which details the current site configuration in addition to the proposed infrastructure and/or connectivity based upon your proposal and the information shared within Document 2 – Service Specification. Your response should address the below requirements. • Define what technology will be utilised for your proposed Solution for remote dispatch • Detail how it will integrate with current system. • How the solution with ensure and detail the method for two-way communication, i.e. notices to and from site. • How you will ensure the installation/ integration is compliant with all appropriate regulations, i.e. wiring appropriate to the asset. • Detail the methods of systems protection specifically for the integration and the methodologies applied for the wider organisation, with confirmation that they meet the requirements detail within ‘Document 3 - System Interfaces and Integration Requirements’.quality10.00%
T5 - Implementation & MobilisationPlease provide a mobilisation project plan and narrative detailing how you will implement and mobilise this agreement should you be successful. The plan should detail all activities to be completed between contract signature and contract go live (estimated to be a 3-month period). Your response should address the below requirements. • The production of a mobilisation project plan detailing who, what, when, why and how approach and highlights key sign off stages for the plan pre and post go live. • Progress against plan review mechanisms and appropriate timeliness of reviews. • A dedicated implementation lead allocated by the Supplier at contract signature stage. • Timely resource allocation and team onboarding processes for trading, contract management, and all relevant support functions. • Inclusion of all relevant vetting and/or onboarding processes. • Systems integration deployment, including any associated installation at all locations, including remote activity. • All associated metering and notifications required to support contract go live, e.g. MVRAN transition, notice to incumbent. • Creating and set up of all appropriate billing and invoicing processes • Creating and set up of all appropriate Management Information and KPI reporting processes. • Identification of what NDA resource and how much time will be required and when. • Identification of what subcontractor resource and how much time will be required and when. • Inclusion of any relevant vetting and/or onboarding procedures. • All relevant security and access requirements will be met. • All appropriate training provisions delivery to time. • The plan and narrative are supported by appropriate resource, data, calculations and other relevant evidence, including flow charts, organisational structures etc. to demonstrate appropriateness.quality5.00%
SV01 - Wellbeing & InclusionSocial Value - Supporting Wellbeing and Inclusion including Mental Health of Employees Supporting Wellbeing and Inclusion including Mental Health of Employees Proposals should demonstrate the action that will be taken throughout this specific contract to support the health and wellbeing, including physical and mental health in the contract workforce. Proposals should also demonstrate how they will influence staff, suppliers, customers and communities through the delivery of the contract to support health and wellbeing including physical and mental health. Proposals should also demonstrate how they will embed Wellbeing and Inclusion into their organisation, and also Improve Health and Wellbeing within the team specifically working on this requirement. Please demonstrate the following: • What will your organisation do specifically for this requirement? • How will you do this? • How will this be monitored and measured against on a quarterly basis?quality10.00%
C1 - Set up costsThis fee is the cost to implement and mobilise the agreement and should include all costs associated with solution and system design and integration. It will not be possible to request additional payment following the submission of the tender.cost5.00%
C2 - Core Service FeeThis fee covers the provision of the services as detailed within the specification up to the N2EX price for the settlement period.price20.00%
C3 - Additional Income FeesThis fee is for income above the N2EX price for the settlement period. This is in addition to the core service fee and is an incentive for performing over and above the N2EX price. This additional fee is only applied to income amounts above the N2EX value on a total £ (pounds) basis for each trade identified as being over and above equivalent N2EX prices for that trade period.price10.00%
C4 - Capacity Market FeeFixed Annual Cost for administration and management of the Capacity market requirements under this agreementprice5.00%

Submission & procedure

Procedure
Competitive flexible procedure

Award details

Awarded supplier(s), contract period and value as published in the award notice.

Awarded value

£1.1m

Award date

20 Jul 2026

Contract start

04 Oct 2026

Contract end

04 Oct 2028

Awarded to
GL
CH 08211691
SME