SONI074 DS3 System Services – Volume Capped – Gate 14
Estimated value
—
Awarded value
£2.5m
Suppliers
21
Lots
12
Published
25 Mar 2026
Description
Following review by the Regulatory Authorities of the TSOs’ Report on Ensuring a Secure, Reliable and Efficient Power System in July 2011 the TSOs were requested by the SEM Committee to put in place a programme of work to solve the challenges associated with increased levels of penetration of variable non-synchronous renewable generation. In response the TSOs formally commenced the DS3 Programme in September 2011. The overall aim of the DS3 Programme is to put in place the required changes to system policies, system tools and system performance to meet the challenges of operating the electricity system in a secure manner while achieving the 2020 renewable electricity targets. A key aspect of this operational challenge is the increase of System Non- Synchronous Penetration (SNSP) from the 2011 limit of 50% to 75%.
Scope
- Reference
- SONI074
- Commercial tool
- Standalone contract
- Contract dates
- 31 Mar 2026 to 30 Sept 2026Possible extension to 31 Dec 2026
Option for TSO to extend the term of its Contract in respect of any or all of its applicable Lots in certain defined cases, at the discretion of the Contracting Entity. This option might apply where, for instance, there is a delay in completing the procurement for any subsequent phases envisaged under the DS3 Programme.
- CPV classifications
- 71314000
- Contract locations
- Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
- Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Award criteria
Criteria the buyer will use to evaluate bids.
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Questionnaire | Refer to RFP | quality | — |
| Legal | Refer to RFP | quality | — |
Participation
Conditions suppliers must meet to bid.
Please refer to Request for Proposal
Please refer to Technical Questionnaire
Submission & procedure
- Procedure
- Open procedure
Award details· 12 awards
Awarded supplier(s), contract period and value as published in the award notice.
Awarded value
£641k
Award date
09 Mar 2026
Contract start
07 Apr 2026
Contract end
30 Sept 2026
Lots · 12 total
Divisions of the contract. Each lot can be awarded separately.
| Lot | Title | Est. value | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | POR L1NI - Primary Operating Reserve | £2.9m | complete |
| 2 | SOR L2NI - Secondary Operating Reserve | £2.9m | complete |
| 3 | TOR1 L3NI - Tertiary 1 Operating Reserve | £2.9m | complete |
| 4 | TOR2 L4NI - Tertiary 2 Operating Reserve | £2.9m | complete |
| 5 | RRD L5NI - Replacement Reserve (De-Synchronised) | £2.9m | complete |
Award 1· 3 suppliers
Awarded 09 Mar 2026 · Contract period 07 Apr 2026 — 30 Sept 2026
Award 2· 3 suppliers
Awarded 09 Mar 2026 · Contract period 07 Apr 2026 — 30 Sept 2026
Award 3· 4 suppliers
Awarded 09 Mar 2026 · Contract period 07 Apr 2026 — 30 Sept 2026
Award 4· 2 suppliers
Awarded 09 Mar 2026 · Contract period 07 Apr 2026 — 30 Sept 2026
Award 5· 2 suppliers
Awarded 09 Mar 2026 · Contract period 07 Apr 2026 — 30 Sept 2026
Award 6· 1 supplier
Awarded 09 Mar 2026 · Contract period 07 Apr 2026 — 30 Sept 2026
Award 7· 2 suppliers
Awarded 09 Mar 2026 · Contract period 07 Apr 2026 — 30 Sept 2026
Award 8· 1 supplier
Awarded 09 Mar 2026 · Contract period 07 Apr 2026 — 30 Sept 2026
Award 9· 3 suppliers
Awarded 09 Mar 2026 · Contract period 07 Apr 2026 — 30 Sept 2026
Award 10· 0 suppliers
Awarded —
Award 11· 0 suppliers
Awarded —
Award 12· 0 suppliers
Awarded —
Total lots
12
Awarded
12
Estimated total
£34.5m
Awarded total
£2.5m
POR L1NI - Primary Operating Reserve
Start
31 Mar 2026
End
30 Sept 2026
Estimated
£2.9m
CPV
SOR L2NI - Secondary Operating Reserve
Start
31 Mar 2026
End
30 Sept 2026
Estimated
£2.9m
CPV
TOR1 L3NI - Tertiary 1 Operating Reserve
Start
31 Mar 2026
End
30 Sept 2026
Estimated
£2.9m
CPV
TOR2 L4NI - Tertiary 2 Operating Reserve
Start
31 Mar 2026
End
30 Sept 2026
Estimated
£2.9m
CPV
RRD L5NI - Replacement Reserve (De-Synchronised)
Start
31 Mar 2026
End
30 Sept 2026
Estimated
£2.9m
CPV
RRS L6NI - Replacement Reserve (Synchronised)
Start
31 Mar 2026
End
30 Sept 2026
Estimated
£2.9m
CPV
SSRP L7NI - Steady State Reactive Power
Start
31 Mar 2026
End
30 Sept 2026
Estimated
£2.9m
CPV
SIR L8NI - Synchronous Inertial Respons
Start
31 Mar 2026
End
30 Sept 2026
Estimated
£2.9m
CPV
RM1 L9NI - Ramping Margin 1 Hour
Start
31 Mar 2026
End
30 Sept 2026
Estimated
£2.9m
CPV
RM3 L10NI - Ramping Margin 3 Hour
Start
31 Mar 2026
End
30 Sept 2026
Estimated
£2.9m
CPV
RM8 L11NI - Ramping Margin 8 Hour
Start
31 Mar 2026
End
30 Sept 2026
Estimated
£2.9m
CPV
FFR L12NI - Fast Frequency Response
Start
31 Mar 2026
End
30 Sept 2026
Estimated
£2.9m
CPV