Extra High Voltage (EHV) switchgear, transformers and electrical protection inspection and Maintenance

Concepts

• electrical distribution equipment
• warrington
• repair and maintenance
• generator protection systems
• electrical protection inspection
• transformer differential protection systems
• electrical protection
• routine inspection
• transformers
• protection

Location

United Kingdom: Dungeness A, Maentwrog, Trawsfynydd, Wylfa and potentially Hinkley point B

Description

The provision of emergency call-out services, routine inspection and maintenance of Obsolete and aged (50+ years) Extra High Voltage (EHV) switchgear, transformers and electrical protection only (and not replacement of the same) at Dungeness A, Maentwrog, Trawsfynydd, Wylfa and potentially Hinkley point B.

Total Quantity or Scope

The provision of emergency call-out services, routine inspection and maintenance of Obsolete and aged (50+ years) Extra High Voltage (EHV) switchgear, transformers and electrical protection only at Dungeness A, Maentwrog, Trawsfynydd, Wylfa and potentially Hinkley point B.The expertise and experience requirements for each site are as follows:Dungeness A, Trawsfynydd & WylfaMaintenance of 275 kV and 132 kV Air Blast Circuit Breakers including ability to source, refurbish, remanufacture or replace existing components / equipment. A particular requirement is knowledge and experience of 275 kV Reyrolle OBR60 Air Blast Circuit Breakers.Maintenance of 275 kV / 11 kV and 132 kV / 11 kV oil filled transformers with in-tank or externally mounted on-load tap-changers.Maintenance and testing of transformer differential protection systems.Working under NGET Safety Rules.Note: The equipment at Wylfa is planned to be decommissioned in 2026 so minimal work is expected to be carried out at Wylfa beyond March 2026.Due to the agedness and obsolescence of the equipment NRS are currently exploring options to enable the decommissioning of equipment at Trawsfynydd & Wylfa in favour of moving to Distribution Network Operators (DNO’s) during the life of the proposed contract (full replacement of existing and commissioning of new equipment is not a requirement that will be covered by this contract).MaentwrogMaintenance of 33 kV SF6 insulated switchgear.Maintenance of 33 kV / 11 kV generator transformers.Maintenance and testing of transformer differential protection systems and generator protection systems.Working under Scottish Power MANWEB Safety Rules.Hinkley point BDuring the life of this contract the responsibility for managing and decommissioning Hinkley point B power station will pass from EDF to NRS and it is possible that similar services may be required at these locations.However, it is not currently known what arrangements are in place or if existing contractual arrangements will extend beyond the handover dates and therefore require novating to NRS.

Award Detail

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 50532400 - Repair and maintenance services of electrical distribution equipment

Legal Justification

NRS consider competition is absent for technical reasons as no reasonable alternative or substitute exists for the following reasons:The equipment is aged (circa 50-60 years old) and National Grid Electricity Generation (NGET) hold a significant amount of experience and knowledge through their dedicated in-house historic asset specialists with regards to maintenance of the equipment which also includes inspection and maintenance logs. NRS consider that this knowledge and capability built up over many years maintaining this equipment is invaluable to the safe and effective maintenance and execution of the work and that it is unlikely that another provider would possess or be able to acquire the level of expertise required to maintain the type and age of the equipment mentioned. NRS also do not consider it is possible that another supplier would embark on an extensive training program for a requirement of this size, frequency, age or duration (noting that NRS are also exploring options to decommission the equipment and further reduce the level of work required).NGET are also authors and owners of the current inspection and maintenance regimes which were based on the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) specifications written circa 50-60 years ago. However, over the years NGET have amended these to reflect the operational learning based on experience and development of best practice routines during execution of the work. NRS do not hold copies of these regimes and they will not be made available to a new supplier by NGET therefore any new supplier will need to develop a new regime based on the OEM specification. NRS copies of the OEM specifications are incomplete with many OEM’s either no longer trading or having been taken over so it may not be possible to obtain new copies. Any new inspection and maintenance regime would require NRS approval, however NRS feel there is limited inhouse knowledge on this equipment to do this.NGET hold, have access to, and have the expertise to refurbish critical obsolete spares which NRS believe other economic operators would find difficult and cost prohibitive to replicate.The equipment is housed at locations where NRS are not the leaseholder, and any other commercial operators will need to engage with NGET and Scottish Power MANWEB to gain access to Sub-stations and then require full supervision during visits for emergency call-out services, routine inspection and maintenance. NRS have been informed that any work would need to be carried out under NGET and Scottish Power MANWEB Safety Rules respectively which will lead to additional third-party cost, delays and significant sub-station access/escorting issues with regards to coordination of the additional contractors engaged in delivering the work.

Other Information

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