Digital and Data Capabilities Framework

National Grid Electricity System Operator (NGESO), a legally separate business within the National Grid Group, is the electricity system operator for Great Britain. The NGESO moves electricity around the system to keep homes and businesses supplied with the energy they need 24/7.

National Grid Electricity System Operator (NGESO) became a legally separate business from the wider National Grid Electricity Transmission (NG) in 2019. NGESO is on a journey to become NESO, a separate legal entity under UK government ownership during Summer 2024. Where in this notice we refer to NESO, this should be understood as also including NGESO before the change is taken place.

The Digital, Data and Technology (DD&T) organisation within NESO provides the sourcing capabilities, roles and skills required to achieve NESO digital deliverables.

To support the role of the National Energy System Operator (NESO), we will require a digital sourcing framework which enables digital delivery at pace. For this we will require a supply chain that consistently delivers a fit for purpose service, adapting to a constantly evolving NESO organisation with different digital needs. We require a supply chain that delivers knowledge, expertise of modern technology and provides access to innovation, and is able to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other relevant technologies into existing systems. We are looking for partners who are skilled in modern engineering practices such as DevSecOps, CI/CD, Automation and who are capable of continuously implementing technology transformation.

NESO requires access to digital skills and programme support in a flexible way to achieve objectives under its Business Plan plus Digitalisation Strategy, whilst building relationships with suppliers who can partner in developing strategic direction, and implementing and transferring knowledge, as well as leveraging frontier technology.

The scope of the framework will comprise digital consultancy services and digital implementation services. Our current thinking is that these will include the following components, but this may be subject to change before PQQ is issued:

Lot 1: All Digital & Data

Lot 2: Data & AI

Lot 3: Security

Lot 4: Engineering

The lotting structure will be designed to suit a holistic or a more specialised approach to facilitate large companies and niche suppliers having places on the framework.

These lots will be structured as NESO sees fit for its PQQ. Codes within this PIN cover all areas, so if interested please register for the codes associated with services and capabilities you can and want to provide.

More information on National Grid ESO (NESO) can be found at https://www.nationalgrideso.com/   

Our latest Digitalisation Strategy can be found at https://www.nationalgrideso.com/document/299416/download

Our current thinking is that this lot encompasses all competences and skills required to achieve NESO's objectives under its business plan, digitalisation strategy, and digital first ambitions, including without limitation the provision of all current services fulfilled by the National Grid Group, as well as supporting NESO as a full end to end business, and expanding these same services to cover the new roles within, and ambitions of, NESO.

The supplier for this lot will be responsible for providing end to end capabilities to enable partnership delivery of large or more specific projects.

Indicative examples of required capabilities are as follows:

Project Management Office

Business Analysis

Product Design and Management

Infrastructure Management and Support

Solution Delivery Management

Release Management

End-to-end user experience (UX) management

UVDB Codes to be registered on Achilles:

2.1.2.0 Software Development Services

2.1.3.0 Software Support Services

2.1.10.0 Data Collection & Handling Services

2.2.0 Business Consultancy

2.2.3.0 IT Consultancy

2.2.10.0 Security Consultancy

2.2.22.0 Risk Management Consultancy

2.6.41.0 Business Project Management

Our current thinking is that this lot will provide NESO with specialist data capabilities including management, processing, storage, and analysis of data to inform and support data-led strategic decision-making, innovation, and operational efficiency. We will look to it for application of Artificial Intelligence (AI), be it in current legacy systems, new transformational platforms, or standalone solutions.

Indicative examples of required capabilities are as follows:

Data engineering

Data science

Business intelligence

Data management

AI/ML implementation and management

UVDB Codes to be registered on Achilles:

2.1.2.0 Software Development Services

2.1.10.0 Data Collection & Handling Services

2.2.3.0 IT Consultancy

Our current thinking is that this lot will enable NESO to cover both physical and digital specific security needs. This would range from internal to external threats and encompass work from policy creation to incident response.

Indicative examples of required capabilities are as follows:

Threat intelligence

Security operations

Vulnerability assessment and management

Incident response

Security consultancy and expert advice

Software and application security engineering

Security architecture

UVDB Codes to be registered on Achilles:

2.2.3.0 IT Consultancy

2.2.10.0 Security Consultancy

2.2.22.0 Risk Management Consultancy

Our current thinking is that this lot encompasses the application of principles and practices involved in the development and maintenance of digital solutions and platforms which make up NGESO's digital landscape, including software development, platform architecture, DevSecOps, cloud computing. It also includes the application of architecture standards in line with NGESO defined solution strategy and modernisation practices.

Indicative examples of required capabilities are as follows:

Solution architecture

Systems and Software development management

Quality Engineering

Application, infrastructure and network support

end-to-end user experience management

DevSecOps

Agile Development

Design thinking

UVDB Codes to be registered on Achilles:

2.1.2.0 Software Development Services

2.2.3.1 Infrastructure/Hardware

2.2.3.3 Software Implementation