The Biscay Gulf electrical Interconnection consists of the construction of a 2000 MW link. This link is composed of 2 (two) circuits rated 1 000 MW each for DC operating voltage of 400 kV, comprised of 4 power cables, 4 converter station terminals located close to 400 kV Cubnezais substation (France) and Gatica substation (Spain). The length of the route is estimated to be approx. 375 km long starting in Spanish Pais Vasco region (near Bilbao), with underground cable of about 15 km, a submarine section around 280 km long, and an underground cable on the French side of about 80km long to an ending point in Nouvelle Aquitaine (Gironde department, near Bordeaux).

The “Biscay Gulf Electrical Interconnection FR-ES” is a joint project developed by INELFE on behalf of Réseau Transport d’Electricité (RTE) and Red Electica de Espagna (REE) respectively transmission system operators in France and Spain.

The project is also supported by the European Union’s Connecting Europe facility (CEF).

Terrestrial Civil Works designated for the installation of 4 HVDC power cables and 2 fiber optic cables of a total underground cable route length of approximately 15 km in Spanish side (landfall works excluded) and 80 km in French side (landfall works excluded).

The scope includes the design (including detail design), engineering, procurement, construction (including trenchless solution to cross Dordogne and Garonne river in France). The lengths given are approximate and may be varied to allow optimal production and installation cable lengths.

The Applicants must note that to perform the works in France, the economic operator (single company or at least 1 member of consortium) or its proposed subcontractors must be qualified for the referenced type of works in the RTE qualification system and to perform the works in Spain, the economic operator (single company or at least one member of consortium) or its proposed subcontractors must be qualified for the referenced type of works in the REE qualification system. These qualifications are required for candidates at time of request to participate and shall be maintained valid until the completion of works.

Further detail of the scope of the contract may be provided notably in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) documents.

See Section VI.3) for more details about the procurement process.

The contracting entity will be INELFE in its name and on behalf of REE and RTE as a central purchasing body.