Mutual Energy Limited (‘Mutual’) sought a panel of 3 competent and experienced providers for the award of places on a framework. The objective was to appoint providers that could deliver electrical and instrumentation services aimed at small scale projects with a call-off value of less than 10 000 GBP per activity. Whilst Mutual conducted the tender process, the Framework Agreement and call-off contracts were entered into by Interconnector Services Limited (‘ISL’), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mutual, which exists to contract services which are shared across the 3 operating companies of the Mutual Energy Group (West Transmission Limited, Belfast Gas Transmission Limited and Premier Transmission Limited). The providers were appointed to the panel on the premise that they have provided a market rate for particular activities, but are not guaranteed work.

The Mutual gas companies engage the services of expert consultancy service providers to undertake a range of technical, integrity and compliance related services. These services cover a range of disciplines including Health and Safety management, emergency response, pipeline integrity and operation, and design (mechanical, civil, electrical and instrumentation) for plant enhancements and replacements.

The consultancy service providers have previously been procured as and when required. The process of procuring each service separately is administratively burdensome. Also, the services are often required at short notice e.g. following a site electrical trip, there may be investigative works required at short notice. In light of this, Mutual took the decision to advertise the appointment of several gas consultants to operate via a framework contract, in order to create a panel that would simplify and expedite engaging the experts at competitively tendered rates when specific work requirements arise.

This project incorporates minor works associated with electrical and instrumentation projects. The historic costs for these projects have been relatively low, but these are expected to increase due to a number of imminent smaller compliance work activities. Mutual anticipates a total value of 250 000 GBP over the period of the framework, with an anticipated average call off value of less than 10 000 GBP.