Upcoming

Software for Cable Thermal Ratings, Tunnel Thermal Modelling and Specialist Calculation capabilities (RoCiT, DRY, THORIN, RAUROS)

National Grid UK Limited · Private utility

In brief

National Grid UK Limited has announced plans to buy IT and software work. This is an early notice: there is nothing to bid on yet, but it tells you a tender may follow.

The notice does not state a value.

The contract runs for 3 years, up to 5 years with extensions, starting 15 January 2027.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Competition

Usually high: a median of 6 bids per contract for IT and software contracts across the UK (from 912 awards in the last 12 months).

What the notice says

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to obtain structured input from the market regarding the functional, technical, commercial, and non-functional capabilities required to support a future cable thermal rating and specialist calculation platform for National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET). NGET is seeking to understand the availability, maturity, and suitability of solutions that can support the replacement, enhancement, or evolution of existing in-house engineering capabilities, including: • RoCiT - tunnel cable thermal modelling • DRY - direct burial dry-out and effective backfill diameter calculation • THORIN - effective backfill modelling for solid-filled troughs…Read the full description
The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to obtain structured input from the market regarding the functional, technical, commercial, and non-functional capabilities required to support a future cable thermal rating and specialist calculation platform for National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET). NGET is seeking to understand the availability, maturity, and suitability of solutions that can support the replacement, enhancement, or evolution of existing in-house engineering capabilities, including: • RoCiT - tunnel cable thermal modelling • DRY - direct burial dry-out and effective backfill diameter calculation • THORIN - effective backfill modelling for solid-filled troughs and non-standard geometries • RAUROS - thermal modelling of water-cooled cable systems In addition, NGET is interested in understanding broader rating enhancement capabilities and specialist calculation tools that improve modelling accuracy in complex installation environments. Through this RFI, NGET aims to gather insight into: • Supplier capability, domain expertise, and relevant experience in cable thermal modelling • Product maturity, technical readiness, and proven use in comparable utility environments • Commercial models, including licensing approaches, modular pricing (including specialist calculators), total cost of ownership, and flexibility to scale • Architectural approaches, integration patterns, and deployment models appropriate for a Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) environment • Security, scalability, and compliance considerations • Implementation methodologies, delivery approaches, and associated risks • Availability of integrated or modular solutions, including core rating engines and supporting calculators This RFI will inform NGET's future sourcing strategy and solution design, including the potential adoption of product- based, configurable, bespoke, or hybrid approaches, as well as appropriate commercial and contracting structures. The objective is to identify solutions that can deliver engineering-grade, transparent, auditable, and reproducible calculations, while supporting long-term maintainability, extensibility, and alignment with evolving operational, regulatory, and commercial requirements.

How to bid

  1. Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
  2. Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
  3. Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.

Timeline

  1. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 064265-2026

About the buyer

  1. PURCON 5035 Retail Supply Partnership

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  3. Google Products & Services Reseller Framework Agreement

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    Closing soon17 hours leftSuitable for SMEsFramework

    £15mframework ceiling
  4. The Provision of Access to Media Monitoring Services

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    £40kestimated
  5. King's Trust DBS and Vetting Services

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    Closing soon17 hours leftSuitable for SMEsSmall contract

    £65kestimated

From notice 064265-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 8 July 2026. We last checked for changes on 27 September 2026.