Lot 1: LEM019a: ERDF Audit Service for Cornwall LEM Project AND Lot 2: LEM019b: Evaluation & Summative Assessment for Cornwall LEM Project

Centrica plc seeks to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced body/bodies to undertake ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) compliant independent audit and evaluation functions for the Cornwall LEM project. This tender contains two lots with the intention that one company could bid for both lots or just one. No applicant will be disadvantaged by applying for just one of the Lots.

The Cornwall Local Energy Market Programme:

Centrica plc's Cornwall Local Energy Market project (LEM) is an EU-funded pioneering initiative involving the development of a virtual marketplace. The trial provides participants (homes and businesses) with a platform to buy and sell energy and flexibility to both the supply networks and the wholesale energy market. The project's overarching aim is to demonstrate that the electricity distribution network can facilitate an increased penetration of renewable / low carbon electricity generation by invoking novel strategies including flexibility.

LEM project outputs include reducing GHG emissions by enabling more renewable and low carbon electricity generation, as well as enabling energy asset flexibility in the most constrained areas on the distribution network. To this end the project will install low carbon energy generation assets, such as natural gas CHP, renewable energy generation, storage, private wire networks and demand-side response technologies into selected industrial and commercial premises in Cornwall.

The £19m, three-year trial is being delivered in partnership with the local distribution network operator Western Power Distribution, alongside National Grid, University of Exeter, Imperial College London and two other partners. It is being funded by Centrica and the British Gas Energy for Tomorrow Fund, alongside a £13m grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF under the ESIF Growth Programme 2014-20). The LEM Project is the largest private sector ERDF funded project in the ESIF Programme for England and as such is subject to close scrutiny.

The full specification is contained within the Invitation to Tender (ITT) document pack, which is available on request, and by agreeing to the non-disclosure confidentiality agreement (NDA).

All vendors participating will need to submit their tender via Centrica's Ariba procurement portal. Login details will be shared upon signature of NDA.

Additional information: Cornwall LEM is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (under the ESIF Growth Programme for England 2014-20) and as such operates under national procurement rules.

To request the ITT pack, please send an email to Cornwall@centrica.com with this reference in the subject title: Cornwall LEM019a+b Audit & Evaluation Service

Before setting you up in Ariba, we will require your company to sign the attached NDA and complete the company information form.

Following receipt of bidders signed NDAs and company information, access to SAP Ariba, Centrica's procurement portal will be issued by Thursday 30 August 2018 at the latest and the tender will be live until 12:00 GMT Wednesday 12 September 2018.

Questions will not be taken or answered during the ITT stage other than through Centrica's Ariba procurement portal. All questions submitted in Ariba and the answers given will be visible to competing suppliers.

Direct communication with a member of the Cornwall LEM team during the tender advertising period is strictly prohibited and may result in your tender being disqualified.