Expert on the GB natural gas for heat supply chain and the use of gas for the decarbonisation of heating.

This procurement seeks to contract one or two technical experts in the use of methane and/or hydrogen gas for heating to support the development of this work though providing expert input and advice to the project team, as well as providing rigorous credible expert challenge to externally appointed contractors and our own developing thinking.

In particular we are looking for the following expertise:

Gas production, distribution and markets, including:

Highly desirable:

• Supply: gas markets and security of supply, novel gas sources (biomethane and fracking) and gas prices.
• Network infrastructure: how the transmission network and distribution network works (engineering and operational aspects), how it varies according to location, costs of operation and maintenance, repurposing(?), decommissioning and upgrading, extending, safety and security (including leakage), storage and transport, interaction with wider infrastructure (electricity and transport), interaction with consumers & interaction with novel gas sources.
• Consumers & market structure/ supply chain: charging metering & billing, public perception, investment climate (generation & infrastructure), relationships between gas suppliers/ generators, DNOs, consumers and regulator.

Desirable:

• Demand: key sectors creating demand and their differing needs, demand patterns and how they may change; and operational aspects (dealing with peaks).
• Regulatory framework and implementation thereof: gas regulations, building regulations, planning, environmental/ safety.
• Gas use in buildings: building gas distribution systems and meters, gas safety systems.
• Gas end-use appliances: types and prevalence in domestic and non-domestic buildings, supply chains including product manufacturers, product development processes, installer base, industry characteristics, skills & standards.
• Industrial gas users: types of users, appliances, prevalence.

Hydrogen production, distribution and storage, including:

Highly desirable:

• Technologies for generating hydrogen at scale, including: types, performance characteristics, costs, pros & cons, current state of technology development, innovation requirements, current market/industry landscape, future market and technology trends, future costs and performance under different scenarios;
• The transportation of hydrogen throughout GB, i.e. where the existing infrastructure is sufficient but will need to be repurposed or where entirely new pipelines will need to be constructed;
• Technologies for the use of hydrogen in GB homes and businesses, including hydrogen boilers, hobs, domestic fires, fuel cell hydrogen and what needs to be done to enable the development of a hydrogen for energy infrastructure, e.g. adding colorant and odorant to hydrogen
• Logistics of converting gas networks and appliances to safe hydrogen systems;
• Innovation: scope for innovation in hydrogen production, storage and combustion to reduce costs and increase efficiency.

Additional information: If you wish to take part in this procurement please see the attached Tender documents attached to this Notice and send your completed Proposal to Katie Halter at address stipulated in the "Who to Contact" section.

Any late submissions will not be considered. BEIS reserves the right to halt the procurement process and to not award a contract. BEIS will not be held liable for recovery of costs from unsuccessful bids if a contract is not awarded. All costs will be borne by the bidding organisations. If a contract is created it will be upon BEIS Standard Terms and Conditions, which are available on Contracts Finder with this notice. Completed tender submission must be sent to Katie Halter at katie.halter@beis.gov.uk by the deadline stipulated above. Bid clarification, if necessary, will take place between 16 and 18 August 2017. If successful and upon contract signature, the supplier is expected to attend a kick-off meeting taking place on a date to be confirmed. Project completion is required by 31 March 2018.