Solar Photovoltaic technology at Alice Holt and NRS

This PIN is for market engagement only. It does not signify the commencement of any procurement process and does not constitute any commitment by Forest Research. The requirements and values set out below may be subject to change.

Forest Research has a requirement for the supply and installation of Solar Photovoltaic technology at its two main locations.

Background Forest Research (FR) is the research agency of the Forestry Commission and is Great Britain's principal organisation for forestry and tree related research. It operates from two main sites; Alice Holt Lodge located in Farnham, Surrey (GU10 4LH) and Northern Research Station (NRS) (EH25 9SY) located in Roslin, Edinburgh.

Both sites contain a mix of office accommodation, laboratories, and glasshouses & nurseries (used for research and experiments, not horticultural production). Annual electricity consumption is around 500 MWh for NRS and 850 MWh for Alice Holt.

Alice Holt has some solar panels already installed on site, consisting of 2 roof- mounted arrays, one approximately 180m2 PV (approx.17 yrs old) and the other approx. 60m2 PV (approx. 3 yrs old). Some of the panels provide a feed-in tariff. It is not yet decided whether these panels are to remain as is, or whether they will be replaced/upgraded as part of these works. There is currently no battery storage.

There is no existing Solar PV technology at NRS.

Feasibility studies and surveys at both sites are currently being conducted to identify the full extent of the requirement and the viable options.

Scope of the Requirement The requirement is for the supply and install of Solar PV technology at both sites. This work may be a single contract with the same supplier completing the work at both sites, or two contracts with different suppliers.

The work may be undertaken in stages to accommodate option selection and local planning approval processes/timescales. This work is to include the installation of the solar panels, cabling and controls, as well as supply of additional Solar PV components. The full scope of these additional components is yet to be fully identified by FR.

The supplier will be required to install all the new technology at NRS, but there may be an element of upgrade work required as well as new installation at Alice Holt.

Additional information: You are requested to express an interest in the above work by emailing [email protected]. A response is requested by no later than 23 October 2023. (NB if you have previously emailed your interest to [email protected], a further response is not required).

FR would be grateful if you are able to identify the following within your response: - Which site you are interested in; - Lead times of key components; - The proportion of your component products that is manufactured in the UK.