Life extension of existing mission-critical control and automation systems - 26/12557

The Gas Storage Denmark A/S in Denmark from Europe region has released this tender for Life extension of existing IT solutions for managing the gas storage Energinet assesses that the conditions for applying the exemption provision in Article 50(c)(ii) of the Utilities Directive are met, as the intended services are, for objective technical reasons, only performed by suppliers who have the existing system responsibility and the necessary access, documentation, platform competence and service obligation for the relevant system parts. This includes the relevant Siemens companies, including Siemens Mobility A/S and Siemens AG, as well as ABB A/S. The existing SCADA solutions are an operationally critical part of managing the operational operations in both gas storage facilities. The solution has been established, adapted and continuously expanded over time, and the listed suppliers have, by virtue of the existing service agreements, the necessary system knowledge, access to technical documentation, configuration knowledge, competences and responsibility to be able to carry out the necessary upgrades and adaptations without a disproportionate risk of operational disruptions, loss of functionality or lack of coherence with the existing solutions. It is not considered to be a realistic or proportionate alternative to have other suppliers perform the services. Such a solution would require extensive handover, mapping, reverse engineering, testing, validation, certification and the resulting complex risk management, which would entail significant additional costs, time delays and increased operational risk. Energinet also estimates that a switch to other control systems from other system suppliers would entail costs of at least DKK 100 million, which is not commensurate with the estimated value of the necessary maintenance to maintain the expected continued service life of the system. On this basis, Energinet has assessed that there are no reasonable alternative solutions or substitution options that can meet the need in a technically, economically and operationally sound manner. The direct award is therefore not justified by a desire to avoid competition, but by objective technical conditions linked to the existing control and automation systems, including considerations of interoperability, operational reliability, security of supply and risk limitation. Ensuring a market price Even though the project agreement is awarded directly to Siemens Mobility A/S and ABB A/S, Energinet will ensure that the price is market and reasonable. This is done by requesting suppliers to submit a specified offer with a separate indication of hourly rates as fixed prices. Energinet will make a critical assessment of the offered prices, including by comparing them with existing contract prices, historical prices, internal reference prices, relevant market data and any comparable services, where this is possible. Energinet will also reserve the right to negotiate prices, terms and scope of delivery with Siemens Mobility A/S and ABB A/S with a view to ensuring thatthat the agreements are concluded on economically justifiable and market terms. In order to strengthen price transparency and limit the risk of direct award, the agreement incorporates requirements for price breakdown, documentation of significant cost elements and clear frameworks for the use of hourly rates, spare parts and any additional services. The agreements are also limited to the services that are necessary to upgrade the existing control solutions and may not be used to expand the suppliers position beyond the technically justified need. On this basis, Energinet assesses that the use of direct award is objectively justified, proportionate and necessary, and that the subsequent price assessment and negotiation ensures the greatest possible exposure of the economic terms within the technical sole supplier situation. In total, services worth between 8-15 million DKK are expected to be purchased. The assessment of the technical sole supplier situation is not based on the suppliers identity as companies, but on objective technical conditions of the existing installations. The process control and automation systems covered are based on supplier-specific and proprietary hardware and software platforms, which have been integrated with the plants process equipment, safety functions, operator interfaces, communication interfaces and other system components over a number of years. The existing system suppliers possess the necessary system knowledge, access to proprietary components, supplier-specific configurations and integration solutions as well as the existing service and maintenance responsibility for the system parts covered. A transfer of the services in question to another supplier will require extensive mapping of existing systems, establishment of new system knowledge, analysis of proprietary configurations and integrations and implementation of extensive testing, validation and risk management activities. This is assessed to entail significant technical, safety, time and financial risks, including the risk of affecting the continued operation of the plants and security of supply. For the above reasons, an analogy is used to the exemption provision in the article of the Utilities Directive on technical sole supplier situations, see Article 50, letter c, ii).and that the subsequent price assessment and negotiation ensures the greatest possible exposure of the economic terms within the technical sole supplier situation to competition. In total, services worth between 8-15 million DKK are expected to be purchased. The assessment of the technical sole supplier situation is not based on the identity of the suppliers as companies, but on objective technical conditions of the existing installations. The process control and automation systems covered are based on supplier-specific and proprietary hardware and software platforms, which have been integrated with the plants process equipment, safety functions, operator interfaces, communication interfaces and other system components over a number of years. The existing system suppliers possess the necessary system knowledge, access to proprietary components, supplier-specific configurations and integration solutions as well as the existing service and maintenance responsibility for the system parts covered. A transfer of the services in question to another supplier will require extensive mapping of existing systems, establishment of new system knowledge, analysis of proprietary configurations and integrations and implementation of extensive testing, validation and risk management activities. This is assessed to entail significant technical, safety, time and economic risks, including the risk of affecting the continued operation of the facilities and security of supply. For the above reasons, an analogy is used to the exemption provision in the Utilities Directives article on technical sole supplier situation, see Article 50, letter c, ii).and that the subsequent price assessment and negotiation ensures the greatest possible exposure of the economic terms within the technical sole supplier situation to competition. In total, services worth between 8-15 million DKK are expected to be purchased. The assessment of the technical sole supplier situation is not based on the identity of the suppliers as companies, but on objective technical conditions of the existing installations. The process control and automation systems covered are based on supplier-specific and proprietary hardware and software platforms, which have been integrated with the plants process equipment, safety functions, operator interfaces, communication interfaces and other system components over a number of years. The existing system suppliers possess the necessary system knowledge, access to proprietary components, supplier-specific configurations and integration solutions as well as the existing service and maintenance responsibility for the system parts covered. A transfer of the services in question to another supplier will require extensive mapping of existing systems, establishment of new system knowledge, analysis of proprietary configurations and integrations and implementation of extensive testing, validation and risk management activities. This is assessed to entail significant technical, safety, time and economic risks, including the risk of affecting the continued operation of the facilities and security of supply. For the above reasons, an analogy is used to the exemption provision in the Utilities Directives article on technical sole supplier situation, see Article 50, letter c, ii).time and financial risks, including the risk of affecting the continued operation of the facilities and security of supply. For the above reasons, an analogy is used to the exemption provision in the Utilities Directives article on technical sole supplier situation, see Article 50, letter c, ii).time and financial risks, including the risk of affecting the continued operation of the facilities and security of supply. For the above reasons, an analogy is used to the exemption provision in the Utilities Directives article on technical sole supplier situation, see Article 50, letter c, ii). with tender notice no. 694233-2026 published on 08 Oct 2026. The tender is due to expire on 06 Jan 2027. This tender is sourced from TED Europa and is eligible for suppliers interested in Automation system. Interested bidders can obtain further information including complete bid documents or ways to participate by registering on Tender Impulse and referencing via Tender Impulse ID 15355009.