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One or more suppliers on this contract have also made political donations. See supplier details below.
Northern Gas Networks Limited (NGN) has established a framework agreement for the provision of specialist Design Validation and Assurance services in support of the East Coast Hydrogen (ECH) programme. The ECH project is a major infrastructure initiative to develop a hydrogen transmission and distribution network across the North East of England, supporting the transition to a low-carbon energy system and the UK's net zero targets.
This Contract Award Notice relates solely to Lot 6 - Design Validation & Assurance. This lot provides independent technical assurance of engineering design outputs across the lifecycle of the ECH programme, including the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED), Development Expenditure (DEVEX), and subsequent phases.
Services delivered under Lot 6 include, but are not limited to: independent validation of design compliance with applicable regulatory, safety, and technical standards; review and assurance of engineering design outputs including network architecture, pipeline systems, above-ground installations, and control systems; and verification of safety integrity, hazard studies, and risk mitigation measures.
The appointed supplier(s) will provide structured assurance through stage-gated reviews, ensuring traceability from requirements through to design outputs, and confirming that designs are safe, compliant, and aligned with best practice. This includes assessment of constructability, operability, maintainability, and interface management across the project.
Deliverables include assurance reports, validation statements, and the identification and tracking of corrective actions, providing confidence that the design is fit for purpose and ready to progress to detailed design and construction.
The framework enables NGN to award call-off contracts for independent design assurance services, supporting the safe, compliant, and effective delivery of the ECH programme.
| Supplier | Identifier | Award Value | Lots Won | Cross-References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BARINGA PARTNERS LLP | OC303471 | ~£6,400,000 estimated from lot values | 4 lots Project Management Office · Strategic Advisory Services · Hydrogen Market Framework · Economic and Financial Modelling | DONOR£30K across 1 donation To: Labour Party |
| CUMMING GROUP INFRASTRUCTURE LTD | 12792628 | ~£1,600,000 estimated from lot values | 1 lot Project Management Office | - |
| DNV UK LIMITED | 09208322 | ~£1,600,000 estimated from lot values | 1 lot Hydrogen Market Framework | LOBBYIST Policy Connect Limited (7 quarters) Whitehouse Communications Limited (1 quarter) |
| ELLWOODS LIMITED | 06379457 | ~£1,600,000 estimated from lot values | 1 lot Hydrogen Market Framework | - |
| GLEEDS LLP | OC453959 | ~£1,600,000 estimated from lot values | 1 lot Project Management Office | - |
| GUIDEHOUSE EUROPE LIMITED | 11378449 | ~£4,800,000 estimated from lot values | 3 lots Strategic Advisory Services · Hydrogen Market Framework · Economic and Financial Modelling | - |
| idverde Limited | 03542918 | ~£1,600,000 estimated from lot values | 1 lot Design Validation & Assurance | - |
| KPMG LLP | OC301540 | ~£3,200,000 estimated from lot values | 2 lots Strategic Advisory Services · Economic and Financial Modelling | DONOR£1.98M across 117 donations To: Conservative and Unionist Party, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats FORMER MP Mr Charles Clarke— Employment and earnings (former) Sir Oliver Letwin— Donations and other support (including loans) for activities as an MP (former) Mr Stephen Dorrell— Employment and earnings (former) |
| OVE ARUP & PARTNERS LIMITED | 01312453 | ~£6,400,000 estimated from lot values | 4 lots Strategic Advisory Services · Hydrogen Market Framework · Economic and Financial Modelling · Design Validation & Assurance | LOBBYIST iNHouse Communications Limited (6 quarters) 5654 & Company Limited (1 quarter) FORMER MP Caroline Flint— Donations and other support (including loans) for activities as an MP (former) |
| PENSPEN LIMITED | 00584446 | ~£1,600,000 estimated from lot values | 1 lot Design Validation & Assurance | - |
| QEMS LIMITED | SC241801 | ~£1,600,000 estimated from lot values | 1 lot Design Validation & Assurance | - |
| RINA TECH UK LIMITED | 07419599 | ~£3,200,000 estimated from lot values | 2 lots Hydrogen Market Framework · Design Validation & Assurance | - |
| TURNER & TOWNSEND INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED | 12495519 | ~£1,600,000 estimated from lot values | 1 lot Project Management Office | - |
| WITTEVEEN+BOS UK LIMITED | 09484635 | ~£1,600,000 estimated from lot values | 1 lot Design Validation & Assurance | - |
Taken from this notice, not from Companies House. Check the original notice — details change and are not updated here.
This procurement was divided into 6 lots, each awarded separately.
| Lot | Value | Awarded To | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 Project Management Office Jun 2026 – May 2029 | £1,600,000 | active | |
| Lot 2 Strategic Advisory Services Jun 2026 – May 2029 | £1,600,000 | active | |
| Lot 3 Hydrogen Market Framework Jun 2026 – May 2029 | £1,600,000 | active | |
| Lot 4 Economic and Financial Modelling Jun 2026 – May 2029 | £1,600,000 | active | |
| Lot 5 Construction Advisory Services Jun 2026 – May 2029 | £1,600,000 | - | active |
| Lot 6 Design Validation & Assurance Jun 2026 – May 2029 | £1,600,000 | active |
Weightings from the notice, applied to every lot.
Government spending data: These suppliers have received £2,348,022,173 in 30,417 payments (over £25k) from Department for Transport, Ministry of Defence, DEFRA, NHS England, Cabinet Office and 74 more public bodies (2010-04-01 to 2026-08-27).
Changes the buyer published to this notice after it first appeared.
The notice has been updated to include the Market Dojo invite code - E8BABAF8D7