Growing Mid Wales Datgloi Project - Specialist Consultancy Services / Prosiect Datgloi Canolbarth Cymru sy'n Tyfu - Gwasanaethau Ymgynghori Arbenigol

The contract timeline includes several key milestones and their indicative timings. The "Final evaluation and completion" is expected by February 2027.

The indicative milestones are:

• Contract mobilisation and inception: Following contract award.
• Baseline, engagement and data review: Early Part 1.
• Options appraisal and preferred concept: Mid Part 1.
• Part 1 gateway review: During concurrent delivery of Parts 1 and 2.
• Part 2 concurrent mobilisation: Commences alongside Part 1.
• Pilot testing and monitoring: During Part 2, concurrent with Part 1.
• Final evaluation and completion: By February 2027.

A specific contract start date or total duration is not explicitly stated, though mobilization and inception are "Following contract award".

The core scope of work for this tender, referred to as the GMW Datgloi Specialist Services, is divided into two main parts: Part 1 focusing on Design and Feasibility, and Part 2 on an Early-Stage Pilot Demonstrator.

Part 1: Design and Feasibility includes:

• Inception and Project Definition: Establishing methodology, governance, reporting, and quality assurance, reviewing existing evidence, defining project boundaries, dependencies, data requirements, and stakeholder engagement plans, and creating information request and assumptions registers.
• Baseline and Operational Assessment: Characterizing forestry operations, machinery, fuel use, and emissions, identifying operational challenges, reliability needs, seasonal factors, maintenance, downtime constraints, and priority use cases suitable for further assessment, while documenting data quality and gaps.
• Technical Feasibility and Options Appraisal: Evaluating technically viable hydrogen end-use options and technology interfaces, assessing hydrogen production, procurement, distribution, storage, and refuelling models, considering renewable energy, electrolyser requirements, utilities, space, access, security, and grid constraints. It also involves comparing with battery-electric, hybrid, or other low-carbon alternatives and recommending a preferred option based on transparent criteria.

Part 2: Early-Stage Pilot Demonstrator (commissioned upon written approval) involves:

• Refining and finalizing the detailed pilot design and delivery plan.
• Supporting the procurement, coordination, or mobilisation of agreed technology, equipment, and services within the approved scope.
• Conducting necessary site, safety, operational, regulatory, and readiness checks prior to testing.
• Assisting with integration, commissioning, operator training, and controlled trial activities.
• Implementing a specified monitoring and evaluation framework.
• Collecting and analyzing technical, energy, operational, reliability, safety, cost, user, and carbon data.
• Managing risks, issues, changes, and contingencies throughout the project delivery.
• Engaging with stakeholders, facilitating knowledge transfer, and conducting dissemination activities.
• Producing a final evaluation and completion report with clear recommendations for future deployment, investment, modification, or discontinuation.

Key Deliverables include:

• An accepted inception report and programme.
• An accepted baseline and evidence register.
• A technical review and agreed preferred option.
• An accepted gateway report and written decision.
• An approved detailed scope, readiness plan, and controls.
• Agreed evidence and progress reporting.
• Accepted final reports and all source files.
• A completion report evidencing achievement of Datgloi objectives and grant requirements.
• Regular progress meetings, concise written progress reports, and up-to-date programme, budget position, deliverable tracker, and risk, issue, action, assumption, and decision registers.

Out of scope for this tender are:

• Full-scale commercial deployment.
• Long-term operation or maintenance beyond the agreed pilot period.
• Routine forestry operations unrelated to the demonstrator.
• Permanent infrastructure or equipment purchases not explicitly included in the approved contract scope.
• Future delivery phases not funded or authorized under this commission.
• Any assumption that hydrogen must be recommended regardless of the evidence.