Western Power is procuring long-term Non-Co-Optimised Essential System Services (NCESS) for reliability and system strength in the North Country. Services include base demand reliability (max 125 MW total, min 30 MW), peak demand reliability (max 125 MW total, min 5 MW), and system strength (max 1,000 MVA, min 100 MVA). The expected commencement date is between 1 October 2029 and 1 October 2032, with a contract term of 10 to 25 years. Submissions must be made via vendorpanel by 1 February 2027. Minimum availability target is 95%.
The total fee is the sum of the fixed price and the weekly variable fee, less the capacity credit value, and subject to any annual reconciliation amount for unavailability, in accordance with the contract.
Western Power's assessment of value for money is a balanced judgement of a range of financial and nonfinancial factors, taking into account whole of life costs, environment, quality, fitness for purpose, whs, supplier capability, availability of maintenance, service and support, sustainability impacts, governments social and economic objectives, and risks.
For a facility that is currently unregistered, NCESS service providers must provide progress reports every 3 months after contract execution until the facility is in commercial operation, including: a project gantt chart with milestones and critical path to commercial operation and a risk register for critical path activities.
In the event the service is unavailable, there will be a reduction in payments by western power depending on the duration of the unavailability.
Failure to provide this information will result in exclusion from the evaluation process.
