Source: https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a13bd6-0ab2-713e-8aec-3bd5a54acace/provision-of-cambridge-city-centre-district-heat-network

pending GB open procedure

# Provision of Cambridge City Centre District Heat Network

[Cambridge City Council](https://tendernation.io/buyers/cambridge-city-council)

Open field

Estimated value

Not stated

Published

9 Jul 2026

Deadline

57 days left

15 Dec 2026

## Who can bid

- Below-threshold contract

    Buyers cannot shortlist bidders on suitability before tenders are in, so everyone gets to submit a bid (except some larger works contracts).

    [Procurement Act 2023, section 85](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/section/85)
- Open procedure

    Anyone can submit a full tender; there is no shortlisting stage.

## About this tender

Since June 2023 Cambridge City Council has been working with consultants and academic partners to develop an Outline Business Case for a City Centre District Heating Network. Detailed Project Development has now completed, proposing a low carbon network using air source and river source heat pumps, and supported by a transition to electric boilers from gas boilers to supplement peak heat demand.

This work has been brought forward through a partnership between the City Council, the County Council, and 19 Academic institutions with significant heating demand in the city centre. Connections to many of these partner heat loads now forms the basis of the Minimum Viable Product identified for delivery through a Partner-invested Joint Venture Partnership, and with strategic ambition to expand such a network across the City in the long term, informed by an informal Heat Zoning review which has also been completed.

A Cambridge City Centre Heat Network represents a timely and valuable opportunity for Cambridge's academic institutions and public-sector organisations, who all share ambitious decarbonisation goals, and we are now seeking expressions of interest from potential partners who wish to be appointed to the established partnership to provide Design, Build, Operation and maintenance Services, inclusive of metering and billing. We feel that establishment of a new district heating network in a city of Global significance is a momentous opportunity, and we wish to procure a DBOM partner who shares our vision and understanding of the opportunities which this may bring.

We request that all interested parties put forward contact details for appropriate representatives who wish to be involved with early market testing on the Contracting opportunity, with meeting dates to be confirmed between 23rd February and 6th March 2026. Please contact 

The Council will be represented by Amberside Advisors, who together with Buro Happold and Sustainability Co have provided specialist consultancy services for the DPD Study. Formal procurement is anticipated for Q3 2026, and remains subject to both Council Cabinet approval, and successful receipt of Funding from the Green Heat Network Fund, for which bidding is targeted in March/April 2026.

Procurement is anticipated to seek Commercial stage services, moving into a main contract and formal start of works by end-2027. A Phased 5-10yr constriction period is anticipated, with first heat on for phase 1 connections targeted for 2030.

Read full description

## CPV classification

Urban development construction work District-heating mains construction work Heating works Energy and related services

Source

Find a Tender (UK) · Notice ocds-h6vhtk-06568b-2026-07-09T09:09:46+01:00

[View official notice](https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/ocds-h6vhtk-06568b-2026-07-09T09:09:46+01:00)

Never miss a tender like this again

Get AI summaries, deadline alerts and a bid pipeline for tenders matched to your business. Free to start.

[Track tenders free](https://tendernation.io/register)

[Buyer profile Cambridge City Council: past awards and live tenders](https://tendernation.io/buyers/cambridge-city-council) [Sector More Construction work tenders](https://tendernation.io/sectors/construction-work)

## More tenders like this

[Bannister Sports Centre Athletic Track Soft Market Testing Exercise · Harrow Council · 38 days left · 26 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a1540d-d9e4-71cb-ad57-1603e9042fec/bannister-sports-centre-athletic-track-soft-market-testing-exercise) [Building construction work – Budowa budynku mieszkalnego wielorodzinnego wraz z infrastrukturą techniczną w miejscowości Szczucin · KZN SIM Tarnów Sp. z o.o. · 7 days left · 26 Oct 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-d859-7328-9ee6-a304ce645326/poland-building-construction-work-budowa-budynku-mieszkalnego-wielorodzinneg) [Floor-covering work – Universität Leipzig, Leuschnerplatz, Global Hub, Forschungsneubau · Staatsbetrieb Sächsisches Immobilien- und Baumanagement, Zentrale, Zentralstelle Vergabe- und Vertragsmanagement · 3 days left · 22 Oct 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-acfc-73ee-baab-9e699f88521a/germany-floor-covering-work-universitat-leipzig-leuschnerplatz-global-hub) [Demolition work – Rück- und Neubau Lichthochmaste · Hamburg Verkehrsanlagen GmbH · 7 days left · 26 Oct 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-6ef0-7276-94e2-d5fa0cb2d6c7/germany-demolition-work-ruck-und-neubau-lichthochmaste) [Plastering work – Modernisierung und Erweiterung Matthias-Claudius-Heim Würzburg · Diakonisches Werk Würzburg e.V. · 1 day left · 20 Oct 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-e605-706f-8937-7f0ba18339c0/germany-plastering-work-modernisierung-und-erweiterung-matthias-claudius-hei) [Heating plant construction work – Petrašiūnų elektrinės elektrifikacija, įrengiant elektros energijos kaupimo įrenginius, dyzelinį generatorių ir rekonstruojant 6 kV skirstyklą (projektavimas ir rangos darbai) · Akcinė bendrovė „Kauno energija“ (PV) · 7 days left · 26 Oct 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a156a9-6f1d-727f-a077-bc25dec93b92/lithuania-heating-plant-construction-work-petrasiunu-elektrines-elektrifikac)
