Source: https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a13bf7-a84c-70ab-84af-b049f4eff3c4/research-project-on-photovoltaics-and-fire-safety awarded GB open procedure Suitable for SMEs # Research project on Photovoltaics and fire safety [Department of Energy and Climate Change](https://tendernation.io/buyers/department-of-energy-and-climate-change) Incumbent usually keeps it Estimated value £50 to £110,000 Published 18 Nov 2016 Deadline Closed 25 Jun 2015 ## Who can bid - Buyer says suitable for SMEs The buyer ticked “suitable for SMEs” on the notice. Anyone can still bid. - Buyer says suitable for VCSEs The buyer ticked “suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises” on the notice. - Small contract value Valued under £135,018 including VAT, the lowest Procurement Act threshold for goods and services. - Open procedure Anyone can submit a full tender; there is no shortlisting stage. [More contracts for small businesses and VCSEs](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/for-small-businesses) ## About this tender Notice summary: This study is for a 3 year research project to investigate fire safety of photovoltaics. The study will include a literature survey, a survey of standards, investigations of fires and recommendations. Description: Statistics show that solar PV deployment has risen very rapidly over the last 4 years, driven by large global drop in technology costs. There are more than 0.6 million UK buildings with solar PV installed with solar PV capacity in the UK reaching 5.2GW by the end of February 2015. A recent impact assessment indicated that the UK could have 12-14 GW of solar PV by 2020. PV-related fires are extremely rare; however, a small number of fires involving PV systems has been reported in the press. To date, there has been little concerted follow-up to understand the causes and to improve standards. This proposal will investigate data from fires apparently caused by faulty/incorrectly installed PV systems and comprises: • Literature search of PV fires drawing on international experience • Compilation of a database of records of fires in which PV is involved • Engineering inspections of fires believed to be related to PV over the next 3 years • A review of the standards/proposed standards, BRE, IET, MCS, etc. • Recommendations for avoiding fire, for input into standards • Presentations to DECC and industry. The IET is developing a Code of Practice for PV systems (of all sizes), which will be published in summer 2015. The IET has agreed that the proposed fire safety study will feed into future updates of this code of practice. This project is of interest to a number of teams in DECC (Office for Renewables Deployment, Strategy, Electricity Market Reform (contracts for difference) and to DCLG (fire safety). The project will be managed by officials from both DECC and DCLG with liaison with the IET. The maximum value of this contract is £110,000 + VAT. Bids which exceed this amount will not be considered. The contract will run until March 2018; however, we propose to add break clauses in March 2016 and March 2017. Additional information: Any questions regarding this requirement please email: or Deadline is 12 noon on 25th June 2015. Read full description ## CPV classification Research and development services and related consultancy services Source Contracts Finder (UK) [View official notice](https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/6436ec1a-adc8-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b) 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. 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