UK SAF Clearing House: Delivery Partner

Concepts

• technical testing and analysis
• department for transport
• delivery partner
• uk saf clearing house
• uk clearing house
• clearing house
• purpose of the uk clearing house
• fuel testing in-house
• saf
• consultancy services

Location

United Kingdom:

Description

Subject to approvals, the Department for Transport (the Authority) is seeking to appoint a delivery partner to set up and operate a UK Clearing House to support testing and certification of new advanced fuels for aviation. The purpose of the UK Clearing House is to act as a central hub to co-ordinate and support testing and certification of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Any new aviation fuel must meet strict fuel specifications before it can be certified as safe for use in aircraft. To reach this, fuel must undergo stages of testing against a process to meet the required ASTM standard. The cost and complexity of testing is a significant barrier to new fuels entering the market. The proposed solution is to procure a supplier to set up and operate the UK Clearing House. The Clearing House will provide advice to fuel producers on testing, signpost toward testing facilities, and support the DfT in providing grant funding for eligible testing and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) reviews.

Total Quantity or Scope

The Department for Transport (DfT) is committed to reaching net zero aviation by 2050 and has identified sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a key technology to achieve this. Supporting production and uptake of SAF is therefore a priority for the Department. When a new aviation fuel is made, it must undergo multiple stages of fit-for-purpose testing at significant cost to the producer to be ready for commercial use. This is a barrier to market entry for SAF and to reducing GHG emissions from aviation. Research suggests that the UK has strong existing capability for the testing and certification of SAF. However, there is currently no central function to support producers in navigating the testing process or provide funding. The Department intends to procure a delivery partner to set up and operate a UK Clearing House to support all the tiers of the ASTM D7566 process, which is the globally recognised route for approving alternative fuels for safe use in aviation. The delivery partner will help design the operating model of the Clearing House to meet requirements. It will co-ordinate a network of facilities with capability to test new forms of SAF and will provide advice and guidance to support fuel producers through the required stages towards certification. The supplier will not be required to conduct fuel testing in-house, although if based in a physical centre with relevant capability this could feature. The delivery partner will also create a process by which fuel testing and OEM review costs can be reimbursed by the Department via grant funding if deemed appropriate, in line with the Department’s eligibility criteria. The supplier will not be required to manage, hold or distribute Government funds, but will support DfT in assessing eligibility of grant applications. The delivery partner will be expected to put in place a nominated figurehead to oversee operations, to raise the profile of the Clearing House and work with UK and international stakeholders. Indicative dates: Service to go live: February 2023 onwards. Estimated contract duration: 2 years and 2 months Estimated publish date of ITT: November 2022. We intend to hold a supplier event in November 2022. The aim is to share more detail on the above requirement, gauge the level of interest in the market and to use your expertise to inform the specification. To register your interest in attending the above please email saf@dft.gov.uk by 28th October. The competition will be run via the DfT e-portal system, Jaggaer, and interested parties will need to register for this service at Department for Transport Sourcing Portal (jaggaer.com) This Prior information Notice does not imply any commitment and is not a call for competition. We are assessing the market interest in providing the services required. Without sufficient interest the tendering exercise may be aborted. Should we proceed, the invitation to tender will be the subject to a separate notice and it is that notice to which potential suppliers will need to respond at the appropriate time. All relevant information will be contained within that notice, including how to apply for the opportunity.

CPV Codes

• 71600000 - Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services
• 71610000 - Composition and purity testing and analysis services

Other Information

** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. **