Skip To main content
Search for services & information

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Provision of 10 MVAr Power Reactors


Manx Utilities (MU) is seeking to engage with the market to gather information relating to the supply, design, delivery, and operation of a power reactor of approximately 10 MVAr rating to support operation of its electricity network.

This Request for Information (RFI) is issued for market engagement purposes only. It is intended to inform future procurement strategy, specification development, and business case preparation. No commitment to procure or award a contract is implied.

MU was created in April 2014 following the merger of the Isle of Man Water and Sewerage Authority and the Manx Electricity Authority. We are a Statutory Board of the Isle of Man Government sponsored by the Department of Infrastructure. It is a £100m turnover business, responsible for providing its customers with safe, reliable, efficient and economic supplies of electricity, natural gas and clean water; as well as processing wastewater. In addition to operating a successful energy trading enterprise, MU has two subsidiary businesses specifically focussed on commercial telecommunications and subsea cable management.

Background

MU operates an islanded transmission and distribution system with interconnection to external networks. Reactive compensation and voltage control are critical to maintaining system stability and security of supply.

MU is exploring options for the provision of a reactor solution to:

  • Support voltage control under varying system conditions
  • Manage reactive power flows associated with interconnection and load variation
  • Improve system stability and operational flexibility

Responding to this Request for Information

Respondents are invited to provide information on technical, operational, and indicative commercial aspects of available solutions.

  • Technical Information
    • Reactor type (e.g. shunt reactor, air-core / iron-core, fixed / variable)
    • Typical rating ranges and configuration options around 10 MVAr voltage levels supported (e.g. 11kV / 33kV or other applicable levels)Physical characteristics (dimensions, footprint, weight)
    • Cooling arrangements (if applicable)
    • Insulation technology
    • Harmonic performance considerations
    • Losses and electrical efficiency characteristics
  • Operational Performance
    • Typical operating ranges and constraints
    • Response characteristics (steady-state / switching behaviour)
    • Interaction with system (e.g. with cables, transformers, interconnectors)
    • Expected lifetime and degradation mechanisms
    • Environmental considerations (noise levels, emissions, visual impact)
  • Maintenance & Asset Management
    • Recommended maintenance regimes
    • Typical inspection intervals
    • Known failure modes and reliability data (where available)
    • Spare parts and obsolescence considerations
    • Asset lifecycle expectations
  • Delivery & Installation
    • Typical lead times from order to delivery
    • Installation requirements (civil works, foundations, space constraints)
    • Commissioning process and duration
    • Site constraints or risks that should be considered

  • Supplier Capability & Experience
    • Relevant project experience (particularly islanded networks or interconnectors)
    • References for similar installations
    • In-house engineering and support capability
    • Proposed delivery model (e.g. supply only / EPC / turnkey)
  • Indicative Commercial Information
    • Indicative cost ranges for supply and installation
    • Key cost drivers (e.g. voltage level, design, transport)
    • Options for modularity, scalability, or future expansion
    • Typical operational cost considerations

(Note: All cost information requested is indicative and non-binding.)

  • Innovation & Alternatives
    • Alternative technologies or approaches to achieve the same function
    • Opportunities to improve performance, resilience, or lifecycle cost
    • Emerging solutions or enhancements (if relevant)

Suppliers are requested to provide a written response addressing the sections above. You should include supporting documentation (datasheets, case studies where available) clearly labelling any assumptions made

MU may invite respondents to provide clarification and/or participate in follow-up discussions or presentations.

All clarifications raised during the process will be managed in a fair and transparent manner and shared with all participants where appropriate.

Information gathered through this RFI will be used to:

  • Develop a refined technical specification
  • Inform procurement strategy (e.g. market approach, packaging, timelines)
  • Assess feasibility and options

A subsequent formal procurement process may follow.

Disclaimer

  • This RFI is issued solely to gather information and does not create any commitment on MU to undertake a procurement.
  • No information provided in response will be used to confer competitive advantage or restrict participation in any future procurement.
  • MU reserves the right to decide not to proceed with further work depending on market feedback.


Further information

Please be aware that neither MU, Procurement nor any other part of the Isle of Man Government, or any other organisation assisting MU with the procurement process, will accept any liability or any charges for expenses or losses incurred by any interested party as a result of responding to this enquiry.

In order to participate in this Request for Information, your organisation must be registered on the Isle of Man Government’s Procurement Portal. If you have not previously registered, please visit https://in-tendhost.co.uk/iomg/aspx/Home and select ‘Register’ from the menu on the right hand side of the Home Page.

Once you have registered your organisation you should select this exercise from the list of ‘Current Tenders’ and ‘View Details’ then click ‘Express Interest’ at the bottom of the page. Once you have clicked on 'Express Interest' a 'Form of Acknowledgement' tab will appear. This tab will provide a copy of the 'Appeals Procedure' to be downloaded. In order to progress to the next stage of the process you will need to 'Opt-In', complete the 'Form of Acknowledgment' questionnaire, upload your RFI Response document and click ‘Submit Return’ before the deadline as detailed below.

Should you have any difficulty in using the website or registering your interest in this way, please contact procurement@manxutilities.im

Expressions of interest and RFI Response documents must be submitted through the above Portal by noon on Friday 3rd July 2026.