Electric vehicle charge point operator Request for Information

Description

South Kesteven District Council are conducting initial market research in which they are seeking information from a range of commissioners and providers to inform their procurement approach. In particular, the Council are looking to respondents to: - 1. Share learning on a range of delivery solutions 2. Share learning on different procurement approaches 3. Share feedback on the appeal of operating a portfolio of existing EV charge points Participants are invited to respond to the questions within the Soft Market Testing Questionnaire at the end of this document. Responses should be submitted via ProContract by 12:00 noon 01/09/2026. South Kesteven District Council is currently looking at options for its provision of infrastructure for electric vehicles across the district and to implement an external operator model that provides a sustainable and modernised service which meets the needs of our residents. This will align with the Council's ambitions to drive partnership opportunities to support and encourage renewable energy use in the district and unlock green growth, and ensure South Kesteven has a high-quality network of electric vehicle charging points that meets the needs of residents, businesses and visitors. The soft market testing exercise is intended to allow interested organisations with appropriate experience to outline their views and ideas about the future provision of South Kesteven's publicly available charging infrastructure. The Council will consider the responses received as a result of this exercise to help define the preferred operating model for its existing charge points, and to help inform the options appraisal and the decision-making process. Potential bidders will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to the soft market testing. Potential bidders must also note that a response to this soft market testing exercise does not guarantee an invitation to participate in this or any future procurement exercise that the Council may conduct. Providers are invited to provide a response to the soft market questionnaire that can be accessed via the below link: https://www.eastmidstenders.org (https://www.eastmidstenders.org)/ https://procontract.due-north.com/ProjectManagement/ProjectDashboard?projectId=a9735dfd-e78f-f111-813c-005056b64545 The deadline for submission for the soft market testing is: 12 noon 1st September 2026.