FOI/202500449086 · FOI · released
Procurement process used for Xi Engineering selection: FOI release
Information requested
What was the procurement process which resulted in selecting Xi Engineering for work undertaken by EWG on the ESA – EWG being chaired by the Scottish Government (and to which the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) is a party)? What were the selection criteria used? Which other companies were considered? Of the short list (if there was one), what vetting was done? What vetting was done on Xi Engineering? Who designed the brief for Xi Engineering?
Response
What was the procurement process which resulted in selecting Xi Engineering for work undertaken by EWG on the ESA – EWG being chaired by the Scottish Government (and to which the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) is a party)?
The Eskdalemuir Working Group (EWG) was initially set up in 2004 to reach a consensus on the scientific basis for the Eskdalemuir threshold and the predictive model designed to protect the array, with a view to assessing the impact of wind farm developments in its vicinity. Its precise membership has changed over the years, but it has comprised UK and Scottish Government departments and relevant industry bodies.
Since the formation of the group in 2004, several technical studies have been commissioned up to the present day. At section 5 an outline of the studies completed up to September 2024 are summarised in the “Consultation on the Ministry of Defence's approach to safeguarding the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array” published on UK Government – Consultation on the Ministry of Defence's approach to safeguarding the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array - GOV.UK.
The Scottish Government invited Xi Engineering to provide a quote on five occasions in line with the Invitation to Quote documents which included the evaluation and award criteria. The awards are listed in the table below and the notices are published on the Public Contracts Scotland – Home - Public Contracts Scotland.
ID TITLE TENDER REF OCID Quotes Received 691361 Award of Wind Turbine Seismic Vibration: Calculations APR446862 ocds-r6ebe6- 0000687457 1 XI Engineering 671569 Award of Eskdalemuir Wind Turbine Seismic Vibration Phase 4 Field Audit Reports OCT431249 ocds-r6ebe6- 0000669460 1 XI Engineering 630318 Award of Eskdalemuir Seismic Array - evaluation of seismic output SEP394398 ocds-r6ebe6-0000630195 1 XI Engineering 617730 Award of Evaluation and calculation of measured seismic output of an existing Eskdalemuir site MAR383218 ocds-r6ebe6- 0000610792 1 XI Engineering 620136 Award of Eskdalemuir Wind Turbine Seismic Vibration Headroom Assessment APR385335 ocds-r6ebe6- 0000619689 1 XI Engineering
Any other commissions were not directly procured by the Scottish Government. Other organisations such as the Aviation Investment Fund Company Ltd (AIFCL) have commissioned Xi Engineering directly. In some instances, the Scottish Government has contributed funding towards the costs.
What were the selection criteria used?
I enclose a copy of the standard set of evaluation and award criteria which is used to assess all Scottish Government tender exercises, including for Xi Engineering. This sets out the criteria used to assess bids.
Which other companies were considered?
On all five tender exercises only, Xi Engineering submitted a bid for evaluation.
Of the short list (if there was one), what vetting was done?
The enclosed copy of the standard set of evaluation and award criteria is used to assess all Scottish Government tender exercises, including for Xi Engineering. This sets out the criteria used to assess bids.
What vetting was done on Xi Engineering?
The enclosed copy of the standard set of evaluation and award criteria is used to assess all Scottish Government tender exercises, including for Xi Engineering. This sets out the criteria used to assess bids.
Who designed the brief for Xi Engineering?
Scottish Government officials in the Energy and Climate Change Directorate.
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Detected exemption language
At section 5 an outline of the studies completed up to September 2024 are summarised in the “Consultation on the Ministry of Defence's approach to safeguarding the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array” published on UK Government – Consultation on the Ministry of Defence's approach to safeguarding the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array - GOV.UK.