Any company wishing to be considered for our business must demonstrate its capability.

For most product categories (including those where spend exceeds the thresholds for compliance with EU Directives) we operate a Vendor Qualification System (VQS). Where this is the case, pre-tender evaluation will be restricted to those companies who have been assessed and approved according to the rules of this system.

Potential contractors are drawn from VQS, which operates on a two-tier basis. In order to qualify for inclusion, each applicant must satisfy the requirements detailed in our VQS Rules. Please spare a few moments to read these rules and the General Notes, before making any application.

The 'approved' status on our VQS means that contractors are fit to supply National Grid, but not necessarily every product, which is being offered by that contractor.

We are required by UK law to ensure that the integrity of our electricity transmission network is maintained. So, in addition to the initial registration process (Tier 1), contractors whose product could adversely affect the integrity of our service are required to complete a 2nd Tier VQS questionnaire on a 3 (maximum) yearly basis. We will interrogate commercial/financial aspects, technical ability possibly requiring product testing for 'Type Registration', QA controls, Health & Safety, Environmental and other working practices.

The annual cost for Tier 1 registration is about £425 +VAT @17.5% and the Tier 2 cost are approximately £1200 +VAT at 17.5% per annum for the Health & Safety assessment and for the full 3 yearly assessment could be up to £5000.

In certain cases, we will advertise for tenderers in the Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union. Then, with the aid of pre-published assessment criteria a selection will be made from the applicants. The VQS is operated and maintained by the Construction Procurement Team, at our Leeds office.