National Grid is seeking to contract with one or more vendors to support its Strategic asset management (SAM) programme through the provision of advanced analytics and visualisation tools, leveraging the existing capability of its enterprise systems, eg: enterprise asset management (EAM), enterprise content management (ECM).

The tender states: 'National Grid is facing significant challenges in the form of changes to energy sourcing and demand patterns, ageing assets and dramatically increasing investment volumes. Business response to these challenges is driving increasing requirements for IT capabilities. Current bespoke tactical solutions within Transmission have demonstrated the value that can be achieved, but are limited both functionally and technically and are not cost effective to maintain.'

SAM will deliver an integrated infrastructure, data storage, analysis and reporting tools. The SAM implementation will provide an integrated platform that will support the future growth in transmission activities, facilitating faster deployment and avoiding bespoke development of IT systems.