With this tender, called Software Development Services for Outage Planning Platform, Swissgrid intends to conclude framework agreements with two (2) suitable partners over a period of 14.25 years starting October 1, 2025, who will provide the following services in the area of software development:
- consulting, analysis and conceptualisation
- design and implementation
- enhancements, improvements, and maintenance
- testing
- documentation
- support
It is expected that the service providers sought will be able to support Swissgrid both throughout the entire life cycle and for individual phases.
The main application to be developed is called ORCA App. ORCA App also encompasses its parts of the integration with other applications. The supplier contracted will be the IT-technical software development responsible for the ORCA App. The ORCA Project, Swissgrid-side, additionally covers the data interfaces and functional developments in other existing and newly developed IT systems in Swissgrid either by driving those developments or coordinating with developments driven by other Swissgrid projects. The goal is to evolve this set of IT systems to form an integrated ORCA Platform providing a harmonized User Experience (UX) for the business processes of all user groups by 2030. In addition, maintenance, support and further development are planned until 2039.
Furthermore, it should be noted that Swissgrid plans to conclude a framework agreement with both the first-ranked bidder and the second-ranked bidder of this tender (as a backup supplier), so that in the event of an exit clause being drawn (exit scenario with the first-placed bidder), the optional services for the further development of the MVP, its maintenance and support (and as well the conceptualisation services) could also be delivered by the second-placed bidder (the exit clause can be drawn by Swissgrid by the end of 2026 at the latest, see also provisions in the master framework agreement).