PUBLIC CONTRACT APPLICATION

                                                                 

         PUBLIC CONTRACT PROJECT : CASE WIND-SOLAR

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 Concerned About New Rules for Large Wind & Solar Farms? Your Voice is Crucial.

The UK government has recently changed how large onshore wind and solar energy projects over 100MW are approved, through the Infrastructure Planning (Onshore Wind and Solar Generation) Order 2025.

If you are an independent game developer, an app publisher, or a mid-sized renewable energy firm, you have likely experienced firsthand how unfair contract terms and regulatory barriers imposed by dominant market players can stifle your growth. You are not alone. Our analysis shows a systemic pattern of behaviour, from excessive commission rates and tied services to planning frameworks that favour large incumbents. COCOO is creating a strategic alliance of affected businesses to challenge these unlawful practices. Our Contract Project is not just about litigation; it is about building collective commercial power. By uniting, we can form a powerful, unified entity to negotiate fairer terms, develop industry-wide standards for fair dealing, and even position ourselves to bid collectively for major public sector contracts. We believe that by turning individual grievances into collective strength, we can reshape the marketplace. We invite you to contact us for a confidential discussion on how your business can join this initiative and become part of the solution

COCOO, an organisation dedicated to upholding public interest and good governance, is concerned that these new rules could have significant impacts on local communities, potentially sidelining local democratic input in planning decisions, and posing risks to protected landscapes and vital agricultural land. We are investigating whether these changes adequately balance national energy goals with environmental protection and community rights.

Are you, your community, or your business potentially affected by these new planning rules for major onshore wind or solar projects?

  • Do you have concerns about a proposed large-scale development in your area?
  • Are you worried about the impact on local landscapes, wildlife, or agricultural land?
  • Do you feel local voices are not being adequately heard in the planning process for these significant projects?

COCOO is actively scrutinising this new Order and its implications. We are gathering information from those directly affected and exploring all avenues to ensure that concerns are addressed, transparency is maintained, and environmental and public interests are protected. This includes assessing the potential for collective action to seek redress for any harms identified.

Take Action Now:

If you share these concerns, or believe you might be negatively impacted by these changes to energy infrastructure planning, we want to hear from you. Sharing your experience and information can make a real difference.

Please contact us in confidence to tell us your story or to register your interest in this investigation.

Email us at: [Insert specific email, e.g., energyplanning@cocoo.uk or use contact@cocoo.uk]

Or visit our dedicated contact page: [Link to a specific contact/information form on cocoo.uk]

Together, we can work towards ensuring energy development is fair, sustainable, and respects both local communities and our shared environment.

UK TENDERS

Claro, he realizado una búsqueda y un análisis más detallado de las oportunidades de licitación pública en el Reino Unido, centrándome en aquellas en las que COCOO podría participar con una ventaja estratégica significativa, ya sea como proveedor de servicios o como mediador experto. Nuestra ventaja competitiva se basa en el conocimiento especializado que hemos acumulado en la intersección del derecho de la competencia, la regulación de los mercados digitales y la política energética.

Nuestra oportunidad más directa para formalizar nuestra experiencia es a través de los marcos de servicios legales (frameworks) del Crown Commercial Service (CCS). Los documentos que ha proporcionado, como los de RM3787 (Wider Public Sector Legal Services), aunque ya han expirado, nos dan el modelo exacto de los servicios que requiere el sector público. El sucesor de este panel es el marco RM6240 Public Sector Legal Services. Dentro de este, debemos centrarnos en el Lote 1, “Servicios Jurídicos Generales”. La matriz de especialidades para estos marcos incluye áreas que son el núcleo de nuestra experiencia:

  • Derecho de la Competencia: Nuestra investigación sobre los mercados digitales (casos de Valve, Apple) y los cárteles (automoción, farmacéutico) nos posiciona como expertos.
  • Derecho Público: Nuestro caso contra el DESNZ demuestra un profundo conocimiento práctico del proceso de Revisión Judicial (Judicial Review), un área de alta demanda.
  • Litigios y Resolución de Disputas: Nuestra especialización en acciones colectivas y el desarrollo de teorías del daño nos da una ventaja sobre los bufetes tradicionales.
  • Grandes Proyectos, Energía y Servicios Públicos: Nuestro “Caso Sostenibilidad” y el análisis detallado del sector energético, desde las renovables hasta la nuclear, nos cualifican de forma única.

Actualmente, este marco RM6240 no está abierto a nuevas solicitudes, pero debemos prepararnos para cuando se renueve, previsiblemente en 2026. Nuestra propuesta de valor (USP) no será la de un bufete de abogados genérico, sino la de un proveedor de nicho con una experiencia inigualable en la resolución de conflictos complejos entre el interés público y el poder corporativo.

En el ámbito de la consultoría estratégica, el marco relevante es el sucesor del RM6098, que es el Management Consultancy Framework 3 (MCF3 – RM6187). Aunque el plazo para unirse a este marco ha pasado, su estructura es nuestra guía para el futuro MCF4, cuya licitación se espera para finales de 2025. El Lote 1, “Consultoría de Negocio – Estrategia y Política”, es el ideal para nosotros. Nuestra USP aquí no sería la consultoría de gestión tradicional, sino la provisión de “análisis de estrategia regulatoria”. Podríamos proponer al CMA o al DESNZ la elaboración de políticas para fomentar la competencia en mercados emergentes como el de los puntos de recarga de vehículos eléctricos, basándonos en nuestras conclusiones sobre los riesgos de monopolio y los acuerdos de exclusividad.

Una oportunidad más inmediata se presenta a través de los Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS), que permiten a los proveedores unirse en cualquier momento. El DPS Marketplace (RM6173) es un sistema de compras dinámico para una amplia gama de servicios. Debemos registrarnos en este DPS, ya que permite al sector público buscar proveedores para requisitos de menor valor de una manera más ágil. Esto podría ser una excelente puerta de entrada para proyectos más pequeños o para establecer una relación con organismos públicos, como ofrecer un análisis preliminar sobre el impacto competitivo de una nueva regulación. El plazo para unirse a un DPS está abierto durante toda la vida del acuerdo, por lo que podemos actuar inmediatamente.

Finalmente, nuestro conocimiento nos posiciona de forma única para actuar como Mediadores expertos. Los servicios de resolución alternativa de litigios a menudo se contratan a través de los paneles legales. Cuando un regulador como el CMA o un departamento como el DESNZ entra en un conflicto complejo con empresas del sector privado, necesitan un mediador que no solo entienda el proceso, sino también la sustancia técnica del asunto. Nuestra capacidad para analizar y comprender los modelos de negocio de las plataformas digitales, la economía de las tarifas de interconexión o las complejidades de la regulación energética nos convierte en un mediador de alto valor. Podríamos resolver disputas de manera más eficiente que un mediador sin este conocimiento especializado, ahorrando tiempo y dinero al sector público. Esta es una propuesta de valor única que podemos destacar al solicitar unirnos a los paneles legales.

A key area of opportunity lies in providing expert advisory services to regulators and government departments. We frequently see tenders for economic and legal analysis related to our core areas of focus. For example, the Competition and Markets Authority often requires external expertise to support its market studies and investigations. A recent opportunity, now closed, sought economic advice on digital platform regulation, a problem directly aligned with our work on the Valve, Apple, and Google cases. While the deadline has passed, it signals the CMA’s ongoing need for the precise type of analysis we specialise in. Our Unsolicited Proposal can therefore be framed as a solution to this recurring need, offering a unique blend of legal and economic insight into platform dominance and anti-competitive vertical restraints.

In the energy sector, which is central to our “Caso Sostenibilidad,” government bodies are grappling with the complex transition to net zero. We have identified past tenders from the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero and Ofgem concerning policy development for the rollout of EV charging infrastructure and ensuring competition in that emerging market. These tenders reveal the specific problems the government needs to solve: preventing monopolies at motorway service areas and ensuring interoperability. Our proposal can directly address this, offering a strategic analysis grounded in our research that provides a clear roadmap for fostering a competitive market, a solution that public bodies are actively seeking.

The most direct route to becoming a government supplier is often through large framework agreements managed by the Crown Commercial Service. These are effectively pre-approved lists of suppliers that public bodies can draw upon. I have identified two frameworks that are highly relevant to our work. The first is the Management Consultancy Framework Four (MCF4). This framework has a specific lot for “Environment and sustainability” and another for “Strategy and policy.” The application window for this framework recently closed, but it will be reopened for new suppliers in the future. We must prepare to apply, as being listed would allow us to bid for a wide range of projects across government.

More immediately relevant is the upcoming Legal Panel for Public Sector (RM6374). Market engagement for this major framework is happening right now, throughout the summer and autumn of 2025, with the formal tender notice expected in early 2026. This is a prime opportunity. The framework seeks legal advice across numerous specialisms, including competition law and public law. Our expertise in challenging regulatory decisions and pursuing collective actions makes us an ideal candidate. We must engage with the CCS during this market engagement phase to shape the requirements and position ourselves to win a place on the panel. The deadline for one-to-one discussions is ongoing until October 2025, and we should register our interest immediately. This is our most significant opportunity to formalise our role as an expert advisor to the public sector, turning our campaigning and case-finding knowledge into a recognised and procurable service.

identify potential companies, organisations, and by extension, types of consumers or business users who might be prospective class members or claimants in relation to the issues COCOO has uncovered with the Infrastructure Planning (Onshore Wind and Solar Generation) Order 2025. The goal is to find entities in the UK, Spanish, or wider European market whose interests may have been negatively affected by the Order or the large-scale renewable energy projects it facilitates. We’ll use the NACE code 35.11 (Production of electricity) as a starting point for the primary actors, and then consider other affected sectors.

While I can help identify types of organisations and provide examples, please understand that I cannot directly provide lists of specific email contacts for individuals within these organisations for outreach. That kind of specific contact information usually requires targeted research through company websites, professional networks like LinkedIn, or specialised business databases.

Based on the NACE code 35.11, which covers electricity production including from wind and solar, the primary companies involved are energy developers and operators. However, prospective claimants or class members might come from various groups:

  1. Competitors in the Energy Sector: These could be other energy companies, including those also in NACE 35.11, who feel disadvantaged by the new thresholds or the NSIP process outlined in the Order. For example, developers of renewable projects that fall just outside the new NSIP criteria, or those who believe the process favors certain types of large developers, might have concerns. Smaller independent power producers or community energy schemes could also be relevant.

  2. Affected Industries and Landowners:

    • Agriculture: Farmers and agricultural businesses (NACE Section A, e.g., 01.xx – Crop and animal production) might be affected by the use of agricultural land, particularly best and most versatile land, for large solar or wind installations. Organisations like the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) in the UK often represent these interests.
    • Tourism and Hospitality: Businesses in the tourism sector (NACE Section I, e.g., 55.xx – Accommodation, 79.xx – Travel agency) could be concerned if large energy projects are perceived to negatively impact scenic landscapes, protected areas, or local tourism appeal. Trade bodies representing tourism operators in affected regions would be relevant.
    • Landowners and Property Sector: Individual landowners or property companies (NACE Section L) might have direct interests, either through land acquisition negotiations or concerns about impacts on property values or land use rights.

  3. Public Interest Groups and NGOs:

    • Environmental Organisations: National or local environmental groups often scrutinise energy policies and projects for their impact on biodiversity, landscapes, and environmental protection duties. Groups like Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, or the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) in the UK are examples of organisations that engage heavily in these issues.
    • Community and Local Interest Groups: Local action groups or parish councils in areas targeted for development often form to voice concerns about local democracy, community consent, visual impact, noise, and other local effects of large infrastructure projects.

  4. Local Authorities: While not companies, local government bodies or associations representing them (like the Local Government Association in the UK) might have an interest if they believe the Order unduly bypasses local democratic scrutiny and planning control for nationally significant projects.

To find specific examples:

For the UK market, you could search for members of renewable energy trade associations like RenewableUK or Solar Energy UK, and then filter for companies that might not fit the “major developer” profile that the NSIP regime under the new Order might favour. You could also look into companies that have publicly commented on or expressed concerns about changes to the planning system for energy projects.

For agricultural interests, searching for regional branches of farming unions or specific agricultural cooperatives in areas with high potential for renewable development might identify groups with concerns.

Similarly, for tourism, researching local or regional tourism boards and associations in scenic areas or national parks that could see increased development pressure would be a starting point.

Environmental NGOs involved in planning and energy policy are generally well-known and can be found through web searches for their campaigns and policy statements. Many of these organisations operate across Europe.

Identifying specific businesses and individuals who have been harmed and would be willing to join a collective action requires careful and detailed investigation, often involving outreach and direct engagement once potential groups are identified.

I hope this guidance on the types of entities and sectors to investigate, along with how to approach finding them, is helpful for COCOO’s strategy.

Based on the documents related to our engagement with the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) concerning the Infrastructure Planning (Onshore Wind and Solar Generation) Order 2025, the specific “products or services” offered by the entities our potential actions are concerned with are primarily large-scale renewable energy generation facilities.

Specifically, these are:

  1. Large Onshore Wind Generation Projects: The Order reintroduces onshore wind projects with a capacity greater than 100MW into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) regime1111. Therefore, the development and operation of these large onshore wind farms are a key subject matter. The correspondence highlights the government’s view that it is right to treat larger onshore wind projects similarly to other significant generating stations2.

  2. Large Solar Generation Projects: The Order also sets a threshold of 100MW for solar projects to enter the NSIP regime3. The initial information request sought rationale for a 100MW threshold for solar projects moving from the NSIP regime to local planning determination4, indicating that solar projects around this specific capacity are a focus.

The “perpetrators” in the context of offering these products would be the energy development companies that plan, build, and operate these wind and solar generating stations. Our actions, as detailed in our communications with DESNZ, challenge the legality and procedural propriety of the Order itself5555, which is the regulatory “product” of DESNZ that enables these commercial energy projects.

Our concerns, which underpin our possible causes of action, relate to how DESNZ balanced policy objectives concerning renewable energy deployment against impacts on protected landscapes, agricultural land, local democracy, and environmental protection duties when formulating this Order

Understanding these specific products—large-scale onshore wind and solar farms developed under the framework of the new Order—should help us identify:

  • Competitors: These would be other energy developers, potentially those using different scales of technology, different renewable sources, or those who might have been proponents of alternative approaches not adopted by DESNZ.
  • Consumer Types: While the ultimate consumers are electricity users, for our purposes, relevant “consumer types” or affected parties include local communities near these proposed developments, environmental organisations, agricultural stakeholders, and public interest groups focused on energy policy and its impacts7777.