Cyber Security Support Services

Moyle Interconnector Limited ("Moyle") currently contracts with Siemens Energy Limited ("Siemens") to provide Long Term Maintenance Agreement ("LTMA") services for their two convertor station sites in Northern Ireland and Scotland, which were originally designed, constructed and commissioned by Siemens The Cyber Security Support Services ("CSSS") are required to enhance the cyber security of the Moyle control system. The control system directly operates the converter valves and associated equipment and is therefore critical to the safe and reliable operation of the interconnector.

The CSSS will provide enhanced cyber security protections to reduce the likelihood and potential impact of cyber security incidents affecting the control system. The services will also support Moyle in fulfilling its obligations as an Operator of Essential Services under the NIS Regulations.

It is proposed to extend the scope of services provided under the existing LTMA contract to include the CSSS and the justification for this is outlined in the sections below. The provision of these services will require an amendment to the current LTMA to incorporate the CSSS.

This will amend the scope of the LTMA, but not the term which is coterminous with the life of the control system assets. The nature of the services that are required to be procured directly from Siemens Energy are defined in the amended agreement as 'Regular Services': The Regular Services include: • Vulnerability management for IT; • Security patch management for IT; • User management; • Disaster recovery; • Licence management; • Obsolescence management.

Moyle considers that the amendment to the current contract benefits from the exemption outlined in Regulation 88(1)(b) of the Utilities Contracts Regulations. This exemption allows for the non-competitive procurement of additional services that have become necessary, where a change of contractor cannot be made for economic or technical reasons and where such a change would cause significant inconvenience or duplication of costs.