Published date: 8 August 2016

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Closing: 14 October 2016

Contract summary

Industry

  • Communications network - 32412000

  • Network infrastructure - 32424000

  • Network operating system - 32425000

    • Telecommunications equipment and supplies - 32500000

    • Construction work - 45000000

    • Installation services of communications equipment - 51300000

    • Telecommunications services - 64200000

    • Data network management and support services - 72315000

    • Internet services - 72400000

Location of contract

West Midlands

Value of contract

£4,540,000

Procurement reference

HEREFCC-DN175674-51403126

Published date

8 August 2016

Closing date

14 October 2016

Contract start date

27 October 2016

Contract end date

27 November 2025

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

This contract forms an integral part of the Fastershire Broadband Strategy 2015-18 in which the strategic partnership between Herefordshire Council and Gloucestershire County Council are seeking to extend the reach of Next Generation Access Broadband ("NGA") to rural parts of both counties which have yet to benefit from such services.

The contract relates to stage 3 of the strategy which can be obtained from the Fastershire website www.fastershire.com. Its aim is to procure an Ultrafast Broadband solution for as many of the premises which are as yet unreached in parts of the Forest of Dean as possible. Additionally, a minimum of NGA standard services are being sought within parts of the Golden Valley.

Specifically, the contract will seek to build a broadband network that will provide;
a wholesale broadband service open to all Communication Providers on a non-discriminatory basis; with
the capability to access Ultrafast Broadband (NGA in the Golden Valley) by the greatest number of the circa. 7,750 eligible premises as possible.

The contractor will be expected to provide substantial investment into the broadband network and own and manage the risks associated with developing and operating the broadband network on a wholesale basis including, but not limited to, take-up risks.

An indicative public subsidy of circa. GBP 4.54 million has been allocated to this contract and it is anticipated that this subsidy will provide the gap funding required by the selected supplier to deliver NGA coverage to a significant number of the eligible premises in the Lot 2 area. This subsidy has been allocated by BDUK and Gloucestershire County Council.

In order to comply with the State aid requirement of providing the minimum public subsidy necessary to overcome the market failure to provide the required services to the eligible premises, the actual amount of subsidy will be dependent upon the chosen solution. This said, the estimated level of public subsidy is not anticipated to exceed GBP 4.54 million.

More information

Additional text

Tender documents can be obtained from:
https://www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk

If you have any difficulty in obtaining information from the above contact points, please try the following routes:
eMail: procurement@herefordshire.gov.uk

About the buyer

Address

Herefordshire Council Offices
Plough Lane
Hereford
HR4 0LE
UK

Email

procurement@herefordshire.gov.uk

Website

https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk