Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2019-09-30
Buyer: Northern Ireland Electricity Networks
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Negotiated procedure
CPV classification: 32412100 | 42961200 | 50332000 | 64200000
Estimated value: 42803000 GBP
Submission deadline: 2019-10-28
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: The contracting entity intends to establish a framework arrangement under which it shall appoint an economic operator to enter into a framework agreement for the provision of managed service for operational telecommunications network (OTN).
A framework agreement will be awarded for a period of four (4) years with an option, exercisable entirely at the discretion of the contracting entity and subject to the terms of the framework agreement, to extend by a further optional period of up to four (4) years, with a total potential duration of eight (8) years.
The contracting entity estimates that the total spend under the framework agreement, based on current requirements, is anticipated to be up to be 5 350 375 GBP per annum. The estimated value of the initial contract period of 4 years is 21 401 500 GBP.
Below is an outline of the requirements, however please refer to the specification schedules for the full list of service requirements and standards required for this contract. The NIE Networks operational telecommunications network (OTN) is the telecommunications Infrastructure used as part of its role in operating the distribution and transmission electricity network. NIE Networks owns a range of telecommunications assets, including optical fibre, a private microwave network and all the equipment used to provide voice and data services across this private network. the main responsibilities of the OTN managed service provider will include the following:
— management and operation of all the infrastructure elements that the OTN comprises. This will include the management of third parties who undertake specialist functions, e.g. tower inspections, tower audits and loading assessments, etc.,
— provision of a single point of contact for all matters concerning the design, operation and management of the OTN,
The NIE Networks operational telecommunications network (OTN) is the telecommunications infrastructure used as part of its role in operating the distribution and transmission electricity network. NIE Networks owns a range of telecommunications assets, including optical fibre, a private microwave network and all the equipment used to provide voice and data services across this private network.
SONI Ltd as the transmission system operator in Northern Ireland has services operating over the OTN. They have their own end equipment that connects to the OTN (e.g. RTUs, scanning base stations, outstation radios) and are installed at some NIE Networks OTN sites. However, SONI’s equipment is also reliant on the OTN for data transport back to their Control Centre sites.
There will be a tri-partite managed service agreement in place between NIE Networks Ltd, SONI Ltd and the successful supplier.
The framework agreement will be for a period of four (4) years with an option, exercisable entirely at the discretion of the contracting entity and subject to the terms of the framework agreement, to extend by a further optional period of up to four (4) years, with a total potential duration of eight (8) years.
As specified within the PQQ and/or tender documents available from the address specified at 1.3) above with the reference Project S1057 (2020) provision of managed service for operational telecommunications network (OTN).
The contracting entity will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar days standstill period at the point information on the award of the framework agreement is communicated to all economic operators. The standstill period provides time for unsuccessful economic operators to challenge the award decision before the framework agreement is entered into. The Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (Northern Ireland).

Eligibility requirements: As specified within the PQQ and/or tender documents available from the address specified at 1.3) above with the reference Project S1057 (2020) provision of managed service for operational telecommunications network (OTN).

Award value: 42803000