The UK Government has committed GBP5bn to enable hard-to-reach communities to access gigabit-capable broadband. This is being spent through a package of coordinated and mutually supportive interventions, collectively known as Project Gigabit. Project Gigabit, is a UK Government intervention to provide a subsidy to support the deployment of a gigabit speed broadband network to cover premises across Northern Ireland that would otherwise not be provided with access to gigabit broadband speeds, as these premises do not present a commercially viable investment for a private sector operator. Project Gigabit is a strategically important initiative for Northern Ireland’s society (people and businesses), is a key enabler for delivering the DfE Minister’s Economic Vision, and will help to maintain Northern Ireland’s connectivity and infrastructure at a level that is competitive with Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland and is attractive to inward investment. As part of this DfE, along with Building Digital UK (BDUK), is developing a procurement approach to incentivise the telecoms market to invest in delivering gigabit capable wholesale infrastructure in areas not considered to be commercially viable for new infrastructure. This procurement approach will be a successor to the much-needed Superfast broadband programme and DfE’s broadband intervention, Project Stratum. The overarching aim of Project Gigabit is, simply stated, to provide universal, or near universal, gigabit-capable broadband coverage in Northern Ireland by increasing provision in areas which are currently poorly served and not capable of attracting wholly commercial investment. The project aim can be categorised into three key objectives: • Address market failure, whilst maintaining and promoting competition within the market. It is currently not commercially viable for telecoms service providers to extend gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure to many of the presently unserved premises in Northern Ireland. • Maximise gigabit-capable broadband coverage in a way that is balanced and supportive of rural areas and communities. • Choose procurement and delivery options which seek to maximise value for money (in terms of a balance of quality of technology/products, coverage, timescale and cost to Government), mitigate risk, incentivise performance and meet affordability criteria for Government and for end users.
Procurement Type:
Services
CPC Category:
Telecommunications services
Directive:
2014/24/EU (Classic)
Procedure:
Restricted
CfT Involves:
A Public Contract
CPV Codes:
64200000-Telecommunications services 32520000-Telecommunications cable and equipment 32412100-Telecommunications network 32412110-Internet network 32424000-Network infrastructure 32420000-Network equipment 32425000-Network operating system 32500000-Telecommunications equipment and supplies 32510000-Wireless telecommunications system 32521000-Telecommunications cable 32522000-Telecommunications equipment 32523000-Telecommunications facilities 32531000-Satellite communications equipment 32532000-Satellite dishes 32562200-Optical telecommunication cables 32570000-Communications equipment 32571000-Communications infrastructure 32572000-Communications cable 32572200-Communications cable with coaxial conductors 45232300-Construction and ancillary works for telephone and communication lines 45232332-Ancillary works for telecommunications 45232340-Mobile-telephone base-stations construction work 45231600-Construction work for communication lines 45314000-Installation of telecommunications equipment 45314300-Installation of cable infrastructure 45314310-Installation of cable laying 50330000-Maintenance services of telecommunications equipment 50332000-Telecommunications-infrastructure maintenance services 50334400-Communications system maintenance services 51300000-Installation services of communications equipment 64210000-Telephone and data transmission services 64227000-Integrated telecommunications services 65300000-Electricity distribution and related services 71316000-Telecommunication consultancy services 72220000-Systems and technical consultancy services 72222000-Information systems or technology strategic review and planning services 72400000-Internet services 72410000-Provider services 72411000-Internet service providers ISP 32530000-Satellite-related communications equipment 32562100-Optical-fibre cables for information transmission 32562300-Optical-fibre cables for data transmission
Publish on behalf of:
Department for the Economy NI
Award per Item:
No
Inclusion of e-Auctions:
No
NUTS codes:
UKN
Above or Below OJEU Threshold:
Above
Time-limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate:
16/12/2024 15:00
End of clarification period:
06/12/2024 15:00
Upload of documents within the clarifications:
Yes
Tenders Opening Date:
16/12/2024 15:30
Allow suppliers to make an online Expression Of Interest:
Yes
Contract awarded in Lots:
No
EU funding:
No
Multiple tenders will be accepted:
No
Contract duration in months or years, excluding extensions: