Telecommunications services

Tender description

The Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) is a cross-government, multi-agency programme sponsored by The Secretary of State for the Home Department (The Authority) to deliver the Emergency Services Network (ESN). The ESN will deliver integrated critical voice and broadband data services to all three emergency services (3ES) and other users in England (with Wales and Scotland also invited to participate). These services require a mobile communications network capable of providing the full coverage, resilience, security and public safety functionality required by the 3ES. The main ESMCP procurement has delivered suppliers under the following 3 lots; Lot 1 — Delivery Partner (DP) — (awarded to Kellogg Brown and Root Limited); Lot 2 — User Services (US) — (awarded to Motorola UK Limited); Lot 3 — Mobile Services (MS) — (awarded to EE Limited). In order to support the successful delivery of ESN, ESMCP also requires the delivery of additional products, works and services in dispersed geographical areas to enable the full delivery of ESN throughout the UK. This Contract Notice is for Inclusion on an ESN — Acquire, Design and Build Framework Agreement (ADB), of suitably experienced and capable Suppliers able to provide the following products, works and services in support of ESN within the UK: a) Acquiring Greenfield sites upon which to build passive infrastructure; b) Negotiating with Land owners for lease arrangements on behalf of the Authority, under specified parameters; c) Undertaking planning applications on behalf of the Authority; d) Designing passive infrastructure builds; e) Undertaking infrastructure builds including but not limited to radio and transmission bases, masts, cabins and cabinets; f) Managing power connectivity; g) Undertaking civil construction activity necessary for commissioning sites; h) Testing and re-mediation activity. Applicants capable of providing the above are invited to apply for inclusion on the ADB Framework Agreement by responding to this ITT. Guidance on how to apply is provided below. Once the ADB Framework Agreement is established, Framework Agreement suppliers will be able to respond to the Authority's requirements under further competitions. To that end, the Authority intends to confirm its plans for further competitions following the award of contracts for supply under the Framework Agreement. The Authority envisages that its requirements for products, works and services under the Framework Agreement will be satisfied through up to 5 further competitions, however such plans and arrangements for further competition will be confirmed and are subject to change at the Authority's absolute discretion. The ADB Framework Agreement will be used to deliver products, works and services to support the following ESN Related Projects: — The ESN Extended Area Services (EAS) Project; — The ESN Air to Ground Project; — The ESN Other Shortfall Activity. (Additional information in relation to these ESN Related Projects is set out at section VI.3) below). Applicants should note that: — the Authority makes no undertaking to contract with any applicant as a result of this procurement or further competitions under the Framework Agreement. — the Authority may award a Call-Off Agreement as a direct award without holding a further competition where the Authority can determine that: o its works and services requirements can be met by the Framework Suppliers' offer and description of the services as set out in Framework Agreement; and, o all of the terms of the proposed Call-Off Agreement template as laid down in the Framework Agreement do not require amendment or any supplementary terms and conditions (other than the inclusion of to be confirmed or optional provisions already provided for in the Call-Off Agreement template); — this procurement shall be based on a bespoke form of Agreement to govern the Framework and the NEC3 Option A Engineering and Construction Contract for further competition awards; — the Authority intends to retain title in any Greenfield buildings constructed under the services detailed within this Contract Notice; — given the risk of State aid arising in ESMCP, the Authority has notified the European Commission of the measure. ESMCP have received confirmation from the Commission (SA.38863 (2015/N) that the main element of the measure does not constitute a State aid and the residual component is compatible with Article 107(3) (c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (see http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/cases/258318/258318_1718437_89_2.pdf). The Authority will work with successful applicant(s) to ensure that the works remain within the terms of the Commission decision. Further information on the ADB requirements is provided within the ADB ITT documentation. In order to obtain the ITT documentation Applicants are required to first express an interest in participating in the procurement through the submission of an email to: ESMCPSupplier@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk Due to the sensitive nature of the ESN information, Applicants will be required to sign and return a Security Aspects Letter (SAL), an Ethical Walls Agreement (EWA) and a Contract Letting Process Agreement (CLPA) in order to obtain access to the ADB ITT documentation. These documents will be e-mailed to Applicants that have expressed an interest within 2 working days of receipt of the expression of interest by the Authority using the e-mail contact details provided by the applicant. Applicants should complete as indicated and then sign and return the SAL, EWA and CLPA and submit to the Authority electronically using the above e-mail address as soon as possible. Once their documents are received and verified, the Authority will provide the applicant with access to the ADB ITT documentation through the Bravo e-Sourcing Portal, which will provide further details of the scope of the Programme, the services to be procured and the procurement process to be followed. See guidance at section VI.3) below regarding the Bravo registration process.