Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

Tender description

This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to notify the market of recent developments and planned engagement activity relating to the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) Air to Ground Devices Project (‘the Project’). As such, this PIN does not formally signify the beginning of any procurement and does not constitute a commitment by the Home Office to undertake any procurement exercise. In the event that the Home Office decides to formally commence procurement pursuant to this PIN a separate Contract Notice will be issued. If a Contract Notice is published the Home Office may rely on the publication of this PIN to utilise the minimum time-frames permissible under Regulations 27(4), 28(6) and 29(6) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. ESMCP aims to provide an integrated critical voice and broadband data communications service for the three Emergency Services (3ES) and other User Organisations (UO) that meets the public safety requirements for coverage, functionality, availability and security. The chosen technology will be configured to give the 3ES priority over other Users. This new service called the Emergency Service Network (ESN) will be a route to operational excellence for the 3ES and other User Organisations. The ESMCP has already awarded procurements for the main ESN which will replace those services delivered under legacy contract(s). A number of these legacy contracts operate across the 3ES and their expiration will run from 2016 through to 2019. Additional information on the Programme and the main ESN procurement can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-emergency-services-mobile-communications-programme The Air to Ground (A2G) Devices Project is one of the ESN Related Projects that is responsible for procuring ESN A2G Devices approved for use on, or in conjunction with, the ESN. The Home Office is intending to procure a combined Long Term Evolution (LTE) and TETRA airborne device as part of an A2G service for ESN. It is the intention of the Home Office to use TETRA above 500 ft to communicate with ES aircraft and below 500 ft access the ESN network provided by EE. The Project is currently working with User Organisations and further developing its requirements. As part of this process, industry engagement is required to refine certain technical points. The Home Office is therefore issuing an RFI Questionnaire and will be hosting a supplier briefing event accordingly. Instructions for expressing an interest in this Project and obtaining further information on the planned industry engagement are included at Section II.7 of this PIN.