Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

Tender description

This Prior Information Notice is to notify the market that the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) plans to enter into a market engagement exercise to further its understanding of the market options for Device to Device Communications for the ESN. See the section II.2.4) for further details. The ESMCP aims to provide an integrated critical voice and broadband data communications service for the Emergency Services in Great Britain that meets the public safety requirements for coverage, functionality, availability and security. The chosen technology is based on an enhanced commercial network that is configured to give the 3 Emergency Services (the ‘3ES’) priority over other users. ESMCP completed those procurements under OJEU Contract Notice reference 2014/S 077-133654. Within the Authority, the Devices projects have the responsibility to provide User Organisations with fully approved handheld and vehicle devices, which have been tested to ensure that they deliver the performance and functionality for ESN, and do not pose a risk to the security or integrity of the service. The User Organisations requiring LTE Mobile Handheld Devices and Accessories for the Emergency Services Network (ESN) include: — Police; — Fire; — Ambulance; — Other non-Authority police services; and — Other organisations that currently utilise TETRA — e.g. Mountain Rescue, RNLI etc. At the time of writing, procurement of handheld devices is underway. Separate procurements are being planned for vehicle devices, various accessories and for D2D communications devices (the subject of this PIN). It is also intended that the supporting services for handheld devices be provided as a result of a separate procurement and will not be within the scope of this potential procurement. The Authority user requirements call for a D2D mode of operation for local communication without reliance on the network. The long-term proposal for LTE is to use 3GPP Proximity Services (ProSe) to address this requirement. However, this cannot be implemented within the Authority timescales (for reasons including the immaturity of the standards and the lack of support in current devices and networks). An alternative solution is therefore required to meet the D2D user requirement until such time as a standards-based ProSe solution can be introduced. Except for D2D, the principal communications features will be provided by the ESN device, and the interim D2D solution is expected to consist of a device, which will supplement the ESN device's functionality, either as a standalone or ‘integrated’ unit. The quantities of devices and timescales are to be advised and informed by the market engagement. A Request for Information (RFI) will be provided to interested suppliers containing a number of questions that the Authority welcomes response to. The RFI closing date will be close of business on 14 July 2017. The Project will utilise the information to inform its discussions internally and for the purpose of market engagement meetings with potential suppliers that respond. The Authority wishes to engage on a one-to-one basis with Potential Suppliers that demonstrate that they are capable of providing the required devices following receipt of a response to this RFI. Accordingly, the Authority will contact Potential Suppliers to arrange meetings where it considers it necessary to do so following RFI receipt and review. Market engagement meetings are due to take place between July and 4 August 2017.