Administrative services for business operations

Tender description

Clearance of the 700 MHz band and support for PMSE equipment owners: As part of an options assessment and before any procurement is undertaken, Ofcom would like to engage with the market and therefore invites inputs and the submission of rough orders of magnitude (ROM) to administer the scheme as outlined in Section 2 of this document. This pre-procurement engagement: — does not constitute a commitment from Ofcom; — does not preclude the need for a formal procurement process; and — will be used by Ofcom for budgeting, planning and as input into an options appraisal to inform the formation of a business case and/or the specification for the administration of a funding scheme for Programme Making and Special Events (PMSE) equipment owners resulting from the clearance of the 700 MHz band (694 to 790 MHz). PMSE equipment which operates in the band is typically hand held and body worn wireless microphones and in ear monitors. Ofcom is the communications regulator in the UK. We regulate the TV and radio sectors, fixed line telecoms, mobiles, postal services, plus the airwaves over which wireless devices operate. We make sure that people in the UK get the best from their communications services and are protected from scams and sharp practices, while ensuring that competition can thrive. Ofcom operates under a number of Acts of Parliament, including in particular the Communications Act 2003. Ofcom must act within the powers and duties set for it by Parliament in legislation. Ofcom's principal duty under the Communications Act is to further the interests of citizens and of consumers, where appropriate by promoting competition. Meeting this duty is at the heart of everything we do. Accountable to Parliament, we set and enforce regulatory rules for the sectors for which we have responsibility. We also have powers to enforce competition law in those sectors, alongside the Competition and Markets Authority. In October 2016 Ofcom published our spectrum management decision to work towards accelerating the 700 MHz clearance programme by 18 months and releasing radio spectrum for mobile services in May 2020, instead of September 2021. As a result, we have served notice on PMSE users that operate in the 700 MHz band and they will no longer have access to spectrum in this band from 1.5.2020. Government has decided to fund a grant scheme to support PMSE equipment owners that have to vacate the 700 MHz band earlier than expected. We have agreed with Government to design and run a grant scheme to disburse the funds. Ofcom recently consulted on the proposals. Ofcom's consultation can be found here: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/100965/700mhz-band-pmse-funding.pdf We invite you to submit a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimate of cost for administering the scheme. We provide illustrative descriptions of the anticipated phases of the scheme. Your ROM estimate may provide a breakdown of costs by phase, or the total cost of scheme administration. While the scheme implementation phases are illustrative, we welcome any views you may have on how you would approach administering the scheme.