Auction software development services

Tender description

Ofcom has a requirement for development, delivery and support of an online auction software system for the award of radio spectrum licences. The software will be required to deliver an auction of up to 200 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz and 3.6 GHz bands. We expect to hold this auction in Q4 2019/2020. 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. 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. Ofcom requires a supplier to develop, deliver and support the operation of an online auction software system, “Electronic Auction System” (EAS), for our upcoming award of the 700 MHz and 3.6-3.8 GHz bands. Ofcom plans to hold an auction by FY Q4 2019/2020 to award licences for spectrum. On 18.12.2018, Ofcom published a consultation setting out proposals for the award, which proposed a combinatorial clock auction (CCA) design. The proposed rules for this design are set out in the illustrative auction procedures, published at Annex 16 of the award consultation. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/award-700mhz-3.6-3.8ghz-spectrum We require the successful tenderer to develop the EAS in accordance with the illustrative auction procedures. These illustrative auction procedures may be amended as we finalise our auction policy through the consultation process. The system should therefore be designed flexibly to allow for configuration changes quickly and efficiently. The software should also be designed with ease of use for both auctioneers and bidders in mind. The illustrative auction procedures will ultimately be written into the auction regulations, and the successful tenderer will need to assure compliance of the software against the final auction regulations. This will involve amending the EAS as necessary to incorporate any differences between the illustrative auction procedures and the final regulations.