Computer network services

Tender description

Cardiff University's is seeking to appoint a suitably experienced and qualified supplier to deliver a new IT Network solution. The University's current IT network is at the end of its effective life cycle and must be renewed. The IT Network Underpins the majority of CU's operational services and its strategic ventures in areas such as research,education and innovation. The University is exploring a ‘working partnership’ based approach where its appointed supplier will deliver the new IT network; providing an overall design and replacement programme that meets the University's identified current and future needs whilst protecting its investment in technology. Cardiff University currently envisages that the appointed network supplier will: — refresh and implement the new network design, — manage CU's exposure to initial investment in making the ageing network robust, — deliver a broader backbone to allow for the anticipated increased traffic flow — suitable for growth in both demand and technology evolution and incorporating software to link the data centres and other major traffic routes, — develop state of the art firewalls and intrusion detection capabilities to reduce risk from cyber-attack and remediate unauthorised access, — enable the use of technologies to exploit big data (particularly, in the context of research), the Internet of Things and the growth of smart mobile devices, — introduce modern management tools to simplify the management and increase the flexibility, of the network. In addition, the supplier's solution must: — work in partnership with CU's IT staff to run, operate and develop the network as needs evolve, — create flexibility to cover exceptionally busy periods or to deal with a business continuity or disaster recovery situation, — create opportunities to develop the partnership in areas such as bursaries, student innovation collaborations, sponsored courses, internships and philanthropic partnerships, — exploit its wider knowledge while safeguarding CU's in-house knowledge, — protect CU's initial investment as far as possible by future-proofing the design of the IT network and the selected technology, — provide options for the use of CAPEX and/or OPEX financial models that reflect CU's financial requirements, — provide CU with several investment options and opportunities within the investment envelope. A variety of solutions could achieve CU's aims and objectives and it therefore intends to undertake a procurement exercise under competitive dialogue regime to explore the full range of potential solutions that suppliers might propose for delivery of CU's requirements.