Networks

Tender description

North of Tyne has received Gate B assurance for grant funding to deliver 1GB capable full fibre networks to a number of public sector assets across the County. Northumberland County Council (NCC), on behalf of North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA), are hosting a market engagement day to enhance the NCC’s ambition to move to fibre infrastructure across a range of public sites throughout the region. NCC is currently in dialogue along with NTCA and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s Local Full Fibre Network Programme. NCC is a unitary local authority created in April 2009 by the merger of the former county and district councils. Since the formation of the new unitary council the focus has been on ensuring an effective transition from the previous arrangements, with this successfully achieved the contracting authority is now entering a new phase of working to find different and innovative ways of responding to help Northumberland meet these challenges and create opportunities that in turn convert into significant improvements for individuals, families, businesses and communities in Northumberland. In order to deliver a greater future the contracting authority needs to deliver a mixed economy in the way it delivers services with a drive to improve the efficiency and effectiveness in the way it delivers and commission services. To find out more please visit www.northumberland.gov.uk to view the Corporate Plan – Stronger Together, Leading Northumberland to a Greater Future. At present our proposed project would be predominantly based on the procurement of dark fibre/gigabit capable infrastructure connecting public sector sites across Northumberland. This could be made up of a single large dark fibre network; however we anticipate that the significant geographic area we are seeking to cover may result in the procurement of more than one network from one or more suppliers. It is conceivable that this could be delivered by one supplier who specialises in urban areas and a second supplier who specialises in rural areas for example. Where it is not viable to deploy dark fibre infrastructure, we would seek to procure full fibre connectivity to key strategic sites via a separate procurement. It is expected that by adopting complimentary approaches this would extend the availability of full fibre infrastructure to sites that are currently unable to access cost effective gigabit capable connectivity. We are currently at Gateway B approval with DCMS, which requires the funding to be spent by March 2021. Current WAN sites included all public sector sites currently connected to the wide area networks across Northumberland. This totals 298 sites and includes corporate sites, schools, libraries, Primary care locations and Fire stations, CCTV, etc... We have included all public sector sites currently connected across Northumberland, however it is expected that not all of these would be viable due to the significant geographic area covered. There is also the potential to speed up infrastructure deployment through the use of existing ducting assets. Following receipt of your expression of interest, we will provide a Combined Site List.xlsx for the current list with location details.DCMS have stipulated that their funding must be spent by March 2021. We will be seeking assurances from suppliers that this timeframe is achievable and will be looking to discuss this with options and suggestions for phasing and innovative approaches on the day. The supplier day is scheduled for the 8.1.2020 in Newcastle City Centre; the day will consist of a one hour briefing session in the morning and then 7 x 40 minute meetings with the Key representatives from NCC and the NTCA, to discuss the forward procurement strategy. All suppliers are welcome to attend the morning briefing, however the meetings will be based on a first come first serve basis, in your expression of interest please confirm if you wish to book a 40 minute meeting slot.by emailing your expression of interest procurementsharedservices@northumberland.gov.uk