Zero Trust Network Hardware Provision - I-1538

Tender description

<p>This procurement is being conducted using Lot 2 of the Network Services 2 (RM3808) Framework, which is managed by Crown Commercial Services. The council is seeking to replace the existing Network Infrastructure. This requirement is in alignment with the IT Strategy which specifies a Zero Trust network delivery approach utilising cloud managed technology. The existing infrastructure is not able to support this approach and as such needs to be replaced. There are approximately 150 buildings with equipment that needs to be replaced. These sites have been classified into small, medium and large in terms of the network infrastructure requirements. The exact number of sites will continually change based on reconfiguration of the Councils property portfolio / building use in the changing Covid-19 environment. Rollout to these buildings is anticipated to take between 12 and 18 months. Orders for equipment will be staged during this time to provide enough call off stock for three months of delivery. A day one order will be for equipment required for the first 4 months of planned delivery with an order following each month for additional equipment. The tenderer is not expected to manage the installation of the equipment ordered. Installation will be managed by Council staff. The tenderer is expected to hold, in bonded stock, the equipment ordered and deliver the equipment to the site when scheduled. It has been agreed by the Councils Technical Design Authority that we will be deploying a Cisco Meraki cloud managed architecture. Any alternative models suggested must be from the same Cisco Meraki cloud managed make. This strategy will implement a &ldquo;Zero Trust&rdquo; access from corporate sites to the Internet and will require revised technology and service components from the successful supplier. To facilitate the specific need for new equipment to service this requirement, hardware, licencing and support is being sourced. A separate request will be made for the delivery and rollout of a replacement connectivity service.</p> Keywords: Hardware, Zero Trust, ICT