Radio Transmission Services Procurement

Tender description

Radio Transmission Services The BBC’s domestic radio services are a critical part of the way that BBC informs, educates and entertains the UK, and a hugely important part of the nation’s cultural life. Every week, more than two-thirds of adults in the UK turn to BBC Radio for programmes and services which consistently set the agenda for the country. The BBC is now seeking to re-procure many of the transmission services which underpin the delivery of more than 500 million of these listener hours every week. Spanning the analogue radio transmission services for the next period, the next decade and a half of transmission for the core of the BBC’s digital radio network, and an extension to that network to add a further 150-170 transmitters, this is an outstanding opportunity for the right candidate to be a part of broadcasting history and the continuing BBC story. The Opportunity: Procurement of the BBCs Radio Transmission Services, it is envisaged that these will consist of 4 (four) Lots made up of: 1) the continued transmission of analogue radio services for up to 7 (seven) years to 2020 including; a) acquisition & operation of National, Regional and Local FM transmission; and b) acquisition and operation of National and Regional AM transmission; 2) acquisition, maintenance and operation of the DAB Phase I network for up to 17 (seventeen) years to 2030, and 3) the design, deployment and operation of the DAB Phase 4 network for up to 17 (seventeen) years The Contract(s) will include options for the BBC to extend a fixed initial term, by providing notice prior to the expiry of the Contract(s). All services depend in part on the use of a regulated "network access" asset base (common to all broadcasters using a site), alongside "managed services" assets which are dedicated to each operator. (see notes for more detail)