NGCN Network Systems Integrator

Tender description

1 PURPOSE OF THE PIN 1.1 The purpose of this PIN is to notify industry of upcoming Network Systems Integrator (NSI) Market Engagement. The Authority is keen to engage with System Integerators that can deliver the NSI requirements. As highlighted in earlier NGCN market engagements, the NSI will play a pivotal role in the successful delivery of the NGCN Programme. 1.2 During Market Engagement, the Authority will provide a detailed overview of the NSI requirements to ensure the scope and timelines involved in the delivery of the NSI are understood by industry before the commencement of formal procurement activities. 2 BACKGROUND 2.1 The Digital Strategy for Defence details the step changes in approach MOD needs to take to satisfy its digital vision. The key enabler is the Digital Backbone, which will integrate sensors, effectors, and decision-makers across multiple military domains and with MOD’s partners, to enable faster, data-driven decisions and improved operational and corporate outcomes. 2.2 The Digital Technology Strategic Direction provides the direction to exploit digital technology that NGCN takes its direction from. NGCN will enable the networking capabilities of the Digital Backbone and is therefore critical to the delivery of the Digital Strategy and for the future operation of the MOD. 2.3 NGCN has identified the need for three separate procurements to meet the NGCN requirements, one of which is a Network Systems Integrator (NSI). The NSI is intended to support Fixed Connectivity (FC), the service owner in their responsibilities to run and change network services provided by Defence Digital to UKMOD. 3 NSI STRATEGIC CASE 3.1 NGCN is a strategic programme within Defence Digital that will be the foundation for the delivery of a Single Enterprise Network for Defence. NGCN is aligned to the Defence Digital Strategy and the capability it delivers will form a core part of the Digital Backbone. 3.2 The NGCN Programme will transform the way in which Defence Fixed Networks are delivered, moving from the current model to a series of disaggregated services, provided by one or more Managed Service Providers (MSPs). This change will be realised via a phased approach, moving through various transition states, and will require a mix of skills and resources within the Fixed Networks delivery team. 3.3 To augment the capabilities of the programme team and enable Fixed Networks to realise this transformation in delivery model, the first procurement of NGCN will be for an NSI. The NSI will support the Fixed Networks Delivery (FND) team to: • Assure and manage the quality of the services provided by the new Business Network Service (BNS) and Resilient Network Service (RNS) MSPs. • Coordinate interactions with the various Defence Digital assurance and management bodies (e.g., Technical Design Authority (TDA), Release and Deployment (R&D) Board); • Efficiently and effectively manage changes to the services, providing a flexible service to consumers, and allowing MSPs to innovate in their solutions, while maintaining control of build standards and configuration management; • Control the networks provided by the MSPs, working with Operational Service Management (OSM) to monitor network performance and security, and passing control measures back to the MSPs; • Predict the impact of changes of changes to the networks, to avoid compromising the quality of service offered to consuming services; • Act as an intelligent customer, using flexible and innovative commercial approaches to disaggregate and procure services, ensuring the interdependencies between each of the ‘bundles’ are defined and understood; • Support the Fixed Networks Service Owner as they undergo the service restructuring and organisational shifts required to align with Defence Digital’s Service Executive Model (SEM). Lot 1: Network Systems Integrator