Solent Network Framework

Portsmouth City Council (the 'Authority') is seeking expressions of interest from suitably experienced suppliers to provide a solution to future proof its network connectivity requirements for the next 10 to 20 years through the installation of gigabit capable network services through a Public Sector Anchor Tenancy (PSAT) model.

The Authority have been successful in securing Wave 2 funding as part of the Local Full Fibre Network Programme (LFFN) operated by the Broadband Development UK (BDUK) programme within the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS) to implement an Ultrafast Full Fibre Network throughout the City.

A key element of the strategic plan to improve both the value and flexibility of Portsmouth City Council is to both consolidate the current network technologies into a single solution as well as removing any single points of failure by the procurement of infrastructure across the city.

This infrastructure will consist of ducting and dark/virtual fibre optic cables connecting key Authority owned locations across the area that can then be made available to Portsmouth City Council via an Indefeasible right of use contract.

Portsmouth City Council will also be seeking delivery partners to provide a network service to operate (light up) across the fibre infrastructure, when and where required.

This delivery partner will be required to install and operate the following networking components: o Core WAN Infrastructure (supporting both voice and data services) o Routing/L3Switching o Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) provide initial connectivity at 1Gbps to each site o L2 LAN Switching/Wireless o Internet Connectivity o Expressroute access to Azure o Health And Social Care Network The Authority is seeking to set up a Framework to deliver its requirement to approximately 213 Portsmouth Authority owned sites, 300 Southampton City Council owned sites and a number of Gosport Borough Council owned sites.

The Framework will be split into two main lots, with additional sub lots as follows: Lot 1 - Dark Fibre Connectivity (open access) 1a - Design, Build & Maintain 1b - Operate (light up) The Authority is reserving the right to award contracts combining Lots 1 a and b.

Lot 2 - Virtual Dark Fibre Connectivity 2a - Design, Build & Maintain 2b - Operate (light up) The Authority is reserving the right to award contracts combining Lots 2 a and b.

The Framework will also be open for access by other Public Sector Organisations.

Southampton City Council and Gosport Borough Council have expressed a firm interest in accessing the Framework and their site lists will be provided as part of the tender information pack.

The Framework will also be made available for use by other UK public sector bodies which include Central Government Departments and their Arm's Length Bodies and Agencies, Non Departmental Public Bodies, Police, Eme...