The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (the ‘Contracting Authority’) is issuing this request for applications to participate (‘RFATP’) in a Dynamic Purchasing System (‘DPS’) as a central purchasing body (‘CPB’). The Office of Government Procurement (the ‘OGP’) is an office within the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform tasked with sourcing goods and services on behalf of the public service. References to the Contracting Authority will be deemed to include the OGP. The DPS will be co-ordinated and managed by the OGP with the assistance of the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (‘OGCIO’).
The Contracting Authority invites requests to participate (each an ‘Application’) from economic operators (each an ‘Applicant’) for appointment to a DPS for the provision of the services described in Appendix 1 to this RFATP (the ‘Services’).
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (the ‘Contracting Authority’) is issuing this request for applications to participate (‘RFATP’) in a Dynamic Purchasing System (‘DPS’) as a central purchasing body (‘CPB’). The Office of Government Procurement (the ‘OGP’) is an office within the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform tasked with sourcing goods and services on behalf of the public service. References to the Contracting Authority will be deemed to include the OGP. The DPS will be co-ordinated and managed by the OGP with the assistance of the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (‘OGCIO’).
The Contracting Authority invites requests to participate (each an ‘Application’) from economic operators (each an ‘Applicant’) for appointment to a DPS for the provision of the services described in Appendix 1 to this RFATP (the ‘Services’).
Category 1 relates to:
(a) the provision of Wide Area Network Connectivity Services for the core of the Government Cloud Network, connecting the major cities and towns across the country (‘GCN’) which will generally be supplied via Dark Fibre or via other media with a Bandwidth greater than or equal to (≥) 1Gb. Bandwidth less than (<) 1Gb may be utilised for the GCN in certain circumstances; and
(b) the provision of all other Wide Area Network Connectivity Services with Bandwidth greater than or equal to (≥) 1Gb or via Dark Fibre, for example:
• for the infrastructure connecting Sites within Locations and/or backhaul from these Locations to the GCN;
• for Client high capacity requirements e.g. Links between data centres and Links between Clients and the GCN.
Applicants should note the following in respect of Category 1:
• services contracts under Category 1 may be awarded for a term of between seven (7) and ten (10) years;
• Dark Fibre, Wavelengths and Point to Point Radio are the only acceptable media for mini competitions (each a ‘Mini Competition’) conducted under Category 1;
• DPS clients may require Bandwidth from 1Gb up to and in excess of 10 Gb;
• applicants may be required to provide either or both symmetric and asymmetric links under mini competitions conducted in this category;
• services may include the supply, support and maintenance of New CPE and may also include the support and maintenance of pre-existing CPE.
Version of 2020-04-02
Wide area network services
This is a Request for Information and a Prior Information Notice (PIN) and not a call to competition. The OGP intends to run a competitive procurement process for a Wide Area Network Connectivity Framework during 2020. As part of this supply market research and analysis the OGP may seek clarifications from some organisations or individuals who submit responses to this RFI. The OGP may also seek meetings with some service providers for market research purposes only. It is not considered feasible or necessary to hold meetings with all of those that make submissions or with all service providers.Any meetings organised will be for supply market research purposes only. We would appreciate your response before Wednesday 29 April 2020 at 12.00 (noon). Replies should be submitted to wan@ogp.gov.ie (preferably in PDF format). Please note that the attachment size limit is 15 MB. Clarification qs should also be sent to wan@ogp.gov.ie, the deadline for clarifications is 12.00 (noon) Wednesday 22 April 2020.
The OGP intends to run a competitive procurement process for a Wide Area Network Connectivity Framework during 2020. This will result in the establishment of a Framework Agreement(s) available for use by public sector bodies. As part of this process the OGP wishes to take market soundings to identify market capabilities, supply cost factor and general market dynamics. Our aim is to establish a fit for purpose whole-of-government Framework Agreement for the procurement of Wide Area Network Connectivity for the proposed term 2021 to 2025.
This is a Prior Information Notice (PIN) and not a call to competition.
This notice is to advise the market that the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) intends to tender for a Multi-Supplier Framework Agreement for the provision of Wide Area Network Connectivity to the Irish Public Sector by open competition within the next twelve (12) months.
As part of this supply market research and analysis the OGP may seek clarifications from some organisations or individuals who submit responses to this RFI. The OGP may also seek meetings with some service providers for market research purposes only. It is not considered feasible or necessary to hold meetings with all of those that make submissions or with all service providers. Any meetings organised will be for supply market research purposes only.
We would appreciate your response before Wednesday 29 April 2020 at 12.00 (noon). Replies should be submitted to wan@ogp.gov.ie (preferably in PDF format). Please note that the attachment size limit is 15 MB.
Clarification questions should also be sent to wan@ogp.gov.ie, the deadline for clarifications is 12.00 (noon) on Wednesday 22 April 2020.
Please note that this is not a competition and we are not seeking tenders at this stage, it is purely an information exercise seeking the views of market operators on possible approaches that may be taken in a tender process which will be undertaken over the coming months.
