Published: 27/11/2020
Procurement update
The neutral host procurement opportunity presents the chance to be at the forefront of our Smart City agenda, and to be part of something that will create a permanent and positive impact on the city and wider region.
We are seeking a long-term partner committed to working with us to deliver against our Smart City ambition and make a transformational difference to the people and businesses within the city.
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Published: 24/11/2020
Procurement update
The Council can confirm the Specification and accompanying documents in relation to the Sunderland Smart City 5G Neutral Host, in which the Council is seeking a private sector partner (PSP) to co-invest in and form a Joint Venture (JV) to design, build and operate a 5G Neutral Host across the SCC boundary area and adjacent areas, has now been published on the NEPO portal.
Prospective bidders are required to register for free through the NEPO portal (www.nepo.org, NEPO Reference: DN467791) and obtain log-in details in order to access the documentation. The link to this contract opportunity is here for your reference.
Our 5G Neutral Host Joint Venture Procurement Prospectus is here to download. It contains details of our pioneering work – ensuring that digital connectivity is at the core of our future plans – across a plethora of projects and initiatives to transform the lives and outcomes of residents and businesses in the city.
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Published: 19/11/2020
Procurement update
The Council can confirm the Specification and accompanying documents in relation to the Sunderland Smart City 5G Neutral Host, in which the Council is seeking a private sector partner (PSP) to co-invest in and form a Joint Venture (JV) to design, build and operate a 5G Neutral Host across the SCC boundary area and adjacent areas, has now been published on the NEPO portal.
Prospective bidders are required to register for free through the NEPO portal (www.nepo.org, NEPO Reference: DN467791) and obtain log-in details in order to access the documentation. The link to this contract opportunity is here for your reference.
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Published: 19/10/2020
Procurement update
On 4 March 2020, Sunderland City Council (‘the Council’) issued a Prior Information Notice (PIN) (Ref: 2020/S 048-114810) regarding the procurement of a strategic partner to support both the deployment of FTTP across Sunderland plus a ubiquitous 5G neutral host.
Following market engagement activities resulting from that original PIN, it became apparent that the private marketplace could deliver the majority of the FTTP network the Council was seeking to deploy. Therefore, the Council now intends to proceed with a procurement process in respect of the 5G Neutral Host deployment only.
The procurement exercise is intended to commence towards the end of this year and will seek to appoint a strategic partner to enter into a joint venture with the Council to fund, deliver and operate a ubiquitous 5G neutral host network in the city.
Prior to formally launching the procurement, the Council intends to hold a virtual market engagement event to explain how the procurement will be conducted and share its thinking on the desired outcomes. As such the Council is requesting attendance at a market engagement event to be held in the middle of November (actual date to be confirmed), by Suppliers who are interested in bidding for the strategic partnership.
If you are interested in participating in this event, please complete and return the expression of interest form, which can be found at www.nepo.org.uk (reference: DN467791), which must be returned no later than 17.00 on Friday 30 October 2020.
In addition to the above, a separate procurement process is being undertaken by the Council, on behalf of itself and partners, to appoint a provider to design, build and operate a private 5G Network around the Nissan Test track to demonstrate connected automated logistics, along with a 5G Core.
This procurement for the Nissan 5G Network project is being undertaken as a further competition utilising Lot 1: Data Access Services of the CCS Network Services 2 Framework (RM3808). If you are interested in this specific project, you may wish to discuss this contract opportunity with those suppliers listed on the above lot and framework, in order to explore potential bidding options. Further details in respect of the Nissan 5G Network project can be found here.
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Published: 28/07/2020
Procurement update
Following the recent market engagement exercise, the Council has given further consideration to the various procurement options available for the delivery of its Smart City project.
The Council remains fully committed to the delivery of the Project and the key digital outcomes for the city.
Having reflected on the feedback received from the market to date, the Council has decided to now separate the procurement of the fibre and 5G components of the Project. As a consequence, we now plan to undertake two separate procurement processes in relation to (i) the delivery of the Council’s own fibre network requirements; and (ii) the funding, delivery and operation of city-wide 5G neutral host infrastructure in a phased manner.
The Council intends to commence each procurement process as soon as possible.
In relation to the delivery of the Council’s fibre requirements, it is anticipated that a tender process will commence in the coming weeks under CCS’s Gigabit Capable Connectivity Dynamic Purchasing System (RM6095).
In addition, we are currently planning to commence a OJEU procurement process in the early autumn for the appointment of the JV Partner for the delivery of 5G neutral host infrastructure within the city. We will notify all interested parties in due course through the Portal once the timetable for this procurement is finalised.
For more information on our building portfolio, see the following link to a list of council owned properties.
List of Council Owned Properties_A3
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Published: 03/06/2020
Statement issued on the procurement portal
As you will be aware, the Council originally intended to launch its OJEU Notice for the Smart City Procurement for delivery of an open access fibre and 5G neutral host at the end of May. Following the market engagement activity conducted in April, the Council requested further input from the market place through the NEPO portal relating specifically to the fibre element of the potential procurement. The Council is now considering the information received from the marketplace and will be making a decision on how it intends to proceed in the near future. As a result there will be a delay in commencing any procurement until at least the beginning of July. We are very grateful for your continued interest in this project and we will notify you as soon as we are able once a decision has been made regarding any procurement and the timetable.
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Published: 30/03/2020
Expressions of interest
We would like to share our thanks with those who have taken the time to express an interest in our latest procurement opportunity. With submissions from over 30 organisations in this preliminary engagement for lead bidder, expressions of interest are now closed.
Given the large number of responses received, we are unfortunately unable to arrange individual meetings with all submitting organisations.
As indicated in the Prior Information Notice, submissions have been reviewed and a shortlist identified consisting of organisations who we believe:
- are representative of the type of organisations likely to lead a bid during the subsequent procurement process;
- have a track record in the communications industry delivering programmes of this kind; and
- will provide a good spread of views from industry to support the Council’s fact-finding activity at this preliminary stage.
Next steps:
The discovery sessions are due to commence on 30th March and the formal process (subject to the current situation) will be launched in May.
Unsuccessful bidders:
The pre-procurement market engagement is a discovery exercise, which is used to help shape the formal procurement and in no way disadvantages nor prevents organisations from participating in any further future market engagement or proposed procurement activity, either as a lead bidder or a member of a consortium.