Managed Network Services

{
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PWVM-4844-NRQH",
    "name": "Essex County Council"
  },
  "date": "2025-09-02T21:36:34+01:00",
  "id": "053348-2025",
  "initiationType": "tender",
  "language": "en",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0592b5",
  "parties": [
    {
      "address": {
        "country": "GB",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Chelmsford",
        "postalCode": "CM1 1QH",
        "region": "UKH36",
        "streetAddress": "County Hall, Market Road"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "sophie.jarrett@essex.gov.uk"
      },
      "details": {
        "classifications": [
          {
            "description": "Public authority - sub-central government",
            "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE"
          }
        ],
        "url": "http://www.essex.gov.uk"
      },
      "id": "GB-PPON-PWVM-4844-NRQH",
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PWVM-4844-NRQH",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "name": "Essex County Council",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "planning": {
    "noEngagementNoticeRationale": "Preliminary market engagement was undertaken in accordance with Public Contract Regulations 2015, before the Procurement Act 2023 came into effect. Notice reference: 2024/S 000-034256 CO0168 Managed Network Services."
  },
  "tag": [
    "tender"
  ],
  "tender": {
    "aboveThreshold": true,
    "awardPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-03-05T23:59:59Z"
    },
    "contractTerms": {
      "financialTerms": "Bidders should refer to Schedule 3 (Payment) of D001PA Terms and Conditions for the relevant information on payments under this contract."
    },
    "coveredBy": [
      "GPA"
    ],
    "description": "Transformation is fundamental and across the Authority change is inevitable, now, and as we move into the future. The Authority sets our clear intention to be a modern digital council, maximising the use of new technologies, delivering innovation and to work more effectively, as well as to maximise our opportunity to add value across the Authority.\nThe Authority understands that our suppliers (particularly on a technology or digital front) are leaders within their specific expertise. To enable the Authority to become a modern digital council, we require strategic relationships with our suppliers to support us with delivering our key principles, helping with challenges and to contribute to managing, shaping and innovating our services\nThe Authority has used outsourced Managed Service Providers (MSPs) for network services for over 20 years, with the current network contract in place since 2012. This Procurement aims to replace the existing network technology while maintaining the same operating model to meet the Authority\u0027s evolving needs, which include hybrid working, an evolving real estate and defending against increasing cyber threats. \nThe Authority requires a modern and well managed enterprise network solution that is designed, built, and managed based on effective security principles. The Solution will need to ensure that there is robust protection whilst maintaining a quality service experience to our Users and their various working styles. \nThe wider adoption of hybrid working has seen the traditional perimeter of the network extend outside of our buildings. This change needs to be reflected in the security of the network, thereby securing the User and their Device as well as the traditional elements of the network. \nThe Services must provide consistent and reliable connections that are scalable and flexible, both operationally and commercially, to accommodate changes in usage and demand at all Sites both now and in the future.\nThe Procurement aims to consolidate contract management through operating a unified Managed Network Service for the Sites. The Provider must provide a reliable and consistent Service, including a managed service \"wrap\" founded on proactive support, open and transparent communication, strategic alignment with the Authority\u0027s business goals, and accurate data and reporting. This will enable the Authority to gain insights from the Provider on how to reduce costs and carbon emissions while promoting innovation during the life of the Contract. \nThe Services must minimise network reliance on specific Sites through reducing on premise infrastructure. The Authority will work with the Provider to reduce network-related carbon emissions annually and to minimise costs associated with Sites by leveraging cloud infrastructure and enabling working for business continuity. \nThis Contract will require the Provider to replace the network components at each Site, i.e. Wi-Fi, LAN and WAN to achieve the Authority\u0027s aims and outcomes.\nThe Authority currently has various contracts in place to provide network services for circa 175 sites. The 175 Sites in scope comprise 127 under an existing managed services contract with the remainder, known as New Sites, having unmanaged services.\nThere are c.9000 Authority Users who can use the network daily, along with General Public and Guest Users.\nIt is anticipated, that during the life of this contract/framework, the LGR process will commence and/or progress potentially impacting this contract/framework. Impacts may include, but are not limited to, modifications such as a transfer of the legal entity you currently contract with, significant increases and/or decreases in the value/volume of goods/services/works required due to the change in size/scope of the Contracting Authority, and/or changes to the scope of the nature of goods/services/works required. Although any contract scope changes should broadly relate to the nature of the existing scope, new goods/services/works of a related nature may be required that were not previously included.\nThe contracting authority is Essex County Council and any Successor Body meaning one or more entities which assumes any of the Council\u0027s functions  (as applicable) as a result of Local Government Reform (LGR). Such successor body or bodies may be, without limitation, a local authority, a combined authority, a combined county authority, a strategic authority or any other status determined pursuant to the Devolution and LGR Legislation.\nThe scale and exact timing of the changes are unknown at this point, but it is known that LGR will impact the County of Essex. All suppliers who work with the Authority need to be aware and where possible, work with the Authority to adapt to any changes/modifications as required to ensure smooth transition and continuity of services.\nEstimated contract value range, inclusive of possible extensions, is between \u00a346,486,259.50 - \u00a361,607,520.00 (inclusive of VAT).",
    "documents": [
      {
        "description": "Not published",
        "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
        "id": "conflictOfInterest"
      },
      {
        "datePublished": "2025-09-02T21:36:34+01:00",
        "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
        "documentType": "tenderNotice",
        "format": "text/html",
        "id": "053348-2025",
        "noticeType": "UK4",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053348-2025"
      }
    ],
    "enquiryPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2025-09-17T17:00:00+01:00"
    },
    "expressionOfInterestDeadline": "2025-09-29T17:00:00+01:00",
    "id": "D001PA",
    "items": [
      {
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "description": "Local area network",
            "id": "32410000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          },
          {
            "description": "Wide area network",
            "id": "32430000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          },
          {
            "description": "Wireless telecommunications system",
            "id": "32510000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          },
          {
            "description": "Security software package",
            "id": "48730000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          },
          {
            "description": "Data network support services",
            "id": "72315100",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          },
          {
            "description": "Local area network services",
            "id": "72710000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          },
          {
            "description": "Wide area network services",
            "id": "72720000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          }
        ],
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "country": "GB",
            "countryName": "United Kingdom",
            "region": "UKH3"
          }
        ],
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1"
      }
    ],
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "scheme": "UKPGA",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
    },
    "lots": [
      {
        "awardCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "description": "Strategic Requirements (5%)\nManaged Service Approach (10%)\nService Requests and Chargeable Projects (10%)\nDisaster Recovery and Resilience (7%)\nCapacity \u0026 Performance, Service Availability, Scalability \u0026 Flexibility (7%)\nFinancial Management (6%)\nTransition Strategy (10%)\nService Transition Project Plan (10%)\nNetwork Technology (10%)\nSecurity (7%)\nCompliance (4%)\nTechnical Design Standards \u0026 Documentation (4%)\nNon-Corporate Services (7%)\nContract Exit (3%)",
              "name": "Technical Quality Questions",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 55,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "quality"
            },
            {
              "description": "Social Value Calculator in conjunction with Social Value Supporting Statement",
              "name": "Technical Social Value",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 5,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "quality"
            },
            {
              "description": "Bidders are required to complete and submit a full Pricing Matrix demonstrating their costs associated with delivering the requirement as set out in the tender documentation for D001PA Managed Network Services.\nThe Authority states that:\nAs set out in the Procurement Act 2023 \u0026 Procurement Regulations 2024 an abnormally low bid may be rejected.\nThe Pricing Matrix provided at ITT must be completed fully.  If not completed and returned as part of the tender response the Authority reserves the right to exclude the bid.\nThe cost of the Managed Network (excluding Minor Project, Complex Project and Technical Collaboration service requests) and Exit mobilisation Costs for the initial 7-year contract term, must not exceed \u00a324,227,045. Bids that do exceed this will be excluded from the tender.\nThe prices and/or rates stated in this commercial section constitute the only reimbursement and profit to the organisation for providing the Services which are the subject of this Agreement.\nThe prices are deemed to cover all costs, expenses and profit incurred directly or indirectly by the Provider in providing the Services. \nAll rates and prices quoted in this section must be in GBP and exclusive of VAT",
              "name": "Commercial",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 40,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "price"
            }
          ]
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2033-03-22T23:59:59Z",
          "maxExtentDate": "2037-03-04T23:59:59Z",
          "startDate": "2026-03-23T00:00:00Z"
        },
        "hasOptions": true,
        "hasRenewal": true,
        "id": "1",
        "options": {
          "description": "The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.\nServices within the Networks scope which do not materially alter the original requirement.\nAny Services which are described and within the scope as defined for Minor Projects, Complex Projects or Technical Collaborations  Project work includes additions, removals, decommissioning, and changes to the existing service provision, the specific details of which cannot be foreseen. Much of this work would be associated with Essex County Councils changing property portfolio (e.g. Estates Transformation Programme)."
        },
        "renewal": {
          "description": "The Authority may at its sole discretion extend the Term by such period as it may specify in written notice given not less than 3 months\u0027 prior to the expiry of the Term and may do so on as many occasions as it shall think fit provided that such extensions shall not, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, exceed forty-eight (48) months in total.\nThe Authority may, in addition to the extension described above, at its sole discretion require the Provider to provide TAP Services (which includes BAU, Exit Services and Chargeable Service Requests) for such a further period as it may specify in written notice given not less than 3 month\u0027s prior to the expiry of the Contract Term and may do so on as many occasions as it shall think fit provided that such extensions shall not, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, exceed twenty-four (24) months in total."
        },
        "selectionCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "description": "There are Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation, full details on these are included in the tender documentation which can be found through by searching for the opportunity, DN787914 D001PA Managed Network Services on the Authority\u0027s eSourcing system, ProContract, https://procontract.due-north.com/Login.",
              "type": "economic"
            },
            {
              "description": "There are Technical ability conditions of participation, full details on these are included in the tender documentation which can be found through by searching for the opportunity, DN787914 D001PA Managed Network Services on the Authority\u0027s eSourcing system, ProContract, https://procontract.due-north.com/Login.",
              "type": "technical"
            },
            {
              "description": "The Authority will assess all PSQ submissions for the first stage of the procurement process.\nAll questions unless stipulated are mandatory. Questions in the PSQ can be broken down into three classes:\nInformation Only\nPass/Fail\nScored  \nIf a Bidder \u0027fails\u0027 one or more pass/fail questions, the Authority reserves the right to exclude the bid from the further participation in the procurement process. \nMinimum scores have been added to all scored questions. Where a Bidder fails to achieve the minimum score for one or more questions that has a minimum score stipulated, the Authority reserves the right to exclude their bid from the procurement process. Each question\u0027s minimum score is detailed in the tender documentation and within the question on the ProContract.\nBidders must answer either 10.1 or 10.2, but not both. If a Bidder provides answers to both questions 10.1 and 10.2, the response to question 10.1 will be assessed regardless of which response may have scored higher. \nRanking of Bidders:\nThose bids which have been excluded from the procurement process for whatever reason will not be ranked.\nThe Authority will use the scores each Bidder receives in the scored portion of the PSQ to rank Bidders to assess which Bidders will be invited to the second stage (Invitation to Tender) of this procurement.\nThe top scoring Bidders will be ranked in descending order of score with the highest scoring Bidder ranked one (1), the second highest ranked two (2) and so on. In the event of a tie, the tying Bidders will receive the same ranking, and the next rank(s) down will be skipped (e.g. if there is a two-way tie for rank two (2), then there will be no Bidder ranked three (3) and the next ranking Bidder will be ranked four (4). If it is a three-way tie, the next placed ranking will be rank five (5)). There is no limit for the number of Bidders who may be tied for a rank.\nIt is the intention for the number of Bidders shortlisted to progress to the second stage for this procurement, to be those ranked one (1) to six (6). However, if six (6) Bidders do not meet the minimum requirements set forth in the first stage, the Authority reserves the right to continue the procurement with fewer than six (6) Bidders. Additionally, in the event that any Bidder is ranked seven (7), eight (8), nine (9) or ten (10) and their overall score is within 5% of the Bidder(s) ranked six, the Authority reserve the right to take any additional such Bidders through to the second stage.",
              "forReduction": true
            }
          ]
        },
        "status": "active",
        "value": {
          "amountGross": 61607520,
          "currency": "GBP"
        }
      }
    ],
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "procedure": {
      "features": "This procurement will be completed in two (2) stages. The first stage is Procurement Selection Questionnaire (PSQ), for which the award criteria and selection process is detailed in the procurement documentation. Bidders that are successful at the PSQ stage will be invited to participate in the second stage, Invitation to Tender (ITT)."
    },
    "procurementMethod": "selective",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Competitive flexible procedure",
    "riskDetails": "It is anticipated, that during the life of this contract, the LGR process will commence and progress potentially impacting this contract.  Impacts may include, but are not limited to, modifications such as a transfer of the legal entity you currently contract with, significant increases and/or decreases in the value/volume of services and works required due to the change in size/scope of the Contracting Authority, and/or changes to the scope of the nature of goods/services/works required. Although any contract scope changes should broadly relate to the nature of the existing scope, new goods/services/works of a related nature may be required that were not previously included.",
    "status": "active",
    "submissionMethodDetails": "Selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.\nFor this tender the Authority will be using the ProContract (aka Due North) eSourcing portal https://procontract.due-north.com throughout the procurement process, and all communications with Essex County Council relating to this procurement exercise must be via the portal\u0027s messaging system.\nSupplier registration on the portal is free of charge and can be done via: https://procontract.due-north.com/\nThe reference and title of this procurement in ProContract is DN787914 DP001PA Managed Network Service.\nIt is recommended that any Bidder not already registered on the ProContract eSourcing portal, register at the earliest opportunity. \nThe Authority reserves the right to amend timescales for any reason and change the assessment criteria where necessary for example if there are genuine omissions or mistakes. The Authority also reserves the right to cancel the procurement exercise and/or not to award all or part of a contract. The Authority will not be responsible for any costs incurred by bidders in relation to this procurement exercise.",
    "submissionTerms": {
      "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
      "languages": [
        "en"
      ]
    },
    "title": "Managed Network Services",
    "value": {
      "amountGross": 61607520,
      "currency": "GBP"
    }
  }
}