Future opportunity

Project Gigabit in Scotland

  • Scottish Government

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice reference: 2024/S 000-008312

Published 15 March 2024, 9:42am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Scottish Government

5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw

Glasgow

G2 8LU

Contact

Tom Waring

Email

Tom.Waring@gov.scot

Telephone

+44 1312445485

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKM - Scotland

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.scotland.gov.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10482

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

one.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Project Gigabit in Scotland

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 64200000 - Telecommunications services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Deployment of infrastructure that will facilitate access to gigabit capable internet connections to premises which are not expected to be otherwise covered by suppliers' commercial plans.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 32412100 - Telecommunications network
  • 32425000 - Network operating system
  • 32412000 - Communications network
  • 32562300 - Optical-fibre cables for data transmission
  • 32570000 - Communications equipment
  • 45231600 - Construction work for communication lines
  • 45232300 - Construction and ancillary works for telephone and communication lines
  • 64227000 - Integrated telecommunications services
  • 45232332 - Ancillary works for telecommunications
  • 50330000 - Maintenance services of telecommunications equipment
  • 32510000 - Wireless telecommunications system
  • 50332000 - Telecommunications-infrastructure maintenance services
  • 50334400 - Communications system maintenance services
  • 64210000 - Telephone and data transmission services
  • 32000000 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment
  • 32572000 - Communications cable
  • 32420000 - Network equipment
  • 32424000 - Network infrastructure
  • 45314000 - Installation of telecommunications equipment
  • 32500000 - Telecommunications equipment and supplies
  • 45314310 - Installation of cable laying
  • 32571000 - Communications infrastructure
  • 32412110 - Internet network
  • 32572200 - Communications cable with coaxial conductors
  • 32562100 - Optical-fibre cables for information transmission
  • 45314300 - Installation of cable infrastructure

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM - Scotland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

In March 2021, the UK Government announced an ambition to deliver nationwide gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure, recognising that there is a need for government intervention in the parts of the country that are not commercially viable. They have committed a total of 5 billion GBP to ensure that all areas of the UK can benefit. This will be spent through a package of coordinated and mutually supportive interventions, collectively known as Project Gigabit, with an initial intervention of 1.2 billion GBP targeting at least 85% gigabit coverage of the UK by 2025 and nationwide gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure by 2030.

As part of Project Gigabit, the Scottish Government is working with Building Digital UK (BDUK) to deliver contracts to suppliers delivering gigabit-capable wholesale infrastructure in Scotland. This procurement approach will be a successor to the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme and work in parallel with the Scottish Government’s current Reaching 100% (R100) programme.

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

30 April 2024


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

The first local procurement in Scotland is expected to launch by the end of March 2024, covering the Borders and East Lothian areas. The procurement process will be conducted through the BDUK Project Gigabit Dynamic Purchasing System. A regional procurement, in the Dundee, Aberdeenshire, Angus, and Moray Coast area is expected to follow in the coming months. The estimated date of publication of contract notice set out within II.3) is for the regional procurement. Dates are indicative and subject to change.

The Scottish Government and BDUK have worked together to prepare further procurements, and these will be launched if and when we are confident that there is the market interest needed for them to succeed.

Any suppliers who would like to be included in future supplier engagement exercises should email Gigabit@gov.scot

As part of the work to develop a procurement approach to deliver Project Gigabit in Scotland, the Scottish Government and BDUK have been engaging with market participants. Scottish Government and BDUK held a number of supplier engagement sessions between August 2022 and March 2024.

To aid the supplier engagement sessions, information on Project Gigabit in Scotland and the proposed intervention areas was shared with market participants. Please see Additional Documents for information shared with market participants during the supplier engagement sessions, including the UPRN lists issued as part of the supplier engagement exercise in January 2024.

The UPRN lists for the proposed areas and data within the documents were correct at the time they were published and are subject to update prior to the launch of any procurements.

The Scottish Government and BDUK reserve the right not to proceed to procure the Proposed Procurement Areas detailed in this Prior Information Notice and the Information Pack. This is not a commitment from the Scottish Government or BDUK to launch any procurement(s).

Please note that the requests for feedback set out within the information packs have now closed.

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=708302.

(SC Ref:708302)