Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Newcastle University
Newcastle University, Procurement Services, Kingsgate
Newcastle
NE1 7RU
Contact
Mr Dave Anderson
Telephone
+44 1912085360
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKC22 - Tyneside
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=9ee90145-16e5-ed11-8121-005056b64545
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=9ee90145-16e5-ed11-8121-005056b64545
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
(NU/1866) Network Infrastructure Refresh Project
Reference number
DN652647
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 32400000 - Networks
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Newcastle University’s IT Network is the enabler for all the IT Services which underpin Newcastle’s critical business functions, teaching, and research.
The existing network infrastructure has been in place for nine years and has reached the end of its supportable life. This, coupled with the incumbent supplier Huawei pulling out of the UK market and the University’s need to improve its cyber security posture, has led to the need to replace all wired and wireless networking infrastructure across campus, satellite sites, NUMed (Malaysia) and NewRIIS (Singapore).
The University increasingly depends on its network infrastructure for business-critical activities driven by increasing numbers of digital services and data growth generated through teaching, learning and research activities.
The University demands a modern, fit for purpose network with up-to-date security controls in line with industry best practice and leveraging cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) to meet the University’s existing needs while providing agility to meet the future demand, capacity, and innovation to underpin the needs of the “Campus of the Future.” The upgrading of the University’s IT network is an essential step to manage Newcastle University’s cyber security risk.
As well as replacing the network infrastructure (‘hardware’) the University needs to replace the underpinning network services (‘software’) to provide deeper integration into the network management tools, enabling monitoring, visibility, automation, enhancements to service reliability and cyber security.
The replacement network will support the University’s digital aspirations and strategies, be easier to upgrade in the future and therefore provide a lower incremental upgrade cost and, consequently, mitigate the peril of having to replace the network in a ‘big bang’ project like this again.
The University is using the Competitive Procedure with Negotiation to appoint a single partner/integrator.
The successful supplier will need to provide a solution to deliver the following high level business case requirements:
• Re-design and transformation of the Newcastle University network
• Hardware replacement, core network, campus and switch estate
• Wi Fi modernisation, replacement and transformation of existing solution
• Cyber security re design and resilient future proofed solution
• New network tools maximising and automating standard processes
• Support and maintenance
The University invites interested candidates to participate in an initial prequalification stage, from which a maximum of five will be selected to participate in a tender process. This can be accessed here:
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=9ee90145-16e5-ed11-8121-005056b64545
The contract reference is NU/1866.
The deadline for submitting your prequalification stage response is 16:00 BST on Friday 2nd June 2023
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 50312300 - Maintenance and repair of data network equipment
- 72315100 - Data network support services
- 72315200 - Data network management services
- 72511000 - Network management software services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC22 - Tyneside
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Newcastle University’s IT Network is the enabler for all the IT Services which underpin Newcastle’s critical business functions, teaching, and research.
The existing network infrastructure has been in place for nine years and has reached the end of its supportable life. This, coupled with the incumbent supplier Huawei pulling out of the UK market and the University’s need to improve its cyber security posture, has led to the need to replace all wired and wireless networking infrastructure across campus, satellite sites, NUMed (Malaysia) and NewRIIS (Singapore).
The University increasingly depends on its network infrastructure for business-critical activities driven by increasing numbers of digital services and data growth generated through teaching, learning and research activities.
The University demands a modern, fit for purpose network with up-to-date security controls in line with industry best practice and leveraging cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) to meet the University’s existing needs while providing agility to meet the future demand, capacity, and innovation to underpin the needs of the “Campus of the Future.” The upgrading of the University’s IT network is an essential step to manage Newcastle University’s cyber security risk.
As well as replacing the network infrastructure (‘hardware’) the University needs to replace the underpinning network services (‘software’) to provide deeper integration into the network management tools, enabling monitoring, visibility, automation, enhancements to service reliability and cyber security.
The replacement network will support the University’s digital aspirations and strategies, be easier to upgrade in the future and therefore provide a lower incremental upgrade cost and, consequently, mitigate the peril of having to replace the network in a ‘big bang’ project like this again.
The University is using the Competitive Procedure with Negotiation to appoint a single partner/integrator.
The successful supplier will need to provide a solution to deliver the following high level business case requirements:
• Re-design and transformation of the Newcastle University network
• Hardware replacement, core network, campus and switch estate
• Wi Fi modernisation, replacement and transformation of existing solution
• Cyber security re design and resilient future proofed solution
• New network tools maximising and automating standard processes
• Support and maintenance
The University invites interested candidates to participate in an initial prequalification stage, from which a maximum of five will be selected to participate in a tender process
The contract reference is NU/1866.
The deadline for submitting your prequalification stage response is 16:00 BST on Friday 2nd June 2023
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
120
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The contract will be for a period of six years (72 months) initially, with an option to extend for four years (at two-year intervals) by mutual agreement.
two.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Maximum number: 5
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The contract will be for a period of six years initially, with an option to extend for four years (at two-year intervals) by mutual agreement.
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
The University invites interested candidates to participate in an initial prequalification stage, from which a maximum of five will be selected to participate in a tender process. This can be accessed here:
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=9ee90145-16e5-ed11-8121-005056b64545
The contract reference is NU/1866.
The deadline for submitting your prequalification stage response is 16:00 BST on Friday 2nd June 2023
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Competitive procedure with negotiation
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2023/S 000-002053
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
2 June 2023
Local time
4:00pm
four.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
22 June 2023
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Newcastle University
King's Gate
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The University will incorporate a standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. That notification will provide full information on the award decision. The standstill period, which will be for a minimum of 10 calendar days, provides time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract is entered into.
The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 No 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) within 30 days of knowledge or constructive knowledge of breach.