Planning

Swansea Bay City Deal Digital Infrastructure Programme Better Broadband Infill Project

  • Carmarthenshire County Council

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-014464

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-045779

Published 7 May 2024, 10:10am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Carmarthenshire County Council

County Hall

Carmarthen

SA31 1JP

Email

digital@swanseabaycitydeal.wales

Telephone

+44 1267234567

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKL14 - South West Wales

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0281

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

Regional or local authority

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Swansea Bay City Deal Digital Infrastructure Programme Better Broadband Infill Project

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 32412100 - Telecommunications network

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

The Swansea Bay City Deal’s Digital Infrastructure Programme is exploring potential solutions to contract a commercial partner(s) to provide a minimum superfast, ideally ultrafast connection to premises in the Swansea Bay City Region (Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, and Neath Port Talbot) that currently have poor broadband (<30mbps) and meet the following criteria:

White premises - Speed < 30mbps

Not in commercial plans as defined by OMR.

Not part of Project Gigabit or existing voucher scheme

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

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKL14 - South West Wales
Main site or place of performance

Swansea Bay City Region (Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, and Neath Port Talbot)

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Swansea Bay City Deal’s Digital Infrastructure Programme is exploring potential solutions to contract a commercial partner(s) to provide a minimum superfast, ideally ultrafast connection to premises in the Swansea Bay City Region (Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, and Neath Port Talbot) that currently have poor broadband (<30mbps) and meet the following criteria:

White premises - Speed < 30mbps

Not in commercial plans as defined by OMR.

Not part of Project Gigabit or existing voucher scheme

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

1 July 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 Swansea Bay City Deal’s Digital Infrastructure Programme is a formally constituted partnership between four local authorities - Neath Port Talbot, Swansea, Carmarthenshire & Pembrokeshire, two regional health boards - Hywel Dda University Health Board and Swansea Bay University Health Board and two universities - University of Wales Trinity Saint David & Swansea University.

The programme’s aspirations are:

Better broadband for everyone... leaving nobody behind.

A smart region ready and able to innovate and adopt emerging technology.

An inclusive digital landscape that meets everyone's needs.

As part of the programmes Rural workstream, we are currently scoping a potential infill project to support these aspirations and meet the following objectives:

Address poor connectivity in areas where market failure persists in a pragmatic, timely and effective manner to ensure residents and businesses aren’t left behind.

Facilitate the market to deliver against their own commercial plans. Accelerating rollout of broadband infrastructure in the Swansea Bay City Region.

Complement and support delivery of existing and planned UK and Welsh Government interventions.

We are seeking a commercial partner(s) to provide a minimum superfast, ideally ultrafast connection to premises in the Swansea Bay City Region that currently have poor broadband (<30mbps) and meet the following criteria:

White premises - Speed < 30mbps

Not in commercial plans as defined by OMR.

Not part of Project Gigabit or existing voucher scheme

We have used multiple datasets from Ofcom, Welsh, and UK Government, to identify the potential intervention area. Initial analysis has identified eligible residential and business premises in both rural and urban locations.

See map for an overview of the locations. The number of premises potentially in scope for this procurement will be discussed during market engagement. This information is subject to change prior to going out to tender.

Requirements

High level overview of requirements*:

New connection must offer affordable broadband packages for residents and businesses.

New connection must be available to the premise to request a service for a minimum of 12 years at no additional cost to the resident/business.

Technology agnostic but the solution must provide a minimum superfast connection, ideally ultrafast. FTTP is preferable. Other solutions will only be considered where it is evident that FTTP is not a viable option.

*This is subject to change.

We will refine the specification following market engagement, and we invite suppliers to contribute their ideas to help us shape this project.

We are considering lotting the project into the following geographic areas. However, we are open to alternative approaches, and this will be discussed during market engagement.

Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire West

Carmarthenshire

Swansea and Neath Port Talbot

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=141168.

(WA Ref:141168)