Scope
Reference
C118/2024/2025
Description
Procurement:
The Welsh Government is conducting a procurement to establish a framework (the "Framework") to deliver the Extending High Speed Broadband project (the "Project").
Once the Framework is established, the Authority intends to award a series of call-off contracts (following individual competitive selection processes), that will provide grant funding to telecoms suppliers to cover the "gap" in costs that are required to deliver superfast connections to communities / premises in Wales that would not otherwise be served by commercial operators under normal market conditions, due to the high infrastructure cost of building connections to those "hard to reach" communities / premises.
Coverage:
Following a recent review, the Welsh Government has identified that around 84,000 premises within Wales do not have access to superfast download speeds (at least 30Mbps) exacerbating the digital divide. Ofcom has previously stated that a subset of these (around 10,000 premises) do not yet have access to at least 10Mbps.
While there are existing interventions scheduled by the telecommunications industry and UK Government public funded interventions, the remote and hard-to-reach areas that have been identified are unlikely to be addressed commercially and it is not certain that they will be addressed by further publicly funded interventions.
The number of premises that are anticipated to be in scope for the Framework will be provided as part of the associated tender documents, but this will be subject to refinement/update during the duration of the Framework. The premises that are in-scope for each call-off contract will be confirmed in the relevant request for proposals issued under the Framework.
Preliminary Market Engagement:
The Welsh Government is publishing this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice to notify suppliers of its intention to conduct a procurement for the Project, and identify likely contract terms for the Framework and call-off contracts that may be awarded under the Framework.
This exercise builds on previous market engagement that the Welsh Government conducted under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as referred to in the Prior Information Notice with reference ocds-kuma6s-131418 .
Additional Information:
The Welsh Government expects the Framework will have two lots. The first lot will be for projects that require the installation of broadband network infrastructure to 1,000 premises and over. The second lot will be for projects that require the installation of broadband network infrastructure to under 1,000 premises. The second lot will be suitable for SME's and Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs).
The Authority expects the first Framework will commence in summer 2025 with the first call-off contract under the Framework being awarded in autumn 2025.
Please note that the estimated total value set out in this notice is in respect of all call-off contracts that may be awarded under the Framework. At this stage, it is an estimate only and is in no way guaranteed or final. The associated tender documents for this opportunity will contain more specific information.
The dates and total duration for the Framework and any call-off contracts referred to in this notice are also estimates and for illustrative purposes only. The associated tender documents for this opportunity will confirm the relevant anticipated dates for the Framework.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £70,000,000 excluding VAT
- £84,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2033
- 8 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 51000000 - Installation services (except software)
- 32000000 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment
- 64000000 - Postal and telecommunications services
Contract locations
- UKL - Wales
Engagement
Engagement deadline
5 May 2025
Engagement process description
To express an interest in this market engagement exercise, interested organisations should e-mail EHSB.Framework@gov.wales by 17:00 on 5th May 2025.
Once the deadline to express an interest (as set out above) has passed, participating organisations will be sent a copy of the draft contract via email and be invited to submit written feedback on the draft contract. Participating organisations will then have seven days in which to provide their feedback to the Welsh Government. The format for this market engagement exercise will be consistent for each participating organisation.
Participation in this market engagement exercise is not a requirement for future progress in the procurement process and details of the outcome from the exercise will be made clear in the associated tender documents related to the opportunity, once these documents are published.
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
28 May 2025
Contracting authority
Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PQYQ-3841-BHTP
Seilwaith Digidol / Digital Infrastructure
Cardiff
CF103NQ
United Kingdom
Contact name: Gemma Martyn
Telephone: +443000258886
Email: gemma.martyn@gov.wales
Website: http://gov.wales
Region: UKL22 - Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Wales