Planning

Managed Service Provider for WAN Circuits (Soft Market Testing Exercise)

  • UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2021/S 000-023520

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-02e353

Published 22 September 2021, 9:00am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON

HIGHFIELD CAMPUS,UNIVERSITY ROAD

SOUTHAMPTON

SO171BJ

Contact

Alex Oakley

Email

A.G.Oakley@soton.ac.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKJ3 - Hampshire and Isle of Wight

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton/aspx/Home

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

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

Managed Service Provider for WAN Circuits (Soft Market Testing Exercise)

Reference number

2020UoS-0035

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 72720000 - Wide area network services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The University is seeking to appoint a managed service provider for its WAN (wide area network) circuits.

This PIN notice is for prior information only and a corresponding Soft Market Testing Exercise (SMTE) is being carried out. The SMTE documents can be accessed at the following URL: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton/aspx/Home

The managed service provider will be responsible for the provision, installation, support and management of the University's WAN circuits.

Connections to the JANET network are not in scope of this procurement.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £2,000,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ32 - Southampton
  • UKJ35 - South Hampshire
  • UKJ36 - Central Hampshire
Main site or place of performance

Southampton, Winchester and Fareham

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The University of Southampton is seeking to appoint a managed service provider to provide leased WAN (wide area network) circuits between University campuses and remote sites.

The managed service provider will be responsible for the provision, installation, support and management of the University's WAN circuits.

Connections to the JANET network are not in scope for this procurement.

The purpose of this PIN notice is to conduct a Soft Market Testing Exercise to allow interested organisations with appropriate experience to outline their views and provide impartial information to the University with no commitment to themselves or the University.

Further information on the University's approach to Soft Market Testing can be found by accessing the Soft Market Testing Exercise documents hosted on the University's e-Tendering software (In-Tend) at the address below:

https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton/aspx/Home

two.2.14) Additional information

The University is utilising an electronic tendering tool (In-Tend: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton) to manage this Soft Market Testing Exercise and to communicate with participating organisations.

All documentation in relation to this Soft Market Testing Exercise can be downloaded from In-Tend.

Participating organisations are advised that there will be no hard copy document issued to organisations and all communications with the University including the submission of Soft Market Testing Questionnaires will be conducted via In-Tend. Regular monitoring of In-Tend is the responsibility of the participating organisation.

If you are not already registered as a supplier with the University of Southampton, you will need to register in In-Tend in order to access the soft market testing documentation.

Once you have logged in: click on 'Tenders'; locate the relevant project; and click 'View Details'. Once you are in the project screen, you will be able to register your company against the project and access all documentation by clicking 'Express Interest'.

Further instructions for the submission of soft market testing questionnaires are below.

To submit your return, please follow the instructions below:

1. Log In

2. Click 'Tenders'

3. Locate the relevant project

4. View Details

5. Click on the tab relating to the relevant project stage (e.g. 'Soft Market Testing Exercise')

6. Click on the 'Attach Documents' button and upload your return.

7. Check ALL your response documents are uploaded and displayed in the "My Tender Return" panel. The system will only permit your organisation to make one return.

8. Click the red "Submit Return" button.

Please note that, to preserve the integrity of the soft market testing exercise, all queries must made be via the correspondence function within In-Tend.

The deadline for the return of completed Soft Market Testing Questionnaire is 22/10/2021 at 12:00 noon (GMT).

This Prior information Notice is issued solely for the purpose of conducting pre-procurement marketengagement and does not constitute any commitment to undertake any procurement in the future.

Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to the PIN event and a response to this PIN does not guarantee any invitation to participate in this event or any future procurement.

This PIN does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services, supplies or works mentioned in this PIN and the University will not accept any proposals offered in response to this PIN.

The University of Southampton is not liable for any costs, fees, or expenses incurred by any party in replying to the PIN or attending any briefing day (if applicable).

Any procurement of any services, supplies or works by the University of Southampton will be carried out strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

31 January 2022


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