Contract

Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy Programme - Regional Supplier Contract - Cumbria

  • Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-023911

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-02ee1a

Published 31 July 2024, 10:52am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

100 Parliament Street

London

SW1A 2BQ

Contact

Procurement Team

Email

gis-procurements@dcms.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKI32 - Westminster

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology

Buyer's address

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology

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

Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy Programme - Regional Supplier Contract - Cumbria

Reference number

C0040

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 64200000 - Telecommunications services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

This procurement is for the award of a Regional Supplier Contract in the Cumbria region. This is part of the Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy programme.

The Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy programme is a government programme aimed to support the build of gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure in the areas of the UK which are unlikely to attract commercial investment for gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure within a reasonable timeframe, if at all, referred to as the final 20% (f20). Building Digital UK (BDUK, part of DCMS) will be targeting its market intervention in these areas of the UK via this subsidy award programme, to subsidise the build of gigabit-capable networks providing long-term, sustainable availability of wholesale gigabit broadband services in the hardest to reach parts of the UK. The Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy programme builds on the success of existing programmes being delivered by BDUK to deliver gigabit-capable networks across the UK. It is envisaged this programme will last for up to 9 years and award contracts throughout that period.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £108,525,335

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 32412100 - Telecommunications network

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKD1 - Cumbria
Main site or place of performance

Cumbria

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

BDUK intends to award a number of Regional Supplier Contracts over the life of the Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy Programme. The UK Government has confirmed that approximately £5 billion will be allocated to target the final 20% (f20), the hardest to reach parts of the UK. BDUK will be targeting its market intervention in these areas of the UK via a programme to subsidise the design, build and operation of gigabit-capable Supplier networks providing long-term, sustainable availability of wholesale gigabit broadband services in the hardest to reach parts of the UK.

The Regional Supplier Contracts are intended to be for larger numbers of premises than those covered under contracts placed under the Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy Dynamic Purchasing System: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013574-2021?origin=SearchResults&p=1

The focus of the Regional Supplier Contracts is to target the build of gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure in the final 20% (f20) of the country that is not commercially viable for the market to design, build and operate without government intervention.

This procurement is for the award of Regional Supplier Contract – Cumbria. This covers the following geographic area; Intervention area geographic limit (Lot boundary) was re-shaped following new large-scale commercial build plans, necessitating it being expanded to include the entirety of the county of Cumbria. The exact outline was then tessellated to exchange boundaries based on feedback from suppliers relating to the deliverability of fibre broadband. It concerns the delivery of a gigabit-capable network for an estimated total number of 60,774 premises compromising 33,452 in the initial scope and 27,322 in the deferred scope. BDUK intends to make available £108,525,335 of public funding available for this contract.

The estimated total number of premises indicated above comprises an Initial Scope for specified premises and a deferred list of premises (“Deferred Scope”) for further specified premises. The Deferred Scope will be authorised by BDUK after the contract's Effective Date in accordance with Clause 6 (Deferred Scope Authorisation) of the Regional Supplier Contract Terms and Conditions . The number of premises in the Deferred Scope may be subject to amendment prior to authorisation, in particular as a result of further reviews of the commercial viability of the premises.

Suppliers interested in this Regional Supplier Contract should submit a completed Standard Selection Questionnaire in order to be considered to be invited to tender. All suppliers meeting the selection criteria will be invited to tender. The selection criteria are set out in the procurement documents and are available at the address described in the additional information section.

The provision of subsidy will be provided in accordance with the UK subsidy control regime.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 65

Price - Weighting: 35

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Restricted procedure

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: 2021/S 000-026285

four.2.9) Information about termination of call for competition in the form of a prior information notice

The contracting authority will not award any further contracts based on the above prior information notice


Section five. Award of contract

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

1 December 2022

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 1

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Fibrus Networks GB Ltd

8 Lanyon Place

Belfast

BT1 3LP

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKH1 - East Anglia
The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £108,525,335

Total value of the contract/lot: £108,525,335


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Royal Courts of Justice

Strand, Holborn

London

WC2A 2LL

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/royal-courts-of-justice