Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Satellite Applications Catapult
Electron Building, Fermi Avenue, Harwell
Didcot
OX11 0QR
Contact
James Morrison
James.Morrison@sa.catapult.org.uk
Telephone
+44 1235567977
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.mytenders.co.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA42845
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Other type
RDO
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Space Technology
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
RFP-FY-22-17 Provision of an OpenRAN platform
Reference number
RFP-FY-22-17
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 32522000 - Telecommunications equipment
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Requirements For OpenRAN & Neutral Host Solution
1. Radio (RRUs)
2. Software (DU, CU)
3. Core Network and Integration
4. Services: Support the following use cases
5. Support
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 32522000 - Telecommunications equipment
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
Main site or place of performance
Electron Building, Fermi Avenue, Harwell Campus Oxford, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QR, UK
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Requirements For OpenRAN & Neutral Host Solution
1. Radio (RRUs)
2x 5G RRU -ideally outdoor
bands n77/n78
eCPRI 7.2 interface or O-RAN split 7.2
1x 4G RRU -ideally outdoor
Any band
eCPRI 7.2 interface or O-RAN split 7.2
If not available, please state 4G units and when 5G RRUs will be compatible with your platform (same for 5G CU/DU)
2. Software (DU, CU)
DU: Associated DUs based on RRU provided: 5G vDU compatible with commercial --x86 servers (i.e. DellR440, Cisco UCS-B200M4/M5)
These servers have the following specs:
- OS: Linux
- memory: 256 GB
- vCPU:48
- Storage: 1T
- If not compatible, suggest x86 servers that can host DU/CU solution together with OS, memory, CPU, storage requirements
CU: Server requirements as above
- DU-CU split 2 (Optional) or DU-CU in the same hardware
Configuration
- GUI for configuring PLMN ids, as per core network PLMN for the case of Neutral host, radio Tx power, RIC parameters, DU,CU parameters e.t.c
- Installation guidelines for containerized DUs/CUs
- Access to the Kubernetes cluster where DU/CUs are running
- Possibility to scale up scale down applications/ delete deployments/install new deployments and services
Intelligence – Please describe the solution you provide:
- Real time RIC module (E2 interface O-RAN) - Please describe and also specify protocols used for E2 interface
- Non-RT RIC module (A1 interface O-RAN) - Please describe and also specify protocol used for A1 interface
- Exemplary applications that can be handled by RIC modules : hand-over/Radio resource management (RRM)
- RIC API for third party applications development – Please specify API (e.g. RESTful, netconf etc) and protocols used.
KPI monitoring, alarms monitoring, troubleshooting – Track KPIs (access, attach, CPU, memory etc) / alarms per MNO
3. Core Network and Integration
- Compatible with at least one of the following cores:
- Fraunhofer Focus Open 5g Core,
- open5Gs (4G/5G core)
- Amarisoft 5G/4GCore
4. Services: Support the following use cases
- 5G Neutral hosting MORAN -RRC configuration based on PLMN
- 5G and 4G Neutral hosting -MORAN -RRC configuration based on PLMN
- 5G Neutral Hosting MOCN -RRC configuration based on PLMN
- Hand over handled by RIC module.
- Radio Resource management through RIC module based on application (stage one O-RAN requirements)
- Third party apps deployed in RIC (xApps/rApps)
- Ability to integrate 4G and 5G networks under the platform (e.g neutral hosting of 4G and 5G bearers under the same platform)
5. Support
Knowledge transfer in terms of installation and configuration (No black boxes please)
Information on the IaaS platform used, (i.e. Kubernetes, Starlinx, e.t.c)
Instruction to configure the DU, CUs through GUI as well as trough low level config files(i.e yaml files e.t.c)
On-site support for 6 months
Training and demos on the following:
- Platform RIC deployment and API
- Deployment of the 5G/5G or 4G/5G Neutral Host
- handling RIC modules for the RRM and handover use cases
- OSS solution available
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
12
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Warranty extension
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
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 three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Originally published as:
Date
15 November 2021
Local time
12:00pm
Changed to:
Date
22 November 2021
Local time
12:00pm
See the change notice.
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
15 November 2021
Local time
1:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.3) Additional information
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the myTenders Web Site at https://www.mytenders.co.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=224158.
The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.mytenders.co.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.
Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.
(MT Ref:224158)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Public Procurement Review Service
Cabinet Office
London
publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 3450103503
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit