Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
The City of Edinburgh Council
Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street
Edinburgh
EH8 8BG
pauline.sutherland@edinburgh.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00290
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
Replacement of Analogue Telephony Lines
Reference number
CT1651
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 51340000 - Installation services of line telephony equipment
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Council is awarding a contract to BT for the continued use of analogue service and their PDPL solution from 1st October 2025 until 30th September 2029 to allow this rationalisation process to complete and to undertake the procurement of the new single digital services contract.
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: £3,500,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
Main site or place of performance
Across the City of Edinburgh
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), including copper analogue services currently provided by Openreach, is ceasing. All PSTN services are required to transition to a digital solution before Openreach ceases all analogue provision (presently scheduled for January 2027, although exchanges will close before that date).
Throughout the City of Edinburgh Council (the Council) estate, the current analogue service is to be provided for as long as possible, whilst the Council identifies lines required and solutions for a future upgrade to a digital service.
The Council intend to novate analogue fixed lines from O2 and Enterprise Broadband lines from CGI, so all analogue services are with a single provider, in preparation for entering the market for a full digital solution.
To ensure services continue to be provided to the circa 1,500 lines which support telephones, lifts, alarms, traffic lights and other infrastructure currently on an analogue line, we require BT to continue to support, whilst the Council identify which lines require transition to which digital solution, and we cease analogue lines where no longer in use or required.
The Council will also be adopting Pre-Digital Phone Lines (PDPL) for some lines until the transition of the estate equipment, so it can accept a digital solution.
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
two.2.14) Additional information
Contract will run from 1st October 2025 until 30th September 2029.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
PSTN Analogue services can no longer be procured. To ensure services continue to be provided to the circa 1,500 lines which support telephones, lifts, alarms, traffic lights and other infrastructure currently on an analogue line, we require BT to continue to support, whilst the Council identify which lines require transition to which digital solution, and we cease analogue lines where no longer in use or required.
BT are unique in offering Pre-Digital Phone Line (PDPL), which gives a period allowing the Council to identify lines and their use, many of which were installed decades ago and are difficult to quickly identify usage and requirements. The Council is undertaking a full audit, which will allow only the transition of those lines we correctly identify as in use and needed.
For these reasons, there are no financially, administratively reasonable or viable alternatives available.
Once the Council has consolidated all lines into a single contract, it intends to enter the market for a full digital solution by the expiry of this VEAT.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
CT1651
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
1 September 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
British Telecommunications PLC
1 Braham Street
London
E1 8EE
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £3,500,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
Contract with British Telecommunications PLC is subject to agreeing terms.
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=808807.
(SC Ref:808807)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Sheriff Court
27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
An economic operator that suffers or risks suffering loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or Court of Session. In general, a claim for an ineffectiveness order must be made within 10 days of the date on which the VEAT Notice is published in the Find a Tender Service