Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Department for the Economy
Adelaide House, 39-49 Adelaide Street
BELFAST
BT2 8FD
strategicdelivery.cpd@finance-ni.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/topics/procurement
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
DfE Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy – Regional Supplier Contract for Northern Ireland
Reference number
4303295
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 64200000 - Telecommunications services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The UK Government has committed GBP5bn to enable hard-to-reach communities to access gigabit-capable broadband. This is being spent through a package of coordinated and mutually supportive interventions, collectively known as Project Gigabit. Project Gigabit, is a UK Government intervention to provide a subsidy to support the deployment of a gigabit speed broadband network to cover premises across Northern Ireland that would otherwise not be provided with access to gigabit broadband speeds, as these premises do not present a commercially viable investment for a private sector operator. Project Gigabit is a strategically important initiative for Northern Ireland’s society (people and businesses), is a key enabler for delivering the DfE Minister’s Economic Vision, and will help to maintain Northern Ireland’s connectivity and infrastructure at a level that is competitive with Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland and is attractive to inward investment. As part of this DfE, along with Building Digital UK (BDUK), is developing a procurement approach to incentivise the telecoms market to invest in delivering gigabit capable wholesale infrastructure in areas not considered to be commercially viable for new infrastructure. This procurement approach will be a successor to the much-needed Superfast broadband programme and DfE’s broadband intervention, Project Stratum. The overarching aim of Project Gigabit is, simply stated, to provide universal, or near universal, gigabit-capable broadband coverage in Northern Ireland by increasing provision in areas which are currently poorly served and not capable of attracting wholly commercial investment. The project aim can be categorised into three key objectives: • Address market failure, whilst maintaining and promoting competition within the market. It is currently not commercially viable for telecoms service providers to extend gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure to many of the presently unserved premises in Northern Ireland. • Maximise gigabit-capable broadband coverage in a way that is balanced and supportive of rural areas and communities. • Choose procurement and delivery options which seek to maximise value for money (in terms of a balance of quality of technology/products, coverage, timescale and cost to Government), mitigate risk, incentivise performance and meet affordability criteria for Government and for end users.
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: £81,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 32520000 - Telecommunications cable and equipment
- 32412100 - Telecommunications network
- 32412110 - Internet network
- 32424000 - Network infrastructure
- 32420000 - Network equipment
- 32425000 - Network operating system
- 32500000 - Telecommunications equipment and supplies
- 32510000 - Wireless telecommunications system
- 32521000 - Telecommunications cable
- 32522000 - Telecommunications equipment
- 32523000 - Telecommunications facilities
- 32531000 - Satellite communications equipment
- 32532000 - Satellite dishes
- 32562200 - Optical telecommunication cables
- 32570000 - Communications equipment
- 32571000 - Communications infrastructure
- 32572000 - Communications cable
- 32572200 - Communications cable with coaxial conductors
- 45232300 - Construction and ancillary works for telephone and communication lines
- 45232332 - Ancillary works for telecommunications
- 45232340 - Mobile-telephone base-stations construction work
- 45231600 - Construction work for communication lines
- 45314000 - Installation of telecommunications equipment
- 45314300 - Installation of cable infrastructure
- 45314310 - Installation of cable laying
- 50330000 - Maintenance services of telecommunications equipment
- 50332000 - Telecommunications-infrastructure maintenance services
- 50334400 - Communications system maintenance services
- 51300000 - Installation services of communications equipment
- 64210000 - Telephone and data transmission services
- 64227000 - Integrated telecommunications services
- 65300000 - Electricity distribution and related services
- 71316000 - Telecommunication consultancy services
- 72220000 - Systems and technical consultancy services
- 72222000 - Information systems or technology strategic review and planning services
- 72400000 - Internet services
- 72410000 - Provider services
- 72411000 - Internet service providers ISP
- 32530000 - Satellite-related communications equipment
- 32562100 - Optical-fibre cables for information transmission
- 32562300 - Optical-fibre cables for data transmission
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKN - Northern Ireland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The UK Government has committed GBP5bn to enable hard-to-reach communities to access gigabit-capable broadband. This is being spent through a package of coordinated and mutually supportive interventions, collectively known as Project Gigabit. Project Gigabit, is a UK Government intervention to provide a subsidy to support the deployment of a gigabit speed broadband network to cover premises across Northern Ireland that would otherwise not be provided with access to gigabit broadband speeds, as these premises do not present a commercially viable investment for a private sector operator. Project Gigabit is a strategically important initiative for Northern Ireland’s society (people and businesses), is a key enabler for delivering the DfE Minister’s Economic Vision, and will help to maintain Northern Ireland’s connectivity and infrastructure at a level that is competitive with Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland and is attractive to inward investment. As part of this DfE, along with Building Digital UK (BDUK), is developing a procurement approach to incentivise the telecoms market to invest in delivering gigabit capable wholesale infrastructure in areas not considered to be commercially viable for new infrastructure. This procurement approach will be a successor to the much-needed Superfast broadband programme and DfE’s broadband intervention, Project Stratum. The overarching aim of Project Gigabit is, simply stated, to provide universal, or near universal, gigabit-capable broadband coverage in Northern Ireland by increasing provision in areas which are currently poorly served and not capable of attracting wholly commercial investment. The project aim can be categorised into three key objectives: • Address market failure, whilst maintaining and promoting competition within the market. It is currently not commercially viable for telecoms service providers to extend gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure to many of the presently unserved premises in Northern Ireland. • Maximise gigabit-capable broadband coverage in a way that is balanced and supportive of rural areas and communities. • Choose procurement and delivery options which seek to maximise value for money (in terms of a balance of quality of technology/products, coverage, timescale and cost to Government), mitigate risk, incentivise performance and meet affordability criteria for Government and for end users.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 65
Cost criterion - Name: Commercial / 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
two.2.14) Additional information
The Supplier should note that there may be future changes in the scale of the services required duringthe term of the Contract that could not be identified or foreseen at the time of this procurement exercise, but which are consistentwith the overall nature of the Authority’s’ current and future operational requirements for a gigabit speed broadband network to coverpremises across Northern Ireland as defined in the specification and associated documents/appendices. In such circumstances, theAuthority may seek to agree a modification to the Contract to facilitate the provision of such services by the Supplier, with the Charges.for such services to be determined in accordance with Clause 48 by reference to and consistent with the pricing parameters andassumptions used by the Supplier in its Financial Model and by reference to the mechanisms and protections provided in the Conditionsof Contract. It is envisaged that such modifications would be made without requiring a new procurement procedure in accordancewith Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. An example of such changes could include future requirements to includepremises identified through OMR / PR as “White” but the Authority has decided to defer build until later in the contract, and/or premisesidentified through OMR / PR as “Under Review”. Examples: • premises identified through OMR / PR as “White” which could be targeted.under a procurement but the contracting authority has decided to defer build until later in the contract for reasons which may include.the premises not being a priority for build within the Initial Scope; and/or • premises in areas where gigabit infrastructure may become.available through other means e.g. through commercial or voucher-funded build; and/or • premises identified through Open Market.Review / Public Review as “Under Review”. The Local Area Review process will be used to monitor developments in the Lot on an annualbasis and if required further premises are added using contract change control subject to further funding being made available and that itrepresents VFM
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: 2024/S 000-036420
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
1
Title
DfE Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy – Regional Supplier Contract for Northern Ireland
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
16 December 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 1
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
FIBRUS LTD
Floor 8, West Tower, Lanyon Plaza, Lanyon Place
BELFAST
BT1 3LP
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
Internet address
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: £81,000,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £81,000,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The estimated contract value indicated in Section II.1.7 and V.2.4 represents the potential maximum value of the contract over the. maximum contract period which ranges from £34,646,984 Million GBP (Initial Scope) to £81 Million GBP exclusive of VAT. Note this is an. estimated range only and the Department reserves the right to award for a lower or higher amount. This range reflects the potential.. scale of the contract and takes into account changes and potential modifications to the contract that may be required that could not be. identified or foreseen at the time of this procurement exercise but which are consistent with the overall nature of the Authority’s’ current. and future operational requirements for a gigabit speed broadband network. It is envisaged that such modifications would be made. without requiring a new procurement procedure in accordance with Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Neither CPD. nor the Authority can provide any guarantee as to the level of business under this contract. The Authority does not bind itself to accept. the lowest or any tender. Suppliers remain responsible for all costs and expenses incurred by them or by any third party acting under. instructions from the Supplier in connection with taking part in this procurement process regardless of whether such costs arise as a. consequence, directly or indirectly of any amendments made to the procurement documents by the Authority at any time. No legally. binding contract shall arise (and a Supplier shall have no legitimate expectation that a contract will be entered into) until such time as. entry into the Contract has been confirmed by the Authority. Suppliers should note that all dates, time periods and figures in relation to. values and volumes specified in this notice and the procurement documents are approximate only and the Authority reserves the right to. change any or all of them
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The UK does not have any such bodies with responsibility for appeal/mediation procedures. Instead; any challenges are dealt with by the High Court, Commercial Division, to which proceedings may be issued regarding alleged breaches of the PCR 2015 as amended.
Belfast
Country
United Kingdom