Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Carmarthenshire County Council
County Hall
Carmarthen
SA31 1JP
UK
Telephone: +44 1267234567
E-mail: digital@swanseabaycitydeal.wales
NUTS: UKL14
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0281
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Swansea Bay City Deal Digital Infrastructure Programme Better Broadband Infill Project
II.1.2) Main CPV code
32412100
II.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
II.1.4) Short description
The Swansea Bay City Deal’s Digital Infrastructure Programme is exploring potential solutions to contract a commercial partner(s) to provide a minimum superfast, ideally ultrafast connection to premises in the Swansea Bay City Region (Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, and Neath Port Talbot) that currently have poor broadband (<30mbps) and meet the following criteria:
White premises - Speed < 30mbps
Not in commercial plans as defined by OMR.
Not part of Project Gigabit or existing voucher scheme
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
32412100
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL14
Main site or place of performance:
Swansea Bay City Region (Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, and Neath Port Talbot)
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Swansea Bay City Deal’s Digital Infrastructure Programme is exploring potential solutions to contract a commercial partner(s) to provide a minimum superfast, ideally ultrafast connection to premises in the Swansea Bay City Region (Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, and Neath Port Talbot) that currently have poor broadband (<30mbps) and meet the following criteria:
White premises - Speed < 30mbps
Not in commercial plans as defined by OMR.
Not part of Project Gigabit or existing voucher scheme
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
01/07/2024
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
The Swansea Bay City Deal’s Digital Infrastructure Programme is a formally constituted partnership between four local authorities - Neath Port Talbot, Swansea, Carmarthenshire & Pembrokeshire, two regional health boards - Hywel Dda University Health Board and Swansea Bay University Health Board and two universities - University of Wales Trinity Saint David & Swansea University.
The programme’s aspirations are:
Better broadband for everyone... leaving nobody behind.
A smart region ready and able to innovate and adopt emerging technology.
An inclusive digital landscape that meets everyone's needs.
As part of the programmes Rural workstream, we are currently scoping a potential infill project to support these aspirations and meet the following objectives:
Address poor connectivity in areas where market failure persists in a pragmatic, timely and effective manner to ensure residents and businesses aren’t left behind.
Facilitate the market to deliver against their own commercial plans. Accelerating rollout of broadband infrastructure in the Swansea Bay City Region.
Complement and support delivery of existing and planned UK and Welsh Government interventions.
We are seeking a commercial partner(s) to provide a minimum superfast, ideally ultrafast connection to premises in the Swansea Bay City Region that currently have poor broadband (<30mbps) and meet the following criteria:
White premises - Speed < 30mbps
Not in commercial plans as defined by OMR.
Not part of Project Gigabit or existing voucher scheme
We have used multiple datasets from Ofcom, Welsh, and UK Government, to identify the potential intervention area. Initial analysis has identified eligible residential and business premises in both rural and urban locations.
See map for an overview of the locations. The number of premises potentially in scope for this procurement will be discussed during market engagement. This information is subject to change prior to going out to tender.
Requirements
High level overview of requirements*:
New connection must offer affordable broadband packages for residents and businesses.
New connection must be available to the premise to request a service for a minimum of 12 years at no additional cost to the resident/business.
Technology agnostic but the solution must provide a minimum superfast connection, ideally ultrafast. FTTP is preferable. Other solutions will only be considered where it is evident that FTTP is not a viable option.
*This is subject to change.
We will refine the specification following market engagement, and we invite suppliers to contribute their ideas to help us shape this project.
We are considering lotting the project into the following geographic areas. However, we are open to alternative approaches, and this will be discussed during market engagement.
Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire West
Carmarthenshire
Swansea and Neath Port Talbot
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at http://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=141168.
(WA Ref:141168)
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
07/05/2024