Services concession for the provision of a high speed broadband network to deliver on the requirements of the National Broadband Plan (NBP)

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is commencing procurement for the establishment of a high speed broadband network with minimum service requirements under the National Broadband Plan (‘NBP’).This contract notice is for a ‘service concession’ whereby a contractor(s) will design, finance, develop, construct, operate, maintain and exploit a wholesale Next Generation Access network and associated services within the NBP Intervention Area (‘IA’), which currently covers over 750 000 premises. More details are set out in the Project Information Memorandum.
The NBP's vision is to connect all Ireland's communities by dealing definitively with the broadband connectivity challenge in rural areas by stimulating investment at a wholesale level. This allows retail service providers to access network infrastructure and to compete on a level playing field in supplying retail services to end users in the IA.
Two Ownership Models are included within the procurement, subject to the Ownership Model Determination (see Section 5 of the PIM) as follows:
— Commercial Stimulus Model (private sector build, finance, own, operate and maintain with obligations)
— Concession Model (private sector finance, build, operate and maintain with asset reversion)
The IA is split into two geographic areas and a combined area as follows:
— Lot Area A: Southern Intervention Area
— Lot Area B: Northern Intervention Area
— Lot Area C: Combined Northern and Southern Intervention Area.
Bidders can opt for the Lot Areas individually or for the entire IA on either or both of the Ownership Options.
As there are 2 Ownership Models, separate lots have been created for each of these areas utilising the different Ownership Models. The Government will shortlist one Ownership Model at the end of pre-qualification.
The contract(s) will involve European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding and will be subject to any requirements arising under ERDF funding conditions.

Deadline
The time limit for receipt of tenders was 2016-02-29. The procurement was published on 2015-12-22.

Suppliers
The following suppliers are mentioned in award decisions or other procurement documents:
Who?

What?

Where?

Procurement history
Date Document
2015-12-22 Contract notice
2021-01-28 Contract award notice
Contract award notice (2021-01-28)
Contracting authority
Name and addresses
Name: Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
National registration number: N/a
Postal address: 29-31 Adelaide Road
Postal town: Dublin
Postal code: D02 X285
Country: Ireland 🇮🇪
Contact person: Derek Hickey
Phone: +353 16782000 📞
E-mail: derek.hickey@decc.gov.ie 📧
Region: Ireland 🏙️
URL: https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-the-environment-climate-and-communications/ 🌏
Address of the buyer profile: http://irl.eu-supply.com/ctm/Supplier/CompanyInformation/Index/326 🌏

Object
Scope of the procurement
Title:
“Services Concession for the Provision of a High Speed Broadband Network to Deliver on the Requirements of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) 2015/12”
Products/services: Telecommunications services 📦
Short description:
“The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has concluded a procurement for the establishment of a high speed and future proofed broadband...”    Show more
Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT): EUR 2 970 000 000 💰
Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots

1️⃣
Scope of the procurement
Title:
“Combined Southern Intervention Area and Northern Intervention Area under the Commercial Stimulus Model”
Title
Lot Identification Number: 3
Description
Additional products/services: Communications network 📦
Additional products/services: Telecommunications network 📦
Additional products/services: Internet network 📦
Additional products/services: Network routers 📦
Additional products/services: Ethernet network 📦
Additional products/services: Multimedia networks 📦
Additional products/services: Network equipment 📦
Additional products/services: Network infrastructure 📦
Additional products/services: Wide area network 📦
Additional products/services: Wireless telecommunications system 📦
Additional products/services: Telecommunications cable and equipment 📦
Additional products/services: Telecommunications cable 📦
Additional products/services: Telecommunications equipment 📦
Additional products/services: Telecommunications facilities 📦
Additional products/services: Telecommunications system 📦
Additional products/services: Satellite-related communications equipment 📦
Additional products/services: Satellite communications equipment 📦
Additional products/services: Satellite dishes 📦
Additional products/services: Fibre-optic materials 📦
Additional products/services: Fibre-optic connections 📦
Additional products/services: Optical-fibre cables 📦
Additional products/services: Optical-fibre cables for information transmission 📦
Additional products/services: Optical telecommunication cables 📦
Additional products/services: Optical-fibre cables for data transmission 📦
Additional products/services: Communications equipment 📦
Additional products/services: Communications infrastructure 📦
Additional products/services: Communications cable 📦
Additional products/services: Communications cable with multiple electrical conductors 📦
Additional products/services: Communications cable with coaxial conductors 📦
Additional products/services: Communications cable for special applications 📦
Additional products/services: Data-communications equipment 📦
Additional products/services: Data carriers 📦
Additional products/services: Data and voice media 📦
Additional products/services: Data-bearing media 📦
Additional products/services: Construction work for electricity power lines 📦
Additional products/services: Construction work for communication lines 📦
Additional products/services: Construction work for telephone lines 📦
Additional products/services: Cable broadcasting lines 📦
Additional products/services: Mobile-telephone base-stations construction work 📦
Additional products/services: Installation of telecommunications equipment 📦
Additional products/services: Installation of cable infrastructure 📦
Additional products/services: Installation of cable laying 📦
Additional products/services: Installation services of communications equipment 📦
Additional products/services: Postal and telecommunications services 📦
Additional products/services: Telecommunications services 📦
Additional products/services: Electronic message and information services 📦
Additional products/services: Interconnection services 📦
Additional products/services: Integrated telecommunications services 📦
Additional products/services: Internet services 📦
Place of performance: Ireland 🏙️
Main site or place of performance: Ireland.
Description of the procurement:
“Means the lot for the combined Southern Intervention Area and Northern Intervention Area under the commercial stimulus model.”
Award criteria
Quality criterion (name): MEAT as stated in the specifications
Quality criterion (weighting): 100
Price (weighting): 0
Information about options
Options
Description of options:
“Please see Section 7.5 of the PIM which details the Department's position on optional and additional services.”

Procedure
Type of procedure
Competitive dialogue
Administrative information
Previous publication concerning this procedure: 2015/S 249-455315

Award of contract

1️⃣
Contract Number: N/a
Lot Identification Number:
“Lot No. 3 - Lot 1C Combined Northern and Southern Intervention Area under Commercial Stimulus model”
Title:
“Agreement in Respect of the NBP Intervention Project between the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and NBI Infrastructure...”    Show more
Date of conclusion of the contract: 2019-11-19 📅
Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1
Name and address of the contractor
Name: National Broadband Ireland Infrastructure DAC
National registration number: N/a
Postal address: 75 Merrion Square South
Postal town: Dublin 2
Postal code: D02 KP92
Country: Ireland 🇮🇪
Region: Dublin 🏙️
The contractor is an SME
Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: EUR 2 970 000 000 💰
Information about subcontracting
The contract is likely to be subcontracted

Complementary information
Review body
Name: The High Court of Ireland
Postal address: Four Courts, Inns Quay
Postal town: Dublin 7
Country: Ireland 🇮🇪
Source: OJS 2021/S 022-053234 (2021-01-28)