Government Procurement Service as the Contracting Authority has put in place a Pan Government Framework Agreement for PSN-compliant Connectivity services for use by or on behalf of UK public sector bodies. These bodies include but are not limited to Central Government Departments and their Agencies, Non Departmental Public Bodies, NHS bodies, Local Authorities, Voluntary Sector Charities, and/or other private organisations acting as managing agents or procuring on behalf of these public sector bodies.

The above public sector bodies have a need for the provision of PSN-compliant, managed telecommunications connectivity services to facilitate inter-organisational collaboration through secure communication, interoperability and sharing of information. This Framework Agreement will address this need, providing innovative telecommunications connectivity services for the UK public sector as a whole. The services to be made available under the Framework Agreement will include provision of network connectivity and supporting security, information assurance, design, acquisition, consultancy, and other services as described below. The Framework Agreement will also be suitable for provision of services at lower security levels, that do not require full PSN compliance. Information about the PSN is provided under 'PSN Standards' further down in this section.

The services are required to be provided primarily to the UK, although the framework may also be used by UK Contracting Authorities to service their overseas sites.

The Contracting Authority considers that this opportunity may be suitable for economic operators that are Small or Medium Enterprises (SMEs). For the avoidance of doubt, the Contracting Authority points out that no weight will be attached to whether or not an economic operator is an SME in selecting economic operators to submit tenders or in assessing the most economically advantageous tender.

The Framework Agreement will have an initial term of 2 years, with the option to extend for 2 further terms each of up to 1 year's duration.

The normal duration of call-off contracts placed under this framework is expected to be 5 years with options for 2 annual extensions. The extension options will enable a maximum contract term of 7 years to be exercised only where there is a specific transition or business transformation need to be addressed.

Related Procurements.

This is one of several related OJEU notices or procurements issued or planned in association with the provision of telecommunications services to the UK public sector as part of a general transition to PSN standards. Others are listed below but do not form part of this OJEU Notice and are mentioned here for information only:

— Managed Telecommunications Convergence Framework (MTCF) to provide continuity for the Managed Telecommunications Service (Mts), and convergence to PSN-compliant provision (now in place – OJEU ref 2009-S239-342337),

— GSi Convergence Framework (GCF) to provide continuity for the transition of the Government Secure Intranet (GSi), and convergence to PSN-compliant provision (now in place – OJEU ref 2009-S240-343643),

— a multiple-lot framework for provision of a range of PSN Services such as voice, video and Internet including web and email, with related management and control functions (planned – OJEU Notice yet to be published),

— a framework for the procurement of Mobile services (planned – OJEU Notice yet to be published),

— additional sourcing activities for the provision of PSN Central Services, necessary to support the functional operation of the PSN (yet to be started).

Services to be provided within this Framework Agreement.

The services listed below are required to be offered as part of a single lot.

Framework suppliers will be expected to offer all the services listed either across the UK or on a more localised basis, either directly or through sub-contractors. The detailed services to be delivered will be more fully defined in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) within the broad descriptions below.

1. Network services including but not limited to:

1.1. A range of Local and Wide Area Networking connectivity services designed to deliver the capacity, security and performance needs of the UK Public Sector at the departmental and community of interest levels;

2. Information Assurance Services including,but not limited to:

2.1. Encryption and key management services;

2.2. Security consultancy in respect of services provided under this framework, delivered by appropriately vetted and experienced staff able to work in secure environments;

2.3. Separation of networks at different Impact Levels including implementation of gateways to link them;

2.4. Segregation of different Impact Levels on the same physical infrastructure.

3. Design, Deployment, Transition and Business Continuity services in respect of services provided within this framework, including, but not limited to:

3.1. Planning, specification, design, acquisition, deployment and transition, including the acquisition, integration and management of services from other contractors, acting on behalf of the customer as part of an overall solution;

3.2. Implementation including testing and integration;

3.3. Project and programme management;

3.4. Compatibility planning with legacy systems and technologies;

3.5. Transition from legacy systems and technologies;

3.6. Development, testing and implementation of business continuity plans and infrastructure in support of customers own business continuity plans in respect of the services provided in this framework;

3.7. Exit arrangements and transition to successor services;

3.8. Consultancy and design relating to the services provided under this framework.

Common Service Attributes.

Framework suppliers will be required to offer the following:

— Impact Levels.

Impact Levels are the UK Government’s standard method of assessing the impact of possible compromises to the Confidentiality, Integrity or Availability of information throughout the public sector and Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), as mandated by Requirements 11 and 33 of the Security Policy Framework found at: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/security-policy-framework

They are defined in Business Impact Level Tables contained in document “HMG Information Assurance Standard No. 1”, the relevant extract from which may be obtained from the CESG website at: www.cesg.gov.uk/policy_technologies/policy/policy.shtml.

Throughout this document, where the form “ILx” is used to denote Impact Level, x being an integer between 0 and 4, this means Impact Level x for Confidentiality and Integrity, irrespective of the Impact Level for Availability. Where the form “ILx-yz” is used, this means Impact Level x for Confidentiality, Impact Level y for Integrity and Impact Level z for Availability.

Services will be required for a range of Impact Levels up to and including Confidential (IL4) with possible occasional requirement to support applications at higher Impact Levels. The minimum Impact Level for services that make full use of PSN Central Services is IL2 and services at that level and above must be assured and accredited to the appropriate level. However, services below IL2, that will not make use of PSN Central Services, and do not require the corresponding accreditation and assurance, may also be supplied through this framework.

The Framework Agreement will need suppliers with the ability to deliver IL2, IL3 and IL4 services meeting PSN standards. Each supplier in this Framework Agreement will need to be capable of supplying PSN-compliant services to at least IL2-2-4.

— Business Operations.

Services will be required to be provided for a range of business operating regimes including:

— 24/7,

— public facing with high volumes in business hours,

— public facing with out-of-hours event/emergency support for high volumes, and,

— business hours only.

— Business Continuity.

Framework suppliers will be required to offer highly resilient systems supported by business continuity, disaster recovery and rapid deployment services in respect of the services they offer in this framework.

— Flexible Billing.

Framework suppliers will be required to offer flexible billing options, including split/cost centre billing for shared services.

— Service Management.

Framework suppliers are expected to be capable of providing fully managed services.

Standards and Guidelines.

Framework suppliers will be required to comply with the following:

— Next Generation Network (NGN) Guidance.

Buying Solutions recognises the benefits associated with Next Generation Networks (NGNs), and the need for the associated risks and issues to be addressed within this tender in relation to services offered that are based on NGN technologies. The NGN Procurement Standards Project was initiated as part of the Cabinet Office’s NGN Risk Mitigation Programme, and the resulting guidance should be reviewed and complied with. It may be downloaded from: www.ogc.gov.uk/procurement_documents_telecoms_procurement.asp.

— Sustainability.

The sustainability of services offered under the framework will be a component part in reducing Contracting Authorities’ carbon footprints, not only in energy consumption but also in enabling further wider reduction in sustainability impacts.

In addition, the sustainability of framework suppliers’ sources of supply should be a key consideration. As such, sustainability will be a common theme throughout the lifetime of the framework and the call-off contracts awarded under it.

— PSN Standards (in relation to provision of services at IL2 and above).

The PSN vision is to create a secure Public Services Network constructed from a network of networks built to common standards that enables the delivery of public services from any place by any provider; in doing so it will create a competitive marketplace to significantly reduce the cost of telecommunications services and enable different and creative ways of delivering public services.

Bidders are strongly encouraged to become familiar with the PSN concepts, principles, operation and standards, and to participate where appropriate in the PSN industry forums. In particular bidders are strongly advised to read the PSN Operating Model for an overview of the PSN and its operating principles, and to visit the PSN website: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/public-services-network

Successful suppliers will be required to deliver services that comply with the PSN standards, as published by the PSN Authority during the procurement and during the lifetime of the frameworks, provided that any new standards published post award do not materially alter the scope of this OJEU Notice or awarded Framework Agreements.

These PSN standards will be developed with industry involvement. The PSN standards are listed on the PSN website, along with other documents and information relating to the PSN.

Bidders who require additional information about the PSN, for example how to participate in industry forums, should consult the contacts listed on the PSN website.

Electronic Reverse Auctions (ERAs).

Contracting Authorities may decide to hold an electronic reverse auction on the opening of further competition among the parties to the Framework Agreement.