Tender

Extending High Speed Broadband Framework Agreement

LLYWODRAETH CYMRU / WELSH GOVERNMENT

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

08 Oct 2025 at 07:29

Planning

25 Apr 2025 at 15:09

Summary of the contracting process

The Welsh Government is currently in the tender stage for an initiative entitled "Extending High Speed Broadband Framework Agreement." This procurement process aims to establish a framework to deliver superfast broadband connections to "hard-to-reach" premises in Wales, addressing the digital divide identified in a 2022 market review. With an estimated value of £70 million, the framework will consist of two lots for projects involving broadband infrastructure installation, opening opportunities for telecom entities. The procurement is conducted via an open procedure and the framework will commence in early 2026. Deadlines for submissions close on 26th November 2025, with the awarding of the first call-off contract anticipated by early 2026. Interested parties are advised to contact the procurement officer, Gemma Martyn, at the Welsh Government's Digital Infrastructure division in Cardiff for further information.

This tender presents significant opportunities for business growth, particularly for telecom suppliers capable of delivering high-speed broadband services. It is particularly suited for organisations experienced in managing infrastructure projects within rural or remote areas. Both SMEs and larger enterprises have opportunities depending on their capacity to handle contracts for over or under 1,000 premises. Smaller enterprises and social enterprises may find Lot 2, which caters to smaller installations, particularly appealing. Participation in this initiative could facilitate network expansion and market presence in Wales, fostering long-term growth in the telecom sector. Interested companies can access detailed tender documents through the e-tendering portal eTenderwales.

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Notice Title

Extending High Speed Broadband Framework Agreement

Notice Description

Procurement The Welsh Government (the "Authority") is conducting a procurement to establish an open framework (the "Framework") to deliver the Extending High Speed Broadband ("EHSB") project. Once the Framework is established, the Authority intends to award a series of call-off contracts (following individual competitive selection processes), that will provide grant funding to telecoms suppliers to cover the "gap" in costs that are required to deliver superfast connections to communities / premises in Wales that would not otherwise be served by commercial operators under normal market conditions, due to the high infrastructure cost of building connections to those "hard to reach" communities / premises. Grants made under the call-off contracts are out of scope for the purposes of VAT. Coverage The Authority's 2022 open market review identified that around 84,000 premises within Wales did not have access to superfast download speeds (at least 30Mbps) exacerbating the digital divide. Ofcom has previously stated that a subset of these (around 10,000 premises) do not yet have access to at least 10Mbps. Despite the efforts of the telecommunications industry and public sector interventions, there are still premises in Wales that do not have access to at least superfast broadband speeds. The Authority has therefore developed the EHSB project to address this gap and provide fast and reliable broadband to those premises. Whilst the Authority is confident that the number of premises without superfast download speeds has drastically reduced since the 2022 open market review (as the scope of commercial and other public sector deployments, including Project Gigabit, have become clearer), the Authority anticipates that the number of premises that are currently in scope of the Framework is in the region of 29,000 premises. The current, indicative list of eligible premises that are anticipated to be in scope for the Framework will be subject to refinement/update during the duration of the Framework (for example, to reflect any premises which may be addressed by other interventions). The premises that are in-scope for each call-off contract will be confirmed in the relevant request for proposals issued under the Framework. Additional Information The Authority expects the Framework will have two lots. The first lot will be for projects that require the installation of broadband network infrastructure to 1,000 premises and over. The second lot will be for projects that require the installation of broadband network infrastructure to under 1,000 premises. Suppliers are permitted to apply for either or both lots. The Authority expects the first Framework will commence early 2026 with the first call-off contract under the Framework being awarded shortly thereafter. The estimated total value set out in this notice is in respect of all call-off contracts that may be awarded under the Framework. At this stage, it is an estimate only and is in no way guaranteed or final. The associated tender documents for this opportunity contain more specific information. The dates and total duration for the Framework and any call-off contracts referred to in this notice are also estimates and for illustrative purposes only.

Lot Information

Installation of broadband network infrastructure to 1,000 premises and over

Lot 1 will be for projects that require the installation of broadband network infrastructure to 1,000 premises and over

Options: The indicative term of each framework within the Open Framework will be as follows: * Framework one - two years (with an option to extend Framework one by up to one year); * Framework two - three years (with an option to extend Framework two by up to one year); and * Framework three - three years (subject to any optional extensions that the Authority may implement for Framework one or Framework two).

Installation of broadband network infrastructure to under 1,000 premises

Lot 2 - will be for projects that require the installation of broadband network infrastructure to under 1,000 premises.

Options: he indicative term of each framework within the Open Framework will be as follows: * Framework one - two years (with an option to extend Framework one by up to one year); * Framework two - three years (with an option to extend Framework two by up to one year); and * Framework three - three years (subject to any optional extensions that the Authority may implement for Framework one or Framework two).

Planning Information

To express an interest in this market engagement exercise, interested organisations should e-mail EHSB.Framework@gov.wales by 17:00 on 5th May 2025. Once the deadline to express an interest (as set out above) has passed, participating organisations will be sent a copy of the draft contract via email and be invited to submit written feedback on the draft contract. Participating organisations will then have seven days in which to provide their feedback to the Welsh Government. The format for this market engagement exercise will be consistent for each participating organisation. Participation in this market engagement exercise is not a requirement for future progress in the procurement process and details of the outcome from the exercise will be made clear in the associated tender documents related to the opportunity, once these documents are published.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0507e1
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/063081-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

51 - Installation services (except software)

64 - Postal and telecommunications services


CPV Codes

32000000 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

51000000 - Installation services (except software)

64000000 - Postal and telecommunications services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£70,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£70,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
26 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
28 May 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Feb 2026 - 30 Jan 2034 Over 5 years
Recurrence
2028-02-01

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
LLYWODRAETH CYMRU / WELSH GOVERNMENT
Contact Name
Gemma Martyn
Contact Email
gemma.martyn@gov.wales
Contact Phone
+443000258886

Buyer Location

Locality
CARDIFF
Postcode
CF10 3NQ
Post Town
Cardiff
Country
Wales

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Delivery Location
TLL Wales

Local Authority
Cardiff
Electoral Ward
Cathays
Westminster Constituency
Cardiff South and Penarth

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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