Award

Purchase of Quectel EG25-G Mini PCIe Units

NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

18 Aug 2025 at 07:28

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

18 Aug 2025 at 07:12

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Northern Gas Networks Limited has completed a direct award procurement process for the purchase of Quectel EG25-G Mini PCIe Units, targeted at enhancing the telemetry functionality at its Pressure Reduction Sites (PRS). The procurement, classified under the goods category, was prompted by the urgent need to replace outdated GPRS 2G and 3G communication channels with a more reliable 4G network, as the older services are being decommissioned. Brand Communications Limited, a small to medium-sized enterprise based in Huntingdon, has been awarded this contract valued at approximately £476,103, with the contract period commencing on 26th August 2025 and concluding on 26th August 2026. The project covers the UK regions of UKC and UKE, falling under the telecommunications and related equipment industry category, and ensures continuity for NGN’s critical infrastructure by migrating communication to AWS SCADA infrastructure.

This procurement presents substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in telecommunications and technology integration, particularly those capable of offering innovative solutions for infrastructure upgrades. SMEs, similar to Brand Communications Limited with proven expertise in providing bespoke communication systems, can leverage such opportunities to expand their services within critical sectors like utilities. Businesses that understand the complexities of integrating new technologies with existing systems, and that can provide rapid deployment without compromising service delivery, are particularly suited to compete in this and similar tenders. The effective direct award approach underscores the need for suppliers who can provide timely and efficient solutions to avert potential operational disruptions, making this sector ripe for agile and technologically proficient firms.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Purchase of Quectel EG25-G Mini PCIe Units

Notice Description

This project is of critical importance in terms of timescales. Our business-critical operational Pressure Reduction Sites (PRS) telemetry currently relies on GPRS 2G and 3G communication channels. These network services are scheduled for decommissioning by providers, as the technology is reaching its end of service life (ESoL). The deactivation of GPRS communications is set to commence later this year. NGN will procure 250 communication units, which will enable PRS sites to connect securely via 4G to NGN's AWS SCADA infrastructure.

Procurement Information

This project is of critical importance in terms of timescales. Our business-critical operational Pressure Reduction Sites (PRS) telemetry currently relies on GPRS 2G and 3G communication channels. These network services are scheduled for decommissioning by providers, as the technology is reaching its end of service life (ESoL). The deactivation of GPRS communications is set to commence later this year. NGN will procure 250 communication units, which will enable PRS sites to connect securely via 4G to NGN's AWS SCADA infrastructure. The solution proposed by Brand Communication is already implemented and operational within our production landscape as part of a GD2 project, supporting NGN's 23 critical offtake sites. The deployment of this solution has proven instrumental, markedly enhancing network reliability, performance, and security across all offtake locations. Brand Communication's solution allows NGN to mitigate the business risks associated with the GPRS switch-off and its potential operational impact by migrating PRS telemetry traffic to secure 4G communication channels. Furthermore, it enables the extension of the proven solution used for our critical offtake sites to the broader range of PRS sites in scope. Should NGN look to not direct award for this solution, the risk of failing to complete deployment prior to the GPRS switch-off would be significant. This is primarily due to the extensive development and integration required to ensure compatibility with existing Brand and AWS environments, which would likely result in increased costs and extended implementation timelines. By extending the existing Brand Communication solution to the PRS sites, these risks are effectively mitigated.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-058968
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/049326-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

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

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£396,752 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Aug 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
17 Aug 20256 months ago
Contract Period
25 Aug 2025 - 26 Aug 2026 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@northerngas.co.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
COLTON LEEDS
Postcode
LS15 8TU
Post Town
Leeds
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE4 West Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE42 Leeds
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Leeds
Electoral Ward
Garforth & Swillington
Westminster Constituency
Leeds East

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

BRAND COMMUNICATIONS

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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