Planning

Preliminary Market Engagement Notice to Identify organisations to support Wrexham University's potential ANW Advanced Wireless funding application

WREXHAM UNIVERSITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

23 Dec 2025 at 14:56

Summary of the contracting process

Wrexham University is in the planning stage of a preliminary market engagement to support a potential application for the Ambition North Wales Advanced Wireless funding. The engagement seeks organisations with expertise in telecommunications and advanced wireless connectivity to partner in evaluating infrastructure needs on and around campus. This initiative is categorised under 'works' within the telecommunications and networks industry and targets opportunities for market engagement rather than a formal tender at this stage. The process initiates on 23rd December 2025 and closes on 6th March 2026, with engagements occurring at Wrexham University's campus and through remote meetings. Key dates include interest submissions due by 9th January 2026 and several meetings planned in January to discuss details.

This engagement presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in telecommunications infrastructure, networks, and connectivity solutions. Suitable candidates would include SMEs with capabilities in wired and wireless installations, keen on partnering for feasibility analysis and infrastructure development. There is potential for collaboration on enhancing the university’s R&D capacity and offering input on strategic planning and private investment opportunities. While this engagement is informal and non-binding at this stage, successful partnerships could lead to involvement in future procurement activities if the funding application is pursued.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Preliminary Market Engagement Notice to Identify organisations to support Wrexham University's potential ANW Advanced Wireless funding application

Notice Description

Background Wrexham University is considering participation in the Ambition North Wales (ANW) Advanced Wireless funding opportunity. Before deciding on a formal bid, we are seeking expressions of interest from organisations with relevant expertise in advanced connectivity solutions. This PME is intended as an entry point for engagement. It does not constitute a tender or a commitment to procure. Purpose of This PME The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement is to enable Wrexham University to evaluate whether to proceed with an application for the Ambition North Wales (ANW) Advanced Wireless funding. Through this process, we aim to understand the scope, approach, indicative costs, and delivery considerations involved, as well as how best to structure both the funding application and any future procurement activities. Therefore, through this PME, we seek to: * Gauge market interest and understand what services and capabilities potential partners can offer. * Identify organisation's willing to support macro-level feasibility and gap analysis of wired and wireless infrastructure across: o University campuses o Immediate surrounding areas * Understand current infrastructure coverage, performance, and limitations. * Understand how our R&D and Knowledge Transfer activities could be enhanced. * Receive high-level recommendations on what infrastructure is needed to meet the gaps. * Understand indicative cost estimates for infrastructure development and deployment. * Understand private investments available to co-fund the development and deployment. * Support the development of the funding proposal, where applicable. * Explore operational models and processes for managing and sustaining the infrastructure. * Identify any other relevant activities required to create a robust business, commercial, and impact case for the ANW Advanced Wireless funding application. What We Expect From You Through the PME, we expect to understand the following from you. 1. Your Interest and Capabilities * Ability to provide wired and wireless connectivity solutions in and around our campuses. * Approach to assessing our requirements (i.e., current gaps, future growth, new buildings, occupancy plans, etc). * Willingness to engage with local stakeholders including councils, businesses and other neighbouring organisations and conduct site walkthroughs, if applicable. * Any existing partnerships and/or collaborations you have that would be beneficial. * Any experience with Ambition North Wales funded applications for projects of similar scope. 2. Potential Support Activities * Feasibility surveys and gap analysis by engaging with relevant stakeholders (including but not limited to University's IT department, estates team, R&D team) in addition to any external relevant stakeholders. * Development of high-level solution options and indicative costs to meet the gaps. * Potential private investment to contribute towards the project. * Understanding of ownership models, sustainability and associated costs of the infrastructure post-bid. 3. Indicative Timelines * Any phased approach to be undertaken to conduct the feasibility studies - this would include any planning permissions needed and the phased timelines for such. Important Notes * This PME is non-binding and for information gathering only. * All engagement activities during this phase will be at no cost to support bid preparation. * It is our intention to pursue a formal procurement process if funding is secured. A proposed schedule is defined below: * Launch Date: Tuesday 23rd December 2025 * Closing Date: Friday 6th March 2026 * Submissions of interest due by: 9th January 2026 * Tender Questions due by: 5pm Weds 14th January 2026, Wrexham University's response due by: 5pm Friday 16th January 2026. * Meeting 1 (by invitation for those that have expressed interest by the deadline above): on Monday 19th January 2026. * Meeting 2 (by invitation for those that have expressed interest by the deadline above): Thursday 22nd January 2026. * Meeting 3 (by invitation for those that have expressed interest by the deadline above): Monday 26th January 2026. * Meeting 4 (by invitation for those that have expressed interest by the deadline above): Thursday 29th January 2026. * 29th January until 6th March 2026 (by request for those that have expressed interest by the deadline above): Open for subsequent site visits or additional meetings upon request. * Site visits are permitted throughout the window, until Friday 6th March, by prior arrangement with Enterprise department at enterprise@wrexham.ac.uk * Meetings will be held on the main Wrexham University campus (Mold Rd, Wrexham LL11 2AW) and remotely by MS Teams. Exact times will be confirmed nearer the date. All engagement at this stage is informal and non-binding, intended to inform the University's potential funding application and future procurement strategy. The University does not commit to any future contracts or other commercial activity resulting from this Preliminary Market Engagement, nor is any commitment expected from other parties in the process.

Planning Information

A proposed schedule is defined below: • Launch Date: Tuesday 23rd December 2025 • Closing Date: Friday 6th March 2026 • Submissions of interest due by: 9th January 2026 • Tender Questions due by: 5pm Weds 14th January 2026, Wrexham University’s response due by: 5pm Friday 16th January 2026. • Meeting 1 (by invitation for those that have expressed interest by the deadline above): on Monday 19th January 2026. • Meeting 2 (by invitation for those that have expressed interest by the deadline above): Thursday 22nd January 2026. • Meeting 3 (by invitation for those that have expressed interest by the deadline above): Monday 26th January 2026. • Meeting 4 (by invitation for those that have expressed interest by the deadline above): Thursday 29th January 2026. • 29th January until 6th March 2026 (by request for those that have expressed interest by the deadline above): Open for subsequent site visits or additional meetings upon request. • Site visits are permitted throughout the window, until Friday 6th March, by prior arrangement with Enterprise department at enterprise@wrexham.ac.uk • Meetings will be held on the main Wrexham University campus (Mold Rd, Wrexham LL11 2AW) and remotely by MS Teams. Exact times will be confirmed nearer the date. All engagement at this stage is informal and non-binding, intended to inform the University’s potential funding application and future procurement strategy. The University does not commit to any future contracts or other commercial activity resulting from this Preliminary Market Engagement, nor is any commitment expected from other parties in the process.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05fcb8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085899-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

45 - Construction work

51 - Installation services (except software)


CPV Codes

32400000 - Networks

32500000 - Telecommunications equipment and supplies

45214000 - Construction work for buildings relating to education and research

51300000 - Installation services of communications equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Dec 20256 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
6 Mar 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
5 Apr 2026 - 5 Oct 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
WREXHAM UNIVERSITY
Contact Name
Liam James
Contact Email
liam.james@wrexham.ac.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
WREXHAM
Postcode
LL11 2AW
Post Town
Llandudno
Country
Wales

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL3 North Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL34 Flintshire and Wrexham
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Wrexham
Electoral Ward
Grosvenor
Westminster Constituency
Wrexham

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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