Planning

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Schools Gigabit Broadband

Department for Education

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

14 Aug 2026 at 19:08

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

14 Aug 2026 at 18:06

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

14 Aug 2026 at 18:05

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

14 Aug 2026 at 18:02

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education is planning Schools Gigabit Broadband Programme Phase 2, a national infrastructure programme to provide gigabit-capable broadband to approximately 800 schools across England. It targets schools where suitable gigabit connectivity is not currently available and where no commercial or publicly funded solution is expected by the end of 2030. The work is primarily broadband and wide-area network infrastructure, including network equipment, telecommunications and data transmission services, communications-system maintenance, and associated construction work. The intended outcome is reliable, high-speed digital connectivity that meets the Department for Education’s standards for schools. Delivery is expected across England, with the Department for Education as the buyer and programme lead.

This procurement is at planning stage and is being preceded by preliminary market engagement, not a call for competition or invitation to tender. The Department expects to use a single lot, currently marked as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. The indicative contract period is 1 March 2027 to 28 February 2030. The estimated value is £20 million excluding VAT, or £24 million including VAT. The buyer expects the next notice on 4 January 2027. Market engagement includes a Meet the Buyer webinar and question-and-answer session on 25 August 2026, with registration expected by 21 August 2026 at 17:00, followed by a questionnaire. Supplier feedback will inform programme design, lotting, commercial and pricing approaches, technical requirements, risks and delivery planning.

This planning activity is likely to suit broadband network operators, telecommunications providers, internet service providers, network infrastructure contractors, civil engineering and construction businesses, and firms providing communications-system maintenance. Relevant suppliers should be able to design, build, deploy, operate or maintain gigabit-capable connections across dispersed school sites, including locations that are not commercially attractive or already covered by planned public investment. Experience of wide-area networks, network equipment, data transmission services and school or public-sector infrastructure would be useful preparation. Businesses with complementary capabilities may consider partnership or supply-chain arrangements spanning connectivity, construction, installation, maintenance and ongoing service delivery. The buyer is seeking practical evidence about market capacity, delivery challenges, risks, mitigation, programme design, lotting and pricing.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Schools Gigabit Broadband

Notice Description

Introduction: School Gigabit Broadband Phase 2 The Department for Education (DfE) is seeking early engagement from interested organisations in relation to the Schools Gigabit Broadband Programme Phase 2. Please note that this notice is issued solely for the purposes of preliminary market engagement and information gathering. It does not constitute a call for competition, procurement, or invitation to tender. The Department reserves the right not to commence any formal procurement process or enter any contractual arrangements arising from this engagement. Accordingly, the Department will not be liable for any costs, expenditure, work, or effort incurred by any organisation in responding to or participating in activities associated with this notice. Background: Schools Gigabit Broadband Programme Phase 2 The Schools Gigabit Broadband Programme Phase 2 is a key DfE initiative that supports the Government's ambition to ensure that all schools in England can meet the required digital standards for broadband connectivity. The programme focuses on schools where suitable gigabit-capable connectivity is not currently available and where no commercial or publicly funded solution is expected to be delivered by the end of 2030. Between 2019 and 2022, the Department facilitated the delivery of gigabit connectivity to approximately 800 rural schools through the Rural Local Full Fibre Networks (LFFN) and Rural Gigabit Connectivity programmes, funded by Building Digital UK (BDUK) through a grant-based approach. Between 2023 and 2026, the Schools Gigabit Broadband Programme (Phase 1) connected a further 800 schools through a DfE-led procurement, partially funded by BDUK. Building on the programme's success to date, the Department plans to launch a further phase to connect approximately 800 schools across England that still require gigabit-capable broadband. This will help ensure that all schools have access to reliable, high-speed digital infrastructure that meets DfE standard.

Planning Information

Purpose of the Market Engagement Event The market engagement event aims to: 1. Provide an overview of the Schools Gigabit Broadband Programme Phase 2, including its objectives, scale, geographical demand profile, indicative procurement timetable, and potential technical and commercial requirements. 2. Gather supplier insights on current market conditions, delivery challenges, risks, and potential mitigation strategies. 3. Share and discuss data being developed jointly by DfE and BDUK and seek feedback to support its refinement before engagement with schools and Responsible Bodies. 4. Obtain supplier feedback on programme design, including lotting approaches, commercial models and pricing approaches that best support the intended outcomes. 5. Launch a questionnaire to seek further feedback from suppliers on the proposed programme. Relevant links: Material: Education Estates Strategy: a decade of national renewal Link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6989dec6d3f57710b50a9bd9/Education_estates_strategy_accessible_version.pdf Material: DfE Digital Standards for Schools and Colleges Link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/meeting-digital-and-technology-standards-in-schools-and-colleges/broadband-internet-core-standard   Market engagement events: To register for the events below, you will need to create a Jaggaer account via the following link: Link: https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html Once you have created an account, you will need to access our opportunity notice for Event SSQ_832 – School Gigabit Broadband Market Engagement. To do this, log in to Jaggaer and select the Published Opportunities tab, which can be found under the Sourcing drop-down menu. Our opportunity notice can be accessed via the following link: Once you have accessed our opportunity notice, you will be able to register your intention to participate via Event SSQ_832 - School Gigabit Broadband, Market Engagement. Within this event, the DfE will broadcast invitations to our market engagement events. It is your responsibility to access these broadcasts and forward our invitations to the relevant colleagues within your organisation. 1. Meet the Buyer event and Q&A session The Department will be hosting a Webinar and Question & Answer Session via Microsoft Teams on the dates below: 25 August 2026, 11:00 till 12:00 (deadline to register 21 August 17:00) During this event, DfE personnel involved in the project will outline our requirements, the indicative timeline and our procurement approach. The session will provide interested organisations with an opportunity to learn more about the SGB programme and ask questions to inform future planning and potential procurement activity. The DfE will send out our final invitation message on the 24th of August. It is your responsibility to access these messages and forward the invitations to your relevant colleagues. 2. Market Engagement Questionnaire Following our market engagement Webinar and Question & Answer Session, the DfE will share a market engagement pack and questionnaire to attendees. Responses will be used to inform the programme design and procurement approach. Accordingly, the Department will not be liable for any bid costs, expenditure, work or effort incurred by any organisation acting on the basis of this Prior Information Notice. All information included in this notice is indicative, subject to change, and is neither exhaustive nor binding. The Authority reserves the right to amend these details at its discretion at any time. To ensure transparency and equal access to information, the Department intends to publish and share a summary of questions raised during the event, together with responses, with all potential suppliers. All dates and times for this procurement will be in British Summer Time or Greenwich Mean Time, as applicable under the United Kingdom calendar. About the buyer Address Department for Education Sanctuary Buildings Great Smith Street LONDON SW1P 3BT England Email EducationEstates.COMMERCIAL@education.gov.uk

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e519
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077889-2026
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

50 - Repair and maintenance services

64 - Postal and telecommunications services

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

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

32400000 - Networks

32420000 - Network equipment

32430000 - Wide area network

45000000 - Construction work

50334400 - Communications system maintenance services

64200000 - Telecommunications services

64210000 - Telephone and data transmission services

72720000 - Wide area network services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£20,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
4 Jan 20275 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Mar 2027 - 28 Feb 2030 3-4 years
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
Department for Education
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 3BT
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...