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DoF DSS - Northern Ireland Digital Public Networking Infrastructure (NIDPNI) - Preliminary Market Engagement

Department of Finance

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

29 Oct 2026 at 14:08

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department of Finance, through its Digital Shared Services team, intends to replace the current Northern Ireland Public Sector Shared Network with a new digital public networking infrastructure contract. The requirement covers public-sector telecommunications networks and services, including network equipment and facilities, installation, maintenance, telecommunications infrastructure support, data network management and support. The procurement is intended to establish a contract with a supplier to provide the replacement network. The services are for Northern Ireland; initial market engagement meetings are expected to take place in Belfast or online. Construction and Procurement Delivery’s Supplies and Services Division is managing the process on behalf of the Department of Finance.

This is at the planning stage: the Department is conducting preliminary market engagement before deciding the next procurement stage, and there is no invitation to tender yet. It expects initial supplier meetings on 16 and 23 November 2026, followed by a questionnaire anticipated in January 2027 and possible follow-up meetings. Suppliers were asked to confirm interest in an initial meeting by 1pm on 11 November 2026; the scheduled questionnaire milestone is 28 January 2027. A future procurement notice is anticipated on 1 June 2027. One lot is planned, with a contract period expected to run from 1 October 2030 to 30 September 2039 and a possible extension to 30 September 2045. No procurement value or evaluation criteria have been set out at this stage.

The Department is seeking input from suppliers with relevant qualifications and experience in delivering public-sector networking infrastructure. Providers combining telecommunications network design and delivery with installation, maintenance and ongoing network management are likely to be well placed to contribute. The engagement is intended to test market capacity and capability, understand feasible delivery approaches, identify risks and innovative solutions, and shape achievable requirements and the procurement strategy. Suppliers with experience replacing or supporting large, complex shared networks may therefore have useful practical insight to offer. The buyer may limit direct engagement meetings if demand exceeds available capacity. Participation is voluntary, suppliers bear their own costs, and taking part does not create a contract or confer an advantage in any later competition.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

DoF DSS - Northern Ireland Digital Public Networking Infrastructure (NIDPNI) - Preliminary Market Engagement

Notice Description

***PRELIMINARY MARKET ENGAGEMENT EXERCISE*** The Department of Finance's Digital Shared Services (DSS) is currently preparing to initiate a procurement process to establish a contract with a Supplier to replace the current NI Public Sector Shared Network (NIPSSN) contract (ID 868122). Given the potential scale and scope of the requirement, this represents a significant opportunity for Suppliers. Prior to commencing the procurement process, the Department wishes to engage with the market to: - establish the level of market interest in the requirement; - assist in defining and developing the requirements; - better understand the feasibility of the project and potential delivery approaches; - assess market capacity and capability to deliver the requirement; - identify potential risks; - identify opportunities to minimise procurement timescales; - help ensure that any proposed requirements are achievable before proceeding to tender; - gain insight into current market capabilities and potential innovative solutions; and - inform the Procurement Strategy. Suitably qualified and experienced Suppliers with an interest in the requirement are invited to register their interest. Stage 1 - Initial engagement meetings As the first stage of the PME, DoF anticipates holding initial engagement meetings with potential Suppliers on 16 and 23 November 2026, either in person at Craigantlet Buildings, Stormont, Belfast or online using Microsoft Teams. A hybrid format will be considered only in exceptional circumstances. Interested Suppliers should use the messaging function on eTendersNI to confirm their interest in this requirement and willingness to participate in an initial engagement meeting by 1pm on 11 November 2026. DoF may limit the number of direct engagement meetings where demand exceeds available capacity. Please refer to the PME Initial Engagement document for further information. Stage 2 - PME questionnaire Following the initial engagement meetings, DoF anticipates making the PME questionnaire available to interested Suppliers in January 2027 through the documents area of the CfT on eTendersNI. Detailed or lengthy responses to the questionnaire will not be required; however respondents shoud provide sufficient evidence to support their views where appropriate. Stage 3 - Follow-up meetings Following receipt of completed questionnaires, DoF may seek clarification or further information from respondents through virtual or face-to-face follow-up meetings. Participation in this PME exercise does not constitute, and will not result in, any contractual agreement between a respondent and DoF, nor does participation confer any advantage in any subsequent procurement process. Interested parties shall bear their own costs of participating in the PME exercise. DoF shall not be liable for any costs, expenses or losses arising from participation, including, without limitation, any loss of profit or other economic loss, irrespective of the outcome of the PME. The next stage of the process will be considered following completion of the PME exercise. PLEASE NOTE: COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES MUST BE SUBMITTED VIA THE MESSAGING FUNCTION ON eTendersNI BEFORE 15:00 ON THE DATE SPECIFIED BELOW UNDER "TIME-LIMIT FOR RECEIPT OF TENDERS OR REQUESTS TO PARTICIPATE".

Planning Information

Stage 1 - Initial engagement meetings Interested Suppliers should use the messaging function on eTendersNI to confirm their interest in this requirement and willingness to participate in an initial engagement meeting by 1pm on 11 November 2026. Stage 2 - PME questionnaire Following the initial engagement meetings, DoF anticipates making the PME questionnaire available to interested Suppliers in January 2027 through the documents area of the CfT on eTendersNI. The questionnaire must be completed and submitted using the messaging function on eTendersNI by the engagement deadline date and time detailed above. Stage 3 - Follow-up meetings Following receipt of completed questionnaires, DoF may seek clarification or further information from respondents through virtual or face-to-face follow-up meetings.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07939b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/102666-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
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

32400000 - Networks

32412100 - Telecommunications network

32510000 - Wireless telecommunications system

32522000 - Telecommunications equipment

32523000 - Telecommunications facilities

32524000 - Telecommunications system

45314000 - Installation of telecommunications equipment

50300000 - Repair, maintenance and associated services related to personal computers, office equipment, telecommunications and audio-visual equipment

50330000 - Maintenance services of telecommunications equipment

50332000 - Telecommunications-infrastructure maintenance services

64200000 - Telecommunications services

72315000 - Data network management and support services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Jun 20277 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2030 - 30 Sep 2039 Over 5 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 of Finance
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT3 9ED
Postcode Area
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
TLN Northern Ireland
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Sydenham
Westminster Constituency
Belfast East

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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