--- title: "Managed Service Provider for WAN Circuits (Soft Market Testing Exercise)" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-a592d9a3-37ea-4897-9402-981ab887416a" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-a592d9a3-37ea-4897-9402-981ab887416a" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a592d9a3-37ea-4897-9402-981ab887416a.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a592d9a3-37ea-4897-9402-981ab887416a.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON" published: "2021-09-22" --- # Managed Service Provider for WAN Circuits (Soft Market Testing Exercise) Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-a592d9a3-37ea-4897-9402-981ab887416a [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-a592d9a3-37ea-4897-9402-981ab887416a) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a592d9a3-37ea-4897-9402-981ab887416a.json) ## Summary The University of Southampton is initiating a procurement process titled "Managed Service Provider for WAN Circuits (Soft Market Testing Exercise)" aimed at engaging potential providers for leased wide area network (WAN) circuits to connect its campuses and remote sites. This tender is currently in the planning stage, with a key milestone set for the completion of engagement by 22nd October 2021. The opportunity falls under the wide area network services industry category and is located in the South East of the United Kingdom. Interested parties should note that the tender relies on an electronic submission process through the University's e-Tendering platform, In-Tend. This tender presents an excellent opportunity for businesses specialising in telecommunications and network services to engage with a prominent educational institution. Companies with expertise in providing managed services for WAN infrastructure would find this procurement aligns with their offerings, particularly those experienced in large-scale network installations and support. The soft market testing exercise allows businesses to share insights and demonstrate their capabilities, fostering potential growth through future procurement contracts with the University of Southampton. ## Notice The University of Southampton is seeking to appoint a managed service provider to provide leased WAN (wide area network) circuits between University campuses and remote sites. The managed service provider will be responsible for the provision, installation, support and management of the University's WAN circuits. Connections to the JANET network are not in scope for this procurement. The purpose of this notice is to conduct a Soft Market Testing Exercise to allow interested organisations with appropriate experience to outline their views and provide impartial information to the University with no commitment to themselves or the University. Further information on the University's approach to Soft Market Testing can be found by accessing the Soft Market Testing Exercise documents hosted on the University's e-Tendering software (In-Tend) at the address below: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton/aspx/Home Additional information: The University is utilising an electronic tendering tool (In-Tend: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton) to manage this Soft Market Testing exercise and to communicate with participating organisations. All documentation in relation to this Soft Market Testing Exercise can be downloaded from In-Tend. Participating organisations are advised that there will be no hard copy document issued to organisations and all communications with the University including the submission of Soft Market Testing Questionnaires will be conducted via In-Tend. Regular monitoring of In-Tend is the responsibility of the participating organisation. If you are not already registered as a supplier with the University of Southampton, you will need to register in In-Tend in order to access the soft market testing documentation. Once you have logged in: click on 'Tenders'; locate the relevant project; and click 'View Details'. Once you are in the project screen, you will be able to register your company against the project and access all documentation by clicking 'Express Interest'. Further instructions for the submission of soft market testing questionnaires are below. To submit your return, please follow the instructions below: 1. Log In 2. Click 'Tenders' 3. Locate the relevant project 4. View Details 5. Click on the tab relating to the relevant project stage (e.g. 'Soft Market Testing Exercise') 6. Click on the 'Attach Documents' button and upload your return. 7. Check ALL your response documents are uploaded and displayed in the "My Tender Return" panel. The system will only permit your organisation to make one return. 8. Click the red "Submit Return" button. Please note that, to preserve the integrity of the soft market testing exercise, all queries must made be via the correspondence function within In-Tend. The deadline for the return of completed Soft Market Testing Questionnaire is 22/10/2021 at 12:00 noon (GMT). This Prior information Notice is issued solely for the purpose of conducting pre-procurement marketengagement and does not constitute any commitment to undertake any procurement in the future. Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to the PIN event and a response to this PIN does not guarantee any invitation to participate in this event or any future procurement. This PIN does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services, supplies or works mentioned in this PIN and the University will not accept any proposals offered in response to this PIN. The University of Southampton is not liable for any costs, fees, or expenses incurred by any party in replying to the PIN or attending any briefing day (if applicable). Any procurement of any services, supplies or works by the University of Southampton will be carried out strictly in accordance with the provisio ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b835b98e-7f1c-4d3c-bcd0-3a572887d091 | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 22 Sep 2021 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 22 Oct 2021 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON | | Locality | SOUTHAMPTON | | Post town | Southampton | | Postcode | SO17 1BJ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight | | ITL 3 | TLJ32 Southampton | | Local authority | Southampton | | Electoral ward | Portswood | | Westminster constituency | Southampton Test | | Delivery location | TLJ South East (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ### Codes - 72720000 - Wide area network services ## Release History - 22 Sep 2021 at 07:58 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b835b98e-7f1c-4d3c-bcd0-3a572887d091 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b835b98e-7f1c-4d3c-bcd0-3a572887d091 22nd September 2021 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder ## Notice URLs - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton/aspx/Home ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-a592d9a3-37ea-4897-9402-981ab887416a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a592d9a3-37ea-4897-9402-981ab887416a.json.