---
title: "LCRCA Digital Infrastructure Project"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-029b15"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-029b15"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-029b15.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-029b15.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "LIVERPOOL CITY REGION COMBINED AUTHORITY (LCRCA)"
published: "2021-03-12"
---

# LCRCA Digital Infrastructure Project

Buyer: LIVERPOOL CITY REGION COMBINED AUTHORITY (LCRCA)  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-029b15

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-029b15)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-029b15.json)

## Summary

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) has completed the LCRCA Digital Infrastructure Project, a tender initiative aimed at establishing a joint venture for the design, implementation, and operation of a comprehensive digital connectivity backhaul network across the Liverpool City Region. This project falls under the construction industry category and was located in the UKD7 region. The procurement method employed was selective, with a competitive dialogue approach allowing potential suppliers to engage directly with LCRCA. Although the project has been marked as complete, it involved the submission of bids with significant interest, having received a total of seven bids, including three from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The contract was valued at £29,800,000, with the initiation date recorded as February 22, 2021.

This tender presents lucrative opportunities for businesses looking to expand in the digital infrastructure space, particularly for those involved in construction, telecommunications, and IT services. Suppliers prepared to enter long-term commercial agreements, particularly those with expertise in designing and delivering digital connectivity solutions, would be ideally positioned to compete effectively for similar future projects. Firms that can demonstrate innovation in network maintenance and operation, along with the capability to manage large-scale infrastructure projects, stand to benefit from the strategic priorities laid out by LCRCA, which aims to enhance local digital connectivity and stimulate economic growth in the region.

## Notice

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) is looking to establish a joint venture or similar partnership, with a supplier in order to build, operate and maintain a digital connectivity backhaul network across the Liverpool City Region. LCRCA is looking to establish a partnership arrangement with a supplier, who will support in the design, implementation, maintenance, operation and commercialisation of such network. The supplier will be prepared to enter into a long-term commercial and financial arrangement with LCRCA to support in delivering the wider ambition around LCRCA's digital strategy for the LCR. This digital network is expected to deliver a dedicated full fibre backhaul network, with unlimited capacity, which passes through all LCR localities and provide the opportunity for future development of local authority local access networks as well as wider commercial opportunities.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Improved digital connectivity is a mayoral priority and LCR has some key digital assets that provide a significant competitive advantage to the attractiveness of the region. The "super-computer" is located at SciTech Daresbury, in Halton and the superfast GTT trans-atlantic cable reaches the UK mainland at Southport in Sefton. The LCRCA has ambition that these locations are interconnected and at the same time a digital backhaul network is established across the LCR. To deliver this ambition, the LCRCA is looking to establish a joint venture, or similar partnership, with a supplier in order to build, operate, commercialise and maintain a new digital connectivity backhaul network across the LCR. To improve the value, flexibility, and future-proofing of these arrangements, LCRCA is looking to establish a partnership arrangement with a supplier, who will support in the design, implementation, maintenance, operation and commercialisation of such network. The supplier will be prepared to enter into a long-term commercial and financial arrangement with LCRCA to support in delivering the wider ambition around the digital strategy for the LCR. This digital network is expected to deliver a dedicated full fibre connectivity network, with unlimited capacity, which passes through all LA localities. This will also support the future development of LA local access networks as well as wider commercial opportunities. In some cases, the network will provide immediate connectivity opportunities for key strategic locations and assets across the LCR. The LCRCA has undertaken some initial route mapping and worked with LA partners to "optimise" where a such a backhaul network could be located across each LA locality. The supplier will be expected to develop this initial work and identify opportunity for further improvement and refinement. To help stimulate demand and support with immediately available asset, the LCRCA is currently undertaking a "dig-once" programme to install ducting and chambers, in-advance of the partnership with the selected supplier being established. The "dig-once" programme will be delivered jointly with LA partners, and assets will be installed where possible along the indicative route during planned capital and maintenance work programmes. This will provide a significant amount of infrastructure asset which will be made available to the supplier in accordance with state aid and public procurement requirements. The LCRCA will make a significant contribution to the project through its Strategic Investment Fund and expects to contribute up to 50% of the overall commercial arrangement. In order to facilitate LCRCA's contribution to the project, both in terms of infrastructure to be provided under the "dig once" programme and in terms of financial contributions, the LCRCA has assumed that a joint venture structure will be established. The procurement will include an opportunity for prospective suppliers to enter into dialogue with LCRCA and propose initial and then more detailed solutions, before LCRCA selects a preferred partner organisation. The LCRCA expects to down-select interested parties during this process and will seek to establish a preferred supplier and enter into commercial arrangements that deliver the best solution in terms of network, commercial ambition and value for money. LCRCA will be the Contracting Authority and will enter into any future joint venture or similar partnering arrangement with a preferred supplier, on behalf of itself and all the Liverpool City Region Local Authorities (Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens, Liverpool and Halton Councils). The LCRCA has authorised Merseytravel to administer this procurement on its behalf.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005028-2021 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Works |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Competitive dialogue |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 12 Mar 2021 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 22 Feb 2021 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £29,800,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | LIVERPOOL CITY REGION COMBINED AUTHORITY (LCRCA) |
| Locality | LIVERPOOL |
| Post town | Liverpool |
| Postcode | L3 1BP |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD7 Merseyside |
| ITL 3 | TLD72 Liverpool |
| Local authority | Liverpool |
| Electoral ward | Waterfront South |
| Westminster constituency | Liverpool Riverside |
| Delivery location | TLD7 Merseyside |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 2 |
| Supplier names | ITS TECHNOLOGY GROUP; NGE CONCESSIONS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment
- 39 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products
- 45 - Construction work
- 50 - Repair and maintenance services
- 64 - Postal and telecommunications services
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 32000000 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment
- 39000000 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products
- 45000000 - Construction work
- 50000000 - Repair and maintenance services
- 64000000 - Postal and telecommunications services
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

## Release History

- 12 Mar 2021 at 11:23 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005028-2021

## Notice URLs

- http://www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk
- https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:007685-2020:TEXT:EN:HTML

## 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-h6vhtk-029b15. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-029b15.json.