--- title: "Networking & Communications - Market Update" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-030d51" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-030d51" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-030d51.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-030d51.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL" published: "2022-01-20" --- # Networking & Communications - Market Update Buyer: ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-030d51 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-030d51) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-030d51.json) ## Summary The procurement process is being conducted by Essex County Council, focusing on the project titled "Networking & Communications - Market Update." This initiative falls under the services category, specifically aimed at the installation services of communications equipment. Located in Chelmsford, UK, the procurement is currently in the planning stage. The anticipated date for future communications regarding this tender is set for 1st April 2022, with an emphasis on future Networking and Voice solutions derived from insights gathered during previous market engagements. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in networking and telecommunications, particularly those with expertise in SD-WAN technologies and voice solutions. Companies equipped to deliver innovative communication technologies and actively engage in implementation pilots are especially well-suited to compete. The Essex County Council's engagement with potential vendors indicates a proactive approach to modernising their communications infrastructure, thereby creating a potential avenue for growth for suppliers seeking to partner in the upcoming transformation initiatives. ## Notice This notice seeks to provide an update to the market regarding Essex County Council's (ECC's) direction of travel for its future Networking and Voice solutions. ### Lot Information Lot 1 This notice seeks to provide an update to the market regarding Essex County Council's (ECC's) direction of travel for its future Networking and Voice solutions. In July 2020, following publication of Prior Information Notice ref: 2020/S 121-298041, ECC undertook early market engagement with a broad range of Networking and Communications suppliers to explore innovation, horizon scanning and service delivery models across the market. In March 2021, following publication of Prior Information Notice reference: 2021/S 000-001471, ECC undertook further market engagement with five Networking suppliers through workshop sessions to explore in more depth: Network technologies; Technology products; Circuit provision and; Deployment. The learning from these sessions has highlighted to ECC the importance of trialling network technologies at an early stage and, therefore, ECC has identified three vendors' SD-WAN technologies it wishes to pilot: Cisco, Palo Alto and Silver Peak. Identification of these solutions for pilot is based on best-fit considerations and existing technology investments, as identified through market engagement. Pilots will be delivered in partnership with ECC's current managed service provider, DUCL (Daisy Updata Communications Limited) early in 2022. ECC anticipates that the SD-WAN pilots will lead to identification of a preferred product, which ECC would then implement as part of a network transformation project either through its managed service contract with the existing provider or following a competitive tender exercise. Regarding Voice, ECC recently commissioned discovery work to inform its Contact Centre requirements. Final outputs are due end of January 2022, following which ECC anticipates that it will engage with the market. ECC continues to undertake in-house discovery work in respect its future Mobile requirements. Also, ECC has recently transitioned its Unified Comms solution from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams, through its incumbent supplier. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001720-2022 | | Notice type | Planning Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 20 Jan 2022 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 31 Mar 2022 | | 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 | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL | | Locality | CHELMSFORD | | Post town | Chelmsford | | Postcode | CM1 1QH | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLH East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLH3 Essex | | ITL 3 | TLH36 Heart of Essex | | Local authority | Chelmsford | | Electoral ward | Moulsham and Central | | Westminster constituency | Chelmsford | | Delivery location | TLH3 Essex | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment - 51 - Installation services (except software) ### Codes - 32400000 - Networks - 32500000 - Telecommunications equipment and supplies - 51300000 - Installation services of communications equipment ## Release History - 20 Jan 2022 at 13:57 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001720-2022 ## Notice URLs - http://www.essex.gov.uk ## 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-030d51. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-030d51.json.