--- title: "Dorset Strategic Digital Infrastructure" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0507e0" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0507e0" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0507e0.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0507e0.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "DORSET COUNCIL" published: "2025-04-25" --- # Dorset Strategic Digital Infrastructure Buyer: DORSET COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0507e0 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0507e0) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0507e0.json) ## Summary Dorset Council is in the planning stage of a public procurement process for a project titled "Dorset Strategic Digital Infrastructure." The project, under the category of services, aims to achieve co-investment in the construction of digital infrastructure, including duct and dark fibre, with a focus on communications and network infrastructure. This preliminary market engagement is taking place in the United Kingdom, specifically within the UKK25 region. Interested parties are invited to engage by the clarification deadline of 13th May 2025, with discussions and feedback sessions scheduled to conclude by 16th May 2025. This initiative is not yet a call for competition, and Dorset Council is advising that the output of this market engagement exercise will inform their forward planning. The contract is expected to commence on 1st April 2027 and conclude by 31st March 2057. This opportunity offers substantial potential for business growth, particularly for organisations interested in infrastructure investment, operations, and services in the digital connectivity domain. Ideal participants may include those specialising in the design, building, and maintenance of digital networks, as well as those providing or utilising wholesale and retail connectivity services. This project, with an estimated long-term revenue potential between £90 million and £300 million, represents a significant opportunity for businesses with the capacity to partake in large-scale, long-term infrastructure projects. Those interested are encouraged to register and engage with Dorset Council via their e-tendering portal for more detailed information and the chance to influence a major infrastructure development in the region. ## Notice This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is not a call for competition. It is being published to consult the market on a proposal under consideration for Dorset Council to achieve co-investment in construction of digital infrastructure - specifically duct and dark fibre - over which wholesale access services may be provided for third party utilisation, as a long-term revenue generating asset. The long-term revenues (based on current and future potential demand) are yet to be fully quantified but are estimated to be between c.PS90m to c.PS300m (depending on the realisation of the project over a 30-year period.) Dorset Council is seeking to engage with prospective partners or organisations with potential interest in this proposal as an investor, delivery partner, operator / wholesaler or built network customer. Such interest may comprise: * Investing in the design and build of the entire route and refresh and/or upgrade technology assets during the term of any Agreement * Operation and maintenance of a wholesale open access backhaul network * Providing commercial access to both passive (dark fibre and other structural assets) and active (high-capacity wavelengths or Ethernet) connectivity services * Managing all future potential extensions to the spine * Using the network and services to provide digital connectivity Further information on this proposal is available to interested parties registering an interest. To register your interest please follow the links for this opportunity on the Council's e-tendering portal Supplying the South West Portal - https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=f87bc948-b921-f011-8136-005056b64545&p=696a9836-1895-e511-8105-000c29c9ba21 GENERAL NOTES No information provided in response to this market engagement exercise will be used by the Council in assessing providers in the event of any subsequent procurement process, should this follow this market engagement exercise. Interested parties are encouraged to register on the Central Digital Platform. Dorset Council reserves the right not to pursue any procurement to which this notice relates. Dorset Council shall not be liable for any costs or losses incurred by any party as a result of reliance on the information contained/linked herein. The information contained in this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is either preliminary in nature or estimated and may be subject to further amendment and revision. Contract start/end dates, financial values and options are therefore provisional only for the purposes of this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice and may be subject to revision. Accordingly, no representation or warranty, expressed or implied, is being made and no liability is or will be accepted by the Council at any time as to the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of the contents of this notice or any document referred to in this notice. Any liability however arising is expressly disclaimed. No expenses incurred in responding to this soft market testing will be reimbursed by the Council. ### Planning Information Dorset Council is inviting prospective partners and organisations who are interested in this opportunity to participate in market engagement discussions. Additional information will be available to parties registering interest which can be done by following the links for this opportunity on the Council’s e-tendering portal Supplying the South West Portal - https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=f87bc948-b921-f011-8136-005056b64545&p=696a9836-1895-e511-8105-000c29c9ba21 Parties registering will have the opportunity to submit any clarification queries via our e-tendering system. The deadline for clarification questions is 13th May 2025. Questions and their responses will be shared with other registered parties as appropriate. Interested parties will be emailed post closure of the Pre Market Engagement notice period with an invitation to attend individual discussion meetings to discuss further detail. We will also provide a questionnaire to capture detailed feedback and will request return of this on conclusion of individual discussions. Dorset Council is being advised by the Hubbub Group Ltd under this market engagement exercise to evaluate market responses. The Hubbub Group Ltd will participate in individual discussion meetings and undertake the compilation and evaluation of all information obtained as a result of this Pre Market Engagement exercise. Please note any information supplied and the outcomes of discussions will be used for the purposes of this Pre Market Engagement exercise and will not be treated as confidential or commercially sensitive unless this is agreed in advance. Output obtained from this market engagement exercise will be used to inform forward planning. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017124-2025 | | 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 | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 25 Apr 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 16 May 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2057 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £300,000,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DORSET COUNCIL | | Locality | DORCHESTER | | Post town | Dorchester | | Postcode | DT1 1XJ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset | | ITL 3 | TLK64 Dorset | | Local authority | Dorset | | Electoral ward | Dorchester West | | Westminster constituency | West Dorset | | Delivery location | TLK25 Dorset | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment - 50 - Repair and maintenance services - 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services ### Codes - 32424000 - Network infrastructure - 32571000 - Communications infrastructure - 50332000 - Telecommunications-infrastructure maintenance services - 71311300 - Infrastructure works consultancy services ## Release History - 25 Apr 2025 at 15:06 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017124-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017124-2025 25th April 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=f87bc948-b921-f011-8136-005056b64545&p=696a9836-1895-e511-8105-000c29c9ba21 - https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/ - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-0507e0. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0507e0.json.