---
title: "DoF DSS - Northern Ireland Digital Public Networking Infrastructure (NIDPNI) - Preliminary Market Engagement"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-07939b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-07939b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07939b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07939b.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "Department of Finance"
published: "2026-10-29"
---

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

Buyer: Department of Finance  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-07939b

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## Summary

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.

## Notice

***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.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/102666-2026 |
| 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 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 Jun 2027 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Oct 2030 - 30 Sep 2039 |
| 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 | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Department of Finance |
| Locality | BELFAST |
| Postcode area | Northern Ireland |
| Postcode | BT3 9ED |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland |
| ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland |
| ITL 3 | TLN06 Belfast |
| Local authority | Belfast |
| Electoral ward | Sydenham |
| Westminster constituency | Belfast East |
| Delivery location | TLN Northern Ireland |

## CPV Codes

### 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

### 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

## Release History

- 29 Oct 2026 at 14:08 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/102666-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/102666-2026
  29th October 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/
- https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/topics/procurement
- 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-07939b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07939b.json.