Audit of Broadband Installations for BDUK

⦁ This ITT is for a successful contractor or consortium (the "Supplier") to provide Field Force services for BDUK Voucher Schemes, in particular, the UK Gigabit Voucher Scheme.

Context & Background

⦁ The UK Gigabit Voucher Scheme ("the Scheme") was launched on 8th April 2021 across rural postcode areas in the UK. Documentation which describes the Scheme in further detail is provided in the Scheme Terms and Conditions.

⦁ As part of the Scheme's value for money controls, there is a requirement to conduct audits of certain completed installations to confirm that the installations are compliant with the terms of the scheme (the "Audit") and as per the service expected by the individual in receipt of the installation (the "Beneficiary") as detailed within the voucher request.

⦁ The Supplier will be required to gather specific information about certain broadband installations which have been funded (or part-funded) by the Scheme.

⦁ BDUK will provide a kit list of the equipment to be audited. The Supplier will be required to capture evidence that the installation has occurred and is compliant with the Scheme Terms & Conditions. The Supplier will be required to take good quality, clear photos of the equipment, including network equipment and Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), not using smartphone cameras. Supplier staff undertaking Audits ("Individual Auditors") must therefore be suitably qualified in recognising specific parts of fibre network equipment, including wireless gigabit capable equipment, as defined by the UK Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (UKWISPA). Exif data must be included on all photos.

⦁ The locations of the broadband installations which require an Audit will be notified by BDUK to the Supplier on a weekly basis. The Supplier will be required to complete the required audits within a specified timescale, as set out later in the section.

⦁ The Supplier may be required to undertake a proportion of audits remotely, to be notified to the Supplier by BDUK, ensuring compliance with the standards outlined in Scope Requirement 5. It is expected that the majority of audits will be physical, not remote.

⦁ The process by which the Supplier is notified of the installations which require an audit (and how the Supplier should report this information to BDUK) is set out in Annex A (Notification and Reporting Process).

⦁ Annex A also sets out the information to be provided to the Supplier regarding each audit requirement, and also the information which the Supplier should provide for each completed Audit.

⦁ Each Audit will be indicated as "Standard" or "Urgent" which will determine the required completion timescales (which are 10 complete Working Days and 3 complete Working Days respectively from the date of notification). A Working Day is defined as 9am-5pm Mon-Fri (excluding weekends and public Bank Holidays in the relevant country). BDUK expects the majority of audits to be Standard, with a small number (not greater than 10%) being urgent.

⦁ During working days, BDUK will be available to provide remote telephone support to the Supplier should any queries be identified during Audit activity for a particular Beneficiary.

⦁ The Supplier should also be available during Working Days to answer any follow up questions, clarifications or queries that BDUK may have in relation to Audit findings. It is expected that the Supplier will respond to queries within a maximum of 3 working days.

⦁ Each Audit location will also be indicated as "Urban" or Rural" as defined by the Office for National Statistics. The majority (upwards of 95%) of audits are expected to be Rural. However, a small number will be Urban. This is as a result of a previous voucher scheme (Local Full Fibre Network funded vouchers) being available in all postcodes across the UK. That voucher scheme closed in May 2020, but there are a small number of vouchers still live that may require an audit.