Development, Delivery and Support of Electronic Auction System (EAS)

This ITT sets out our requirements for the development, delivery and support in the operation of an online auction software system, “Electronic Auction System” (EAS), for our upcoming award of the 26 GHz and 40 GHz bands. These requirements will also cover the possibility of an additional clock auction that will follow the 26 GHz/40 GHz auction, which would be triggered at Ofcom’s sole discretion.

As a minimum, the service must deliver the following:

• Develop, internally test, and provide operational support for the auction software system
• Develop and provide access to a training version of the auction software system for prospective bidders
• Assure compliance of the software against the Auction Regulations

By way of background, Ofcom plans to hold a spectrum auction by FY Q1 2024/2025 to award licences for spectrum, including 2.4 GHz in the 26 GHz frequency band, and 3 GHz in the 40 GHz band.

On 13 March, Ofcom published a consultation setting out proposals for the award, which proposed a clock auction design. The proposed rules for this design are set out in the illustrative auction procedures, published at annex 9 of the award consultation. Ofcom's reasoning for these design proposals are set out in section 9 of the consultation.

We require the successful tenderer to develop the EAS in accordance with the illustrative auction procedures. These illustrative auction procedures may be amended as we finalise our auction policy through the consultation process. The system should therefore be designed flexibly to allow for quick and efficient configuration changes. The software should also be designed with ease of use for both auctioneers and bidders in mind.

The illustrative auction procedures will ultimately be written into the Auction Regulations, and the successful tenderer will need to assure compliance of the software against the final Auction Regulations. This will involve amending the EAS as necessary to incorporate any differences between the illustrative auction procedures and the final Regulations.