Official UK procurement notice
Provision of Managed Service for Operational Telecoms Network (OTN)
Authority: Northern Ireland Electricity Networks Limited (Public body)·On behalf of: System Operator Northern Ireland (SONI Ltd)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionNIE Networks intends, following the process outlined in this Invitation to Tender, to appoint Suppliers to enter into a Framework Agreement for the provision of the Services , as detailed below.
The main scope of responsibilities will include the following:
- Management and operation of all the infrastructure elements that the OTN comprises. This will include the management of third parties who undertake specialist functions, e.g. rigging, tower inspections & fibre works.
- Responsibility for the maintenance and provision of end-to-end connectivity down to individual circuit level between various points on the Customer’s networks.
- Provision of a single point of contact for all matters concerning the operation and management of the OTN.
- Provision of a single point of contact for all matters concerning the cybersecurity of the OTN
- Provision of in-house NOC, SOC and SIEM
- Procurement of services and equipment from third-party providers.
- How the procedure runs: As specified within the RTP and/or tender documents available from the address included within this notice with the reference project S1057 Provision of Managed Service for Operational Telecoms Network (OTN)
CPV: Scada or equivalent system · Telecommunications services · Telecommunications-infrastructure maintenance services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£104,100,000
- Economic & financial standing
As specified within the RTP and/or tender documents available from the address included within this notice with the reference project S1057 Provision of Managed Service for Operational Telecoms Network (OTN)
- Technical & professional ability
As specified within the RTP and/or tender documents available from the address included within this notice with the reference project S1057 Provision of Managed Service for Operational Telecoms Network (OTN)
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (2)
- Quality: 60%
- Cost: 40%
Published award criteria (2)
- Quality
- Cost
- Economic & financial standing
As specified within the RTP and/or tender documents available from the address included within this notice with the reference project S1057 Provision of Managed Service for Operational Telecoms Network (OTN)
- Technical & professional ability
As specified within the RTP and/or tender documents available from the address included within this notice with the reference project S1057 Provision of Managed Service for Operational Telecoms Network (OTN)
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 11 Jul 2025, 17:07 BST
- Last source update
- 23 Mar 2026, 16:11 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 31 Mar 2026
- Authority reference
S1057 2026- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-039426- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-055e07Find a Tender
- How it runs
As specified within the RTP and/or tender documents available from the address included within this notice with the reference project S1057 Provision of Managed Service for Operational Telecoms Network (OTN)
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 15 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline
- 15 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 8 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
11 Jul 2025 → 1 Oct 2026 · 8 dates- Tender notice published11 Jul 2025, 17:07 BST
- Clarification questions by8 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline15 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent218 days ago23 Mar 2026
- Latest notice published217 days ago23 Mar 2026, 16:11 GMT
- Award decision expected by209 days ago31 Mar 2026, 23:59 BST
- Standstill ends208 days ago1 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts26 days ago1 Oct 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
4 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 11 Jul 2025- Tender notice published11 Jul 2025, 17:07 BSTUK4
- Contract award notice published23 Mar 2026, 16:11 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete23 Mar 2026, 16:11 GMT
- Contract signature expected23 Apr 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| VODAFONE LIMITED1 Oct 2026 – 9 Mar 2031 · up to 9 Mar 2034Extensions: On expiry of the initial contract period of 5 years, there is an option to extend for 3 years · Options: On expiry of the initial contract period of 5 years, there is an option to extend for 3 years | £104,000,000 inc. VAT | 23 Mar 2026standstill to 1 Apr 2026 | Standstill |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeOther public bodies
- System Operator Northern Ireland (SONI Ltd)Procuring entityevaluation panel
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Vodafone LtdAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender