Birmingham City University: IT078 - Network Infrastructure Refresh - Birmingham City University

UK-Birmingham: Network upgrade.
Section I: Contracting Authority
      I.1) Name and addresses
             Birmingham City University
             Joseph Priestley Building, Cardigan Street, Birmingham, B4 7BD, United Kingdom
             Tel. +44 1213317677, Email: jamie.cupper@bcu.ac.uk
             Main Address: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/
             NUTS Code: UK
      I.2) Joint procurement
      The contract involves joint procurement: No.
      In the case of joint procurement involving different countries, state applicable national procurement law: Not provided       
      The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body: No.
      I.3) Communication
      The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Birmingham:-Network-upgrade./8E9N6MUV88
      Additional information can be obtained from: the abovementioned address
      Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically via https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/8E9N6MUV88 to the abovementioned address       
      Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at: Not provided
      I.4) Type of the contracting authority
            Other type:: Higher Education
      I.5) Main activity
            Education

Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
      II.1.1) Title: IT078 - Network Infrastructure Refresh - Birmingham City University       
      Reference Number: IT078
      II.1.2) Main CPV Code:
      32428000 - Network upgrade.

      II.1.3) Type of contract: SUPPLIES
      II.1.4) Short description: Suppliers are invited for the procurement of a new network solution and support for 5+1+1 (five) years, including a hand over period with the newly appointed supplier at the end of the term to ensure business continuity. This tender process will be conducted under the Competitive Dialogue procedure. This will be in a number of stages, including the Selection, Invitation to Submit an Outline Solution (ISOS), Dialogue sessions and an Invitation to Submit a Detailed Solution (ISDS).       
      II.1.5) Estimated total value:
      Value excluding VAT: 1       
      Currency: GBP
      II.1.6) Information about lots:
      This contract is divided into lots: No       
   
II.2) Description
      
      II.2.2) Additional CPV codes:
      Not Provided       
      II.2.3) Place of performance:
      UK UNITED KINGDOM
      
      II.2.4) Description of procurement: Restricted Procedure - Competitive Dialogue

Requirements involve design or innovative solutions that will be collaboratively worked through as part of the dialogue process to reach a final, acceptable solution. This could not be reached through either the open or restricted tender route.

This tender process is focussed on delivering a new Cisco hardware refresh.

Suppliers are invited for the procurement of a new network solution and support for 5+1+1 (five) years, including a hand over period with the newly appointed supplier at the end of the term to ensure business continuity. This tender process will be conducted under the Competitive Dialogue procedure. This will be in a number of stages, including the Selection, Invitation to Submit an Outline Solution (ISOS), Dialogue sessions and an Invitation to Submit a Detailed Solution (ISDS).

Since 1843, Birmingham City University has been at the heart of Birmingham. The majority of our students are from Birmingham and the broader West Midlands. Each year we help over 26,500 students to achieve their ambitions.
Meanwhile, BCU grows with Birmingham. We work closely with our city, with business, the community and our academic peers locally, nationally and internationally. We recruit students from just under 100 different countries.
The network infrastructure underpins virtually everything that staff and students need at Birmingham City University. It must be fit for purpose, secure, and adaptable to cope with the demands of anticipated future growth in onsite and offsite working, and as an enabler for taking advantage of IT industry breakthroughs such as 5G and more extensive use of Artificial Intelligence and intelligent building functions.

The current BCU network infrastructure
The current Cisco network is now nearing end of life and within its current operating model there is hardware operating that is no longer in manufacturer support, and there is hardware across all sites running on non-manufacturer recommended support versions, due to the hardware being unable to support the latest firmware upgrades. Hardware security standards are not compliant with recognised industry standards and therefore the latest IT security functions are unavailable, leaving the University potentially exposed to cyber-attacks.

Future University Plans
The move away from predominantly campus based working and on-site student lectures due to the implications of the pandemic have shown the need for a network that is flexible to cope with sudden short-term changes in working practices and to be scalable enough to deliver current and future working teaching strategies.
The University is working towards bringing into operation new buildings at Steamhouse, Harborne Road and Alexander stadium within the city of Birmingham, as well as expanding the business in overseas territories such as China and Dubai.
      II.2.5) Award criteria:
            Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents            
      II.2.6) Estimated value:
      Value excluding VAT: Not provided       
      Currency: Not provided       
      II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system:
      Duration in months: 60       
      This contract is subject to renewal: Yes       
      Description of renewals: There are two plus one year periods, subject to satisfactory performance, extending the agreement from 60 months (5 years) to 84 months (7 years).
      II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited:
       Not provided
      Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates: Not provided
      II.2.10) Information about variants:
      Variants will be accepted: No
      II.2.11) Information about options:
      Options:       No             
      Description of options: Not provided
      II.2.12) Information about electronic catalogues:
      Tenders must be presented in the form of electronic catalogues or include an electronic catalogue: No
      II.2.13) Information about European Union funds:
      The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No       
      Identification of the project: Not provided             
      II.2.14) Additional information: Not provided       


Section III: Legal, Economic, Financial And Technical Information
   III.1) Conditions for participation
      III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
      List and brief description of conditions:          
      Not Provided       
      III.1.2) Economic and financial standing       
      List and brief description of selection criteria:       
      Not Provided    
      Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :       
      Not Provided    
      III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
      List and brief description of selection criteria:       
      Not Provided      
      Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :          
      Not Provided   
      III.1.5) Information about reserved contracts (if applicable)   
      The contract is reserved to sheltered workshops and economic operators aiming at the social and professional integration of disabled or disadvantaged persons: No       
      The execution of the contract is restricted to the framework of sheltered employment programmes: No    
      
   III.2) Conditions related to the contract
         
      III.2.2) Contract performance conditions          
      Not Provided          
      III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
      Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract: No

Section IV: Procedure
   IV.1) Description COMPETITIVE_DIALOGUE
      IV.1.1) Type of procedure:Competitive dialogue    
   
   IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system    
         The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement - NO    
         In the case of framework agreements justification for any duration exceeding 4 years: Not Provided    
   IV.1.4) Information about reduction of the number of solutions or tenders during negotiation or dialogue: No.
   
   IV.1.6) Information about electronic auction:
      An electronic auction will be used: No
      Additional information about electronic auction: Not provided
   IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
      The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No       
   IV.2) Administrative information
      IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure:
         Notice number in the OJ S: Not provided       
      IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
       Date: 22/04/2021 Time: 12:00
      IV.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates: 05/05/2021       
      IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: English,       
      IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender: Not Provided      
      

Section VI: Complementary Information
   VI.1) Information about recurrence
   This is a recurrent procurement: No    
   Estimated timing for further notices to be published: Not provided
   VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
   Electronic ordering will be used No       
   Electronic invoicing will be accepted No       
   Electronic payment will be used No       
   VI.3) Additional Information: For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Birmingham:-Network-upgrade./8E9N6MUV88

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/8E9N6MUV88
   VI.4) Procedures for review
   VI.4.1) Review body:
             Royal Courts of Justice
       Strand, London, WS2A 2LL, United Kingdom
       Tel. +44 1213317677
       Internet address: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/
   VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures:
Not provided
   VI.4.3) Review procedure
   Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:    
    Not Provided    
   VI.4.4) Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained:
Not provided
   VI.5) Date Of Dispatch Of This Notice: 23/03/2021

Annex A