Defra - Future Network Procurement Project

This is a Prior Information Notice (PIN) for the Future Network Procurement Project (FNPP), which is for the provision of the enhanced continuation of Defra’s connectivity services. The Invitation to Tender (ITT) will be via Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS’s) Network Services 3 (NS3) Framework (Lot 1a and Lot 2a), which is expected to be published on Monday 17 July.<br/><br/>Atamis will be used during the procurement for all communications, ITT documentation access, and Bidder Tender response document uploads. The link for Bidders to register to Atamis is below:<br/>https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome<br/><br/>Clinked will be used as a Data Room for Defra-wide documents that are referred to in the ITT and Bidders need to view (policies, strategies etc). Bidders can only access Clinked via invite, so if you are an interested Bidder on both NS3’s Lot 1a and Lot 2a, then please contact the below email address with your organisation’s representative email address: <br/>Alexander.Ede@Defra.gov.uk<br/><br/>The FNPP supplier shall transform and manage Defra’s Connectivity as a whole. FNPP moves from traditional MPLS to SD-WAN and Dedicated Internet Access (DIA), and moves from traditional fully-wired LAN to Wi-Fi by default. Its scope includes:<br/> - Wide Area Network (WAN): SD-WAN, DIA, and Internet <br/> - Local Area Network (LAN): To support Wi-Fi, with traditional-wired LAN where Wi-Fi is not possible<br/> - Foundation Services: IP Address Management, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, Private Domain Name Service, and Network Time Protocol.<br/> - Remote Access Service (RAS): Hardware and software capabilities to remotely connect the user to Defra’s servers.<br/> - Secure Gateway: Cloud Internet Proxy and Virtual Private Network (VPN) capabilities and support for Secure Internet Access & Web Content Filtering for end user devices providing access to the internet.<br/> - Digital Experience Monitoring: A solution for reporting on real-life performance of the network, generating synthetic transactions for an end-to-end view<br/> - Security Operations Centre (SOC): Detecting and responding to cyber-attacks through Protective Monitoring. This will either be part of FNPP’s scope or brought in-house to Defra.<br/><br/>This FNPP service will connect circa 300 sites across the United Kingdom for up to 32,000 staff, consisting of Defra and its Agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs):<br/> - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)<br/> - Environment Agency (EA)<br/> - Rural Payments Agency (RPA)<br/> - Natural England (NE)<br/> - Marine Management Organisation (MMO)<br/> - Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)<br/><br/>FNPP will consist of a circa 14-month transition period, 5-year business as usual (BAU), and a 2-year optional extension. It will also include an optional 18-month Termination Assistance Period (TAP).<br/><br/>The Supplier must provide a service which recognises the Defra Group priority to minimise environmental and social impacts, whilst delivering additional benefits, by upholding Defra Groups published sustainability objectives and targets.