This notice announces an administrative change to an existing contract or market (a contract change notice). No new tender or admission is opened here; see the linked notices below for the original opportunity.
Official UK procurement notice
Extending High Speed Broadband Framework Agreement
Authority: Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government (Central government)
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThe Welsh Government has undertaken a procurement to establish a framework (the “Framework”) to deliver the Extending High Speed Broadband project (the "Project").
Once the Framework is established, the Authority intends to award a series of call-off contracts (following individual competitive selection processes), that will provide grant funding to telecoms suppliers to cover the "gap" in costs that are required to deliver superfast connections to communities / premises in Wales that would not otherwise be served by commercial operators under normal market conditions, due to the high infrastructure cost of building connections to those "hard to reach" communities / premises.
Grants made under the call-off contracts are out of scope for the purposes of VAT.
Coverage
The Authority’s 2022 open market review identified that around 84,000 premises within Wales did not have access to superfast download speeds (at least 30Mbps) exacerbating the digital divide. Ofcom has previously stated that a subset of these (around 10,000 premises) do not yet have access to at least 10Mbps.
Despite the efforts of the telecommunications industry and public sector interventions, there are still premises in Wales that do not have access to at least superfast broadband speeds. The Authority has therefore developed the EHSB project to address this gap and provide fast and reliable broadband to those premises.
Whilst the Authority is confident that the number of premises without superfast download speeds has drastically reduced since the 2022 open market review (as the scope of commercial and other public sector deployments, including Project Gigabit, have become clearer), the Authority anticipates that the number of premises that are currently in scope of the Framework is in the region of 29,000 premises.
The current, indicative list of eligible premises that are anticipated to be in scope for the Framework will be subject to refinement/update during the duration of the Framework (for example, to reflect any premises which may be addressed by other interventions). The premises that are in-scope for each call-off contract will be confirmed in the relevant request for proposals issued under the Framework.
Additional Information
The Framework will have two lots. The first lot (Lot 1) will be for projects that require the installation of broadband network infrastructure to 1,000 premises and over. The second lot (Lot 2) will be for projects that require the installation of broadband network infrastructure to under 1,000 premises.
Suppliers were permitted to apply for either or both lots.
The estimated total value set out in this notice is in respect of all call-off contracts that may be awarded under the Framework. It is an estimate only and is in no way guaranteed or final. The associated tender documents for this opportunity contain more specific information.
The dates and total duration for any call-off contracts referred to in this notice or the associated procurement documents are also estimates and for illustrative purposes only.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 1 Feb 2028, 23:59 GMT.
CPV: Installation services (except software) · Postal and telecommunications services · Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework · open framework scheme (admission reopens)
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Bids received
- 3 bids on the busiest of 2 lots · 4 suppliers appointed
- Framework period
- 8 yrs from 1 Feb 2026
- Scheme runs until
- 4 Jun 2034
Published description of the framework
Once the Framework is established, the Authority intends to award a series of call-off contracts (following individual competitive selection processes), that will provide grant funding to telecoms suppliers to cover the "gap" in costs that are required to deliver superfast connections to communities / premises in Wales that would not otherwise be served by commercial operators under normal market conditions, due to the high infrastructure cost of building connections to those "hard to reach" communities / premises.
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · all with a published value · same conditions of participation on every lot · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Installation of broadband network infrastructure to 1,000 premises and overAwardedPublished value£60,000,000
Lot 1 will be for projects that require the installation of broadband network infrastructure to 1,000 premises and over
- Economic & financial standing
Please refer to the Invitation to Participate for further details.
- Technical & professional ability
Please refer to the Invitation to Participate for further details.
Lot #2Installation of broadband network infrastructure to under 1,000 premisesAwardedPublished value£10,000,000
Lot 2 – will be for projects that require the installation of broadband network infrastructure to under 1,000 premises.
- Economic & financial standing
Please refer to the Invitation to Participate for further details.
- Technical & professional ability
Please refer to the Invitation to Participate for further details.
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 (3)
- Technical - Quality: 50%
- Commercial: 40%
- Technical – Social Value/Sustainability: 10%
Published award criteria (3)
- Technical - Quality: Please refer to the Invitation to Participate for further details.
- Technical – Social Value/Sustainability: Please refer to the Invitation to Participate for further details.
- Commercial: Please refer to the Invitation to Participate for further details.
- Economic & financial standing
Please refer to the Invitation to Participate for further details.
- Technical & professional ability
Please refer to the Invitation to Participate for further details.
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Extending High Speed Broadband Framework Agreement” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Administrative change
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Open framework scheme
- Who may use the vehicle
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA, CPTPP)
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 1 Feb 2028
- First published
- 25 Apr 2025, 16:09 BST
- Last source update
- 20 Aug 2026, 15:29 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 20 Jan 2026
- Authority reference
C118/2024/2025- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-063081- Latest notice
- Contract change notice (UK10)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0507e1Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 26 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 5 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en, cy
This procurement process is being conducted electronically on the e-tendering portal eTenderwales ("Portal"). The Portal can be accessed via the following link:
etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/home.html ↗
The first person from your organisation to use the Portal will be required to register on behalf of your organisation ("Organisation").
Registration involves accepting a User Agreement, and providing basic information about your Organisation and about the user ("User") performing the registration ("Registration").
The User who performs the Registration becomes the "Super User" for the Organisation.
On registering on the Portal the Super User will be required to select a username and will receive a password.
The password will be sent by e-mail to the email address that was specified in the User Details section of the Registration page.
In order to log in to the Portal please you will need to enter your username and password.
Note: If you forget your password then please visit the homepage and click "Forgot your password?"
Registration should only be performed once for each Organisation.
If you think that someone in your Organisation may have already registered on the Portal then you must not register again.
Please contact the person who Registered (i.e. the Super User) in order to arrange access to the Portal.
Contact the Helpdesk via the Portal immediately if you are unable to contact the Super User (for example if they have left your Organisation).
Note: If your Organisation is already registered on the Portal then you must not make any additional registration. Please contact the Helpdesk to gain access to the Portal.
How to locate the Invitation to Participate in the Framework ("ITP") on the Portal:
Once logged in you must click on "ITP’s Open to all Suppliers"
The etender references for this procurement are:
Project 59871. The Qualification envelope for both lots can be found under ITT 118529. The Technical and Commercial envelopes for Lot 1 can be found under ITT 118526. The Technical and Commercial envelopes for Lot 2 can be found under ITT 118527.
Click on the title to access summary details of the contract. If you are still interested in submitting a tender, click the "Express an Interest button". This will move the ITP from the "Open to all Suppliers" area to the "My ITP’s" on the home page.
You will then see the full details of the ITP in the qualification, technical and commercial envelopes along with any relevant documents in the "Attachments" area.
Should you have any questions in relation to the ITP, please use the "Messages" area within the Portal to contact the Authority directly – Please do not contact the named person set out in this notice.
Timeline
25 Apr 2025 → 20 Aug 2026 · 11 dates- Planning notice published25 Apr 2025, 16:09 BST
- Market engagement5 May 2025, 23:59 BST
To express an interest in this market engagement exercise, interested organisations should e-mail [email protected] by 17:00 on 5th May 2025.
Once the deadline to express an interest (as set out above) has passed, participating organisations will be sent a copy of the draft contract via email and be invited to submit written feedback on the draft contract. Participating organisations will then have seven days in which to provide their feedback to the Welsh Government. The format for this market engagement exercise will be consistent for each participating organisation.
Participation in this market engagement exercise is not a requirement for future progress in the procurement process and details of the outcome from the exercise will be made clear in the associated tender documents related to the opportunity, once these documents are published.
- Next notice expected28 May 2025, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published373 days ago8 Oct 2025, 08:29 BST
- Clarification questions by345 days ago5 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Admission / appointment period ends324 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown26 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by268 days ago20 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract starts257 days ago1 Feb 2026
- Assessment summaries sent203 days ago27 Mar 2026
- Standstill ends189 days ago9 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Latest notice published57 days ago20 Aug 2026, 15:29 BST
Notice history
11 events · 5 releases on Find a Tender · since 25 Apr 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published25 Apr 2025, 16:09 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published8 Oct 2025, 08:29 BSTUK4
- Status changed to active8 Oct 2025, 08:29 BST
- Procurement method changed8 Oct 2025, 08:29 BST
- Deadline published: 26 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT8 Oct 2025, 08:29 BST
- Contract award notice published27 Mar 2026, 16:12 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete27 Mar 2026, 16:12 GMT
- Contract signature expected15 Apr 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published11 Jun 2026, 15:37 BSTUK7
- Contract change notice published20 Aug 2026, 15:29 BSTUK10
- Contract change proposed2 Sept 2026, 23:59 BSTThe Welsh Government (the "Authority") has established a Framework (the “Framework”) to deliver the Extending High Speed Broadband project (the "Project"), with framework contracts having been awarded to suppliers that successfully applied for admission to the Framework, as set out in the Contract Details Notice published by the Authority on 11 June 2026. The Authority is issuing this Contract Change Notice due to an unforeseen administrative error that has been identified by the Authority, which incorrectly omitted BB4W Ltd from the list of suppliers that were successfully admitted to Lot 2 (Installation of broadband network infrastructure to under 1,000 premises) of the Framework. As such, this Contract Change Notice confirms that the Authority intends to amend the Framework to include BB4W Ltd as an admitted supplier under Lot 2 of the Framework. For the avoidance of any doubt, the standstill period that is described in this Contract Change Notice only applies in respect of the proposed award of a Framework Contract to BB4W Ltd. The relevant standstill period has been completed, and Framework Contracts have been awarded, in respect of all other suppliers previously confirmed as having been admitted to both Lots of the Framework, as set out in the Authority's Contract Details Notice published on 11 June 2026. With the exception of the above information relating to the admission of BB4W Ltd to Lot 2, all of the information set out in the Authority's Contract Award Notice dated 27 March 2026 and Contract Details Notice dated 11 June 2026 remains valid.
Routine re-releases (5)
- 2025-10: 1 release · 8 Oct 2025
- 2025-04: 1 release · 25 Apr 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · Installation of broadband network infrastructure to 1,000 premises and over1 award | |||
| Airband Community Internet LtdSME, British Telecommunications Plc, FIBRUS LTD15 Apr 2026 – 14 Apr 2028 · up to 14 Apr 2029Extensions: Framework one in the scheme of this Open Framework is for a term of 2 years with an option to extend by up to one additional year. The indicative term of each subsequent framework in the scheme of this Open Framework is: • Framework two – three years (with an option to extend Framework two by up to one year); and • Framework three – three years (subject to any optional extensions that the Authority may implement for Framework one or Framework two). | £60,000,000 | 27 Mar 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 2 · Installation of broadband network infrastructure to under 1,000 premises1 award | |||
| Airband Community Internet LtdSME, FIBRUS LTD, Wifinity LtdSME15 Apr 2026 – 14 Apr 2028 · up to 14 Apr 2029Extensions: Framework one in the scheme of this Open Framework is for a term of 2 years with an option to extend by up to one additional year. The indicative term of each subsequent framework in the scheme of this Open Framework is: • Framework two – three years (with an option to extend Framework two by up to one year); and • Framework three – three years (subject to any optional extensions that the Authority may implement for Framework one or Framework two). | £10,000,000 | 27 Mar 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
Lot 1. Installation of broadband network infrastructure to 1,000 premises and over · Airband Community Internet LtdSME, British Telecommunications Plc, FIBRUS LTD
- Signed
- 5 Jun 2026
- Value
- £60,000,000
- Period
- 5 Jun 2026 – 5 Jun 2028 · up to 5 Jun 2029 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- Framework one in the scheme of this Open Framework is for a term of 2 years with an option to extend by up to one additional year. The indicative term of each subsequent framework in the scheme of this Open Framework is: • Framework two – three years (with an option to extend Framework two by up to one year); and • Framework three – three years (subject to any optional extensions that the Authority may implement for Framework one or Framework two).
Lot 2. Installation of broadband network infrastructure to under 1,000 premises · Airband Community Internet LtdSME, FIBRUS LTD, Wifinity LtdSME
- Signed
- 5 Jun 2026
- Value
- £10,000,000
- Period
- 5 Jun 2026 – 5 Jun 2028 · up to 5 Jun 2029 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- Framework one in the scheme of this Open Framework is for a term of 2 years with an option to extend by up to one additional year. The indicative term of each subsequent framework in the scheme of this Open Framework is: • Framework two – three years (with an option to extend Framework two by up to one year); and • Framework three – three years (subject to any optional extensions that the Authority may implement for Framework one or Framework two).
- Change proposed 2 Sept 2026 The Welsh Government (the "Authority") has established a Framework (the “Framework”) to deliver the Extending High Speed Broadband project (the "Project"), with framework contracts having been awarded to suppliers that successfully applied for admission to the Framework, as set out in the Contract Details Notice published by the Authority on 11 June 2026. The Authority is issuing this Contract Change Notice due to an unforeseen administrative error that has been identified by the Authority, which incorrectly omitted BB4W Ltd from the list of suppliers that were successfully admitted to Lot 2 (Installation of broadband network infrastructure to under 1,000 premises) of the Framework. As such, this Contract Change Notice confirms that the Authority intends to amend the Framework to include BB4W Ltd as an admitted supplier under Lot 2 of the Framework. For the avoidance of any doubt, the standstill period that is described in this Contract Change Notice only applies in respect of the proposed award of a Framework Contract to BB4W Ltd. The relevant standstill period has been completed, and Framework Contracts have been awarded, in respect of all other suppliers previously confirmed as having been admitted to both Lots of the Framework, as set out in the Authority's Contract Details Notice published on 11 June 2026. With the exception of the above information relating to the admission of BB4W Ltd to Lot 2, all of the information set out in the Authority's Contract Award Notice dated 27 March 2026 and Contract Details Notice dated 11 June 2026 remains valid., new value £10,000,001 · standstill applies
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Installation of broadband network infrastructure to 1,000 premises and over | 3final-stage tenders · 6 at stage one | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2 · Installation of broadband network infrastructure to under 1,000 premises | 3final-stage tenders · 7 at stage one | 2 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
4 commercial parties on the notice- Airband Community Internet LtdFramework contractor
- Fibrus LtdFramework contractor
- OpenreachFramework contractor
- Wifinity LtdFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (7)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract change notice Contract change notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender