GMCA 267a GM One Network

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), on behalf of partner authorities across Greater Manchester, invites suitably capable suppliers and / or digital network integrators to attend a market engagement event. The GMCA is exploring options for design, implementation, management and maintenance of a network platform to initially light up to 2,700km of dark fibre connecting circa 1,200 public sector sites across the Greater Manchester Region, with potential to extend further and connect none full fibre sites. The aspiration is for the GM One Network Platform to become the network of choice for services in Greater Manchester region. If it is agreed to progress this initiative, GM One Network will provide partner authorities with the following key components, based on network-as-a-service consumption principles: • A secure, software defined, network for each partnering organisation, within the overall next-generation integrated network. • High speed resilient access to the Internet and ‘Cloud’ services. • Secure interconnectivity between GM public sector organisations. • Single automation and orchestration layer with appropriate monitoring and management access for each partner organisation’s operations teams. Two Supplier Market Engagement Events for the provision of the GM One Network Platform in Greater Manchester will take place before the end of March 2021. Interested bidders should confirm their interest via the CHEST portal https://www.the-chest.org.uk/ by 17:00 on Wednesday 10th March 2021. The current dates are: Thursday 11th March – Supplier Event 1 Thursday 25th March – Supplier Event 2 Please note these are both subject to change The supplier events will be used to brief the market on the anticipated procurement and assist GMCA in preparing for a procurement exercise in 2021, should the business case be approved. The GMCA reserves the right not to proceed with a procurement exercise if a viable proposition is not identified.