Official UK procurement notice
Satellite Connectivity Services for Programme Contribution
Authority: The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThe BBC owns and operates an extensive fleet of technical vehicles that are used predominantly for news content contribution from the field. They provide both a means of moving content (either live video/audio & file transfer) back to BBC production centres and internet access for editorial and technical staff on location should cellular connectivity be constrained or unavailable.
The fleet services a broad range of BBC output ranging from, but not limited to digital platforms and products, local radio programming, national bulletins, domestic & international news channels and language services.
The technical vehicles fall into the following categories:
- VERV (Video Enabled Reporter Vehicle) - Small size vehicle, reporter operated, IP based system architecture, fully automated satellite acquisition, currently serviced via the Eutelsat Ka band High Throughput Satellite platform
- IP VSAT (Internet Protocol Very Small Aperture Terminal) – Intermediate size vehicle, typically operated by a camera crew, IP based system architecture, fully automated satellite acquisition, currently serviced by BBC owned VSAT hub and operated on existing leased Ku space segment.
- DSNG (Digital Satellite News Gathering) – Large vehicle size, typically operated by an engineer, IP & SDI system architecture, automated satellite acquisition though can be manually driven, equipped with traditional video encoders and modulators with the addition of a VSAT modem within the RF chain.
In addition to the vehicle fleet the BBC owns and operates a network of fixed earth stations and control rooms around the UK, these facilities are used to conduct pre transmission line up procedures, transponder monitoring & control, fault escalation & resolution and transponder frequency planning.
The BBC seeks to procure satellite connectivity services for programme contribution to enable the provision of live and field reporting services to audiences across Network, Nations, Regions, and World Service News Programmes.
The requirement is broken into 2 lots:
- Lot 1 - Ku band satellite connectivity services
- Lot 2 - Ka band satellite connectivity services
CPV: Satellite circuit rental services
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · all with a published value (£5,000,000 together)Lot #1Ku band satellite connectivity servicesAwardedRenewalPublished value£4,500,000
The requirement comprises Ku band space segment (only) which will be used by BBC departments for the contribution delivery of live TV services using DVB SCPC and self-managed IP VSAT, from various fixed and mobile uplinks. There are regular requirements from the UK, Europe and Middle East for news contribution, sport and special events to domestic and world service channels. The BBC will undertake the up-linking and down-linking, using existing ground-based equipment, manage the capacity sharing between departments on the dedicated leases, and arrange the booking of the supplementary occasional use capacity
Lot #2Ka band satellite connectivity servicesAwardedRenewalPublished value£500,000
Hosted upon the Eutelsat Broadband Ka platform this provides remote reporters with a data connection for audio contribution and/or data for production and communications.
There are currently 50 Ka enabled Satellite vehicles that provide the backbone of regional radio links across the whole of England from Cumbria, to Newcastle though to Cornwall and Kent.
The reporter vehicle, known as the VERV (VSAT Enabled Reporter Vehicle) is equipped with a satellite connection, currently this is an auto deploy 77cm Viasat/Eutelsat Broadband enabled KA only satellite link.
A cellular connection supplements this to allow for a mix of locations from within City/Town centres all the way through to rural and remote locations. The introduction of satellite services has improved the editorial reach of stations along with providing a resilient service in times of need such as flooding and disruptions to power supplies.
They are aimed to deliver connectivity for live audio contributions and also enable IP data connectivity for the reporter on location. The BBC also uses the data services to monitor the various connectivity routes.
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).
- Suitability
Where there is more than one economic operator, the BBC reserves the right to require a grouping of economic operators to take a particular legal form or to require a single economic operator to take primary liability or to require that each party undertakes joint and several liability.
Please register your interest in this project by taking the following steps: 1 - Register your company on the Jaggaer eSourcing portal (this is only required once): 1.1 Go to bbc.bravosolution.co.uk ↗ 1.2 - Click the link on the login page to register. 1.3 Accept the terms and conditions and click 'Continue'. 1.4 - Enter your correct business and user details. 1.5 - Note the username you chose and click 'Save' when complete. 1.6 - You will shortly receive an email with your temporary password. 2 - Express an interest in the tender: 2.1 - Login to the portal with the username/password. 2.2 - Click the 'PQQs/ITTs Open to all Suppliers' link. (These are Pre-Qualification Questionnaires or Invitations to Tender open to any registered supplier). 2.3 - Click on the relevant PQQ/ITT to access the content. 2.4 - Click the 'Express Interest' button at the top of the page. This will move the PQQ/ITT into your 'My PQQs/My ITTs page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only. 2.5 - You can now access any attachments by clicking 'Buyer Attachments' in the 'PQQ/ITT Details' box. 3. Responding to the tender: 3.1 - Click 'My Response' under PQQ/ITT Details', you can choose to 'Create Respon…
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 20 Feb 2023, 16:05 GMT
- Last source update
- 24 Aug 2023, 09:44 BST
- Award evaluation window
- 22 Mar 2023 – …
- Authority reference
PROC 2022 86- FTS notice number
2023/S 000-024889- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-03a6f7Find a Tender
- Electronic trading
- e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment
- Review procedure
As stated in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The applicable review time limits shall be as stated in Regulations 92 and 93 Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
Publisher note: In the case of technology requirements, the BBC may involve its technology partner (Atos IT Solutions and Services Limited) to assist in the scoping and drafting of invitations to tender and/or the evaluation of tenders. However, the final decision as to which is the most economically advantageous (by reference to the award criteria) will be made by the BBC. The awarding authority reserves the right not to award a contract and to annul the procurement process at any stage. Tenders and all supporting documents must be priced in sterling and all payments will be made in sterling. The contract shall be subject to English law. The awarding authority does not bind itself to accept the lowest, or any tender and reserves the right to accept part of a tender unless the tenderer expressly stipulates otherwise in the tender document.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 22 Mar 2023, 13:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission","written"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bid validity
- 120 days from the deadline
- Bids opened
- 22 Mar 2023, 13:00 GMT
Timeline
22 Mar 2023 → 24 Aug 2023 · 3 dates- Submission deadline22 Mar 2023, 13:00 GMT
- Bids opened22 Mar 2023, 13:00 GMT
- Notice published24 Aug 2023, 09:44 BST
Notice history
1 event · 2 releases on Find a Tender- Status changed to complete24 Aug 2023, 09:44 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · Ku band satellite connectivity services1 award | |||
| Globecast UK Limited | £5,032,051 † | — | Awarded |
| Lot 2 · Ka band satellite connectivity services1 award | |||
| Network Innovations Solutions LtdSME | £149,755 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Lot 2 - Ka band satellite connectivity services · Network Innovations Solutions LtdSME
- Signed
- 1 Aug 2023
- Value
- £149,755
- Status
- active
Lot 1 - Ku band satellite connectivity services · Globecast UK Limited
- Signed
- 1 Jul 2023
- Value
- £5,032,051
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Ku band satellite connectivity services | 1bids · 1 electronic | — | — | — |
| 2 · Ka band satellite connectivity services | 1bids · 1 electronic | — | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Business and Property Courts of England and WalesReview body
Bidders & participating suppliers
2 commercial parties on the notice- Globecast UK LimitedAwarded supplier
- Network Innovations Solutions LtdAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Economic and financial selection criteria
- Technical selection criteria