Pipeline Framework: Overall Redesign and Implementation of Our Network (ORION) – Supplier Engagement Event

A pipeline has been launched for overall Redesign and Implementation of Our Network (ORION) – Supplier Engagement Event.The contract start Date is 1 April 2024. Approach to market date is 8 December 2023.** Please note this is not a call for competition*This is a Prior Information Notice (PIN) for an event for the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) (UK Research and Innovation) to provide details of a project to redesign our network.This project will consider a fresh design from the ground up, for all STFC sites across the Digital Infrastructure managed network architecture, cabling, switching, routing, and security. The redesigned architecture should take into account the needs of the next 5-10 years and be flexible enough to grow for years beyond that. Twelve years ago, there was a three-year budget to improve the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) network and many elements of the STFC network are based on 25-year-old design decisions. Over the past year we have gathered requirements from all departments and tenants that use our network. We should take into account modern network technologies and techniques, with security at the core of the new design. There is growing pressure from a number of departments for Digital Infrastructure to provide greater bandwidth for their business, while segregating workloads.The aim of the event is to:-Outline our plans-Help us understand the technologies available and finalise our tender documentation.-Provide interested parties with prior warning of an impending procurement.There will be 30 minute virtual follow up sessions to be organised over 2nd/3rd October for individual organisations that attended the supplier day.We would like to invite prospective bidders to attend a pre-market engagement event on Thursday 21st September at 09.30 am at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Didcot. The session will be led by: the Digital Infrastructure team from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (UK Research and Innovation) and UK Shared Business Services. Please see details in Additional Information on how to attend.The agenda for the 1/2 day is as follows:IntroductionOverview of STFCThe science we do?Network redesign requirements and High Level Architecture (HLA)Questions and AnswersProcurement overviewRefreshmentsSite TourThis is a potential opportunity from the government, and the pipeline gives advance notice of an opportunity that might be offered by the public sector in the future – allowing potential suppliers to plan accordingly. When a public sector organisation publishes a pipeline notice, it does not necessarily mean that an opportunity will be offered in the future.For more information contact: UK Shared Business Services Limited, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, SWINDON SN21UH. Tel: 01793 867000. Email: DDaTprocurement@uksbs.co.uk Website: www.uksbs.co.uk (Alan Bird)