CCS readies Network Services 2 for November tender

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) is understood to be aiming at publishing a tender in November for the successor framework to Network Services, which expires in July 2019.Awards being made to the Network Services 2 framework are likely to be made in an April-May 2019 timeframe. Working backwards, it is predicted an OJEU will emerge in the first couple of weeks of November, with suppliers likely to have to gear themselves up to respond to the tender before Christmas.It is understood there will be 13 lots on the framework, ranging from WAN and LAN for the early lots, through an array of voice options, and then paging, videoconferencing and integrated communications lots. There will also be security and surveillance, radio services and call-centre services lots, it is understood. Consideration was given to including all the flavours of voice – including inbound voice and IP voice –in one lot, but that was eventually ruled out.The framework is expected to be friendly for small to medium-sized enterprises (SME) with an increased number of suppliers earmarked for each lot. It is understood that the number of suppliers may be up to 35 for some lots. The framework term is expected to be for ‘3 +1’ years, with the call off contract likely to be up to ten years, variable by lot.The final details of the tender have yet to be confirmed, with, it is understood, some discussions still needing to take place over terms and conditions.