Extending High Speed Broadband Framework Agreement

Procurement reference

C118/2024/2025

Procurement description

Procurement

The Welsh Government (the "Authority") is conducting a procurement to establish an open framework (the "Framework") to deliver the Extending High Speed Broadband ("EHSB") 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 Authority expects the Framework will have two lots. The first lot will be for projects that require the installation of broadband network infrastructure to 1,000 premises and over. The second lot will be for projects that require the installation of broadband network infrastructure to under 1,000 premises. Suppliers are permitted to apply for either or both lots.

The Authority expects the first Framework will commence early 2026 with the first call-off contract under the Framework being awarded shortly thereafter.

The estimated total value set out in this notice is in respect of all call-off contracts that may be awarded under the Framework. At this stage, 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 the Framework and any call-off contracts referred to in this notice are also estimates and for illustrative purposes only.

Main category

Services

Delivery regions

• UKL - Wales

Total value (estimated, excluding VAT)

70000000 GBP to 70000000GBP

Contract dates (estimated)

01 February 2026, 00:00AM to 30 January 2034, 23:59PM

Is a framework being established?

Yes

Is this an open framework scheme?

Yes

Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government

Procedure type

Open procedure

Is the total value above threshold?

Above threshold

Trade agreements

Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

Percentage fee charged to suppliers

0%

Type of framework

Closed

Open framework scheme end date (estimated)

31 January 2034, 23:59PM

Award method when using the framework

With reopening competition

Framework operation description

Please refer to the Invitation to Participate for further details.

Description

Lot 1 will be for projects that require the installation of broadband network infrastructure to 1,000 premises and over

CPV classifications

• 32000000 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment
• 51000000 - Installation services (except software)
• 64000000 - Postal and telecommunications services

Delivery regions

• UKL - Wales

Lot value (estimated)

60000000 GBP Excluding VAT

60000000 GBP Including VAT

Contract start date (estimated)

01 February 2026, 00:00AM

Contract end date (estimated)

30 January 2034, 23:59PM

Does the lot include options?

Yes

Description of options

The indicative term of each framework within the Open Framework will be as follows:

• Framework one – two years (with an option to extend Framework one by up to one year);

• 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).

Participation

Award criteria

Description

Lot 2 – will be for projects that require the installation of broadband network infrastructure to under 1,000 premises.

CPV classifications

• 32000000 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment
• 51000000 - Installation services (except software)
• 64000000 - Postal and telecommunications services

Delivery regions

• UKL - Wales

Lot value (estimated)

10000000 GBP Excluding VAT

10000000 GBP Including VAT

Sustainability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)

Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)

Contract start date (estimated)

01 February 2026, 00:00AM

Contract end date (estimated)

30 January 2034, 23:59PM

Does the lot include options?

Yes

Description of options

he indicative term of each framework within the Open Framework will be as follows:

• Framework one – two years (with an option to extend Framework one by up to one year);

• 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).

Participation

Award criteria

Tender submission deadline

26 November 2025, 12:00PM

Enquiry deadline

05 November 2025, 12:00PM

Date of award of contract

20 January 2026, 23:59PM

Submission address and any special instructions

This procurement process is being conducted electronically on the e-tendering portal eTenderwales ("Portal"). The Portal can be accessed via the following link:https://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.

May tenders be submitted electronically?

Yes

Is this a recurring procurement?

No

Publication date of next tender notice (estimated)

01 February 2028, 23:59PM

Languages that may be used for submission

• English
• Welsh