IT Managed Services Contract

NIE Networks is the electricity Distribution Network Operator (DNO) and transmission network owner in Northern Ireland. NIE Networks will shortly be undertaking a tender process (in accordance with the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 (as amended)) to procure an IT Managed Services Contract (Contract), which Contract it is anticipated will commence on 1 April 2026. It is currently anticipated that the Contract will include any or all of the following services: service management; infrastructure management services; business continuity and disaster recovery services; data centre hosting; end user compute; cyber security services; mobile device management services; printing services; LAN and WAN services; desktop voice services; contact centre services; application resource augmentation; ICT project delivery services; and supplier invoice processing. Current estimated value is in the region of £150 - £200M

Before commencing that tender process, NIE Networks intends to undertake a pre-market engagement (PME) exercise to inform the market about the scope of the Contract and seek input from potential bidders which will be used to inform the process. The purpose of this notice then is to invite interested parties to express and register their interest in attending a PME briefing event, which will be held online, via Zoom on 9 August. At this PME briefing event, NIE Networks will provide interested parties with an overview of its requirements, objectives, proposed approach to the forthcoming procurement and anticipated timelines.

Interested parties should register their interest and attendance via eSourcingNI (as below) by 5.00pm on 6 August 2024 providing the name(s) and contact email addresses of who will attend. Attendance shall be limited to a maximum of 2 attendees per organization. Registration for the PME briefing event shall only be through eSourcingNI and must be received by NIE Networks on or before 5.00pm on 6 August 2024.

Project pqq_4549 has been created on eSourcingNI where parties can register their interest to attend the session via the secure messaging function.

The PME briefing event shall consist of a presentation by NIE Networks with an opportunity afterwards for interested parties to raise clarification questions. Interested parties should note that any questions regarding the content of the PME briefing event or procurement process raised in advance of the PME briefing event through eSourcingNI will not be responded to by NIE Networks.