Network Services 3

UK public sector organisations can access network solutions and communication services. This includes cloud connectivity, audio and video conferencing, radio and satellite networking, and emerging technologies like Smart Cities.

Updates

15/08/2025: This framework was set up under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. These rules still apply for the full agreement. Both buying methods (further competition and direct award) remain available, even though the Procurement Act 2023 is now in effect.

12/03/2025: We have extended the length of this agreement by 24 months. The new end date is 17 July 2027. The new end date for lots 1c and 1d is 22 May 2027.

19/09/2024: Buying connectivity services under lot 1a or 2a? We have a new template and guidance video to help define your requirements:

20/09/2023: Mobile voice and data services are no longer part of this framework. Use the new RM6261 Mobile Voice and Data Services Framework instead.

28/07/2023: Watch our RM6116 customer webinar. It provides information on:

  • framework overview
  • buying process (direct award and further competition)
  • terms and conditions and service offers

Description

Provides you with the flexibility to update, improve or simplify your network systems. Services and products you can buy include:

  • routers, switches and cables: equipment which allows network access
  • local area networks: equipment which allows connectivity within your organisation’s premises
  • internet access and fibre optic cabling
  • 5G networks
  • Internet Protocol (IP) telephony: voice calls over the internet
  • cloud services:  internet-based computing such as servers, storage and databases
  • collaboration solutions: audio and video conferencing
  • unified communications: platforms or applications that combine communication methods including voice, video and data services
  • satellite networking: wireless communication that uses satellites to send data and provide internet connectivity
  • maintenance and support services
  • contact centre services: software that connects many communication channels such as voice, email, chat and social media into a single unified system
  • security and surveillance
  • professional services: design, install and manage network solutions

Emerging technologies

The agreement also includes access to newer technologies:

  • Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Technologies (smart, shared, connected spaces)
  • tactical radio services (secure communication systems in high-risk unpredictable environments)
  • critical domain services (register and manage domain names)
  • communication platform as a service (embed real-time communication features into your own systems)

You can buy complete managed solutions from a single supplier. Or you can buy individual parts as needed. This helps you modernise, optimise, and simplify your network for hybrid working.

Agreement length

Network services 3 will run for 2 years, with 2 optional 12-month extensions (2+1+1 format).

Benefits

  • provides a complete range of network services from network infrastructure to fully integrated communication suites
  • introduces emerging technologies that reflect changes in the marketplace and future consumption of network solutions
  • supports the government’s “cloud first” initiatives aimed at enabling public internet connectivity solutions, and migration off the Public Sector Network (PSN)
  • attracts solution providers, service integrators and managed service providers who can remove the complexity of design from the end-user, and design, build and deliver solutions that provide cost and network optimisation 
  • providing a WAN/LAN RFQ template to enable more “further competition” on public internet connectivity solutions and ultimately provide customers with better value for money 
  • enabling direct awards on all Lots for commoditised procurements
  • enabling cross-lot competitions where managed services span across more than one capability

Products and suppliers

There are 133 suppliers on this agreement

Lot 1a: Inter Site Connectivity (Wider Area Network) / Data Access Services
Connectivity services that link your sites together or connect your sites to the cloud. This includes:
  • terrestrial, fibre, wireless and satellite solutions 
  • 5G and 6G networks
  • data networking equipment
  • software defined WAN, Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
  • internet service provider,services and gateways
  • broadband routing and performance monitoring 
  • email and website services from internet providers
  • professional services to design, build and manage network connections

Expires:

45 suppliers

Lot 1b: Commercial Radio Capabilities
Voice communication systems using ultra/very high frequency radio technology. This includes but is not limited to: 
  • design, survey, build and installation services
  • secure radio and support equipment
  • mobile radio and two-way transceivers
  • point-to-point and point-to-multipoint connections
  • management, support and maintenance services

Expires:

14 suppliers

Lot 1c: Tactical Radio Systems
Tactical radio communication systems for use in demanding environments. This includes:
  • personal, manpack and platform radio systems
  • tactical radio communications systems using line of sight, C, S and L band, ultra-high frequency and very high frequency options
  • design, survey, build and installation services
  • management, support and maintenance services
  • supply of radio system assembly
  • supply of supporting (ancillary) equipment such as cables for power, data and audio connections
  • cable assembly for interfacing to any proprietary systems
  • system verification, acceptance, test and evaluation

Expires:

11 suppliers

Lot 1d: Critical Domain Services
Services to operate and manage nationally critical public sector domain names. This includes:
  • critical domain registry functions, that meet ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) standards
  • enhanced resilience and availability for critical domains
  • functions to support the full management and governance of a nationally critical public sector domain

Expires:

2 suppliers

Lot 2a: Intra Site Connectivity (Local Area Network) / Local Connectivity Services
Access to single site connectivity services, including but not limited to; local area networks (LAN) enabling interconnectivity.
  • design, survey, build, management, support and maintenance services
  • wired and/or wireless solutions
  • local area network (LAN) equipment and/or cabling and/or storage area network (SAN) equipment
  • LAN power solution and managed equipment room
  • local infrastructure audit and/or testing services (such as asset management tools)

Expires:

61 suppliers

Lot 3a: IoT and Smart Cities (Smart shared and connected spaces)
Lot 3a: IoT and Smart Cities (Smart shared and connected spaces) Smart technology and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for connected spaces. This includes (but is not limited to):: 
  • smart buildings, street lighting and water and waste management
  • air and noise pollution monitoring
  • crime prevention and education technology
  • design, survey, build and installation services
  • management, support and maintenance services
  • vendor agnostic solution design
  • ‘edge’ sensor technologies, connectivity and data analytics platforms
  • all forms of WAN connectivity between sensors in the field and cloud-based or “on-premise” data management platforms
  • infrastructure monitoring and maintenance and break/fix activities
  • data security and integration with other systems (including 3rd party integration) that form part of overall solution designs
  • image recognition, alarms, security monitoring and CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) as a service

Expires:

25 suppliers

Lot 3b: Communication Platform as a Service
Software and hardware integration services to connect applications to your communications systems using Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). This includes:
  • design, build, testing and deployment services
  • management, support and maintenance services
  • API development to link your communications systems with external omni-channel applications

Expires:

15 suppliers

Lot 4a: Analogue Telephony
Analogue voice services, also known as traditional telephony, This connects your phone equipment to the public switched telephone network. Services include:
  • voice connectivity and voice call packages, including minutes and volume bundles
  • Sessions Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunks
  • design, survey, build and installation services
  • support to move from analogue to IP telephony
  • management, support and maintenance services
  • adaptors and convertors for internet protocol connections
  • direct dial in (DDI) number ranges
  • end user devices

Expires:

24 suppliers

Lot 4b: Digital Communication Services (Unified Communications)
Digital communications services, which includes (but is not limited to)::
  • Internet Protocol (IP) telephony and unified communications
  • collaborative software application and business applications (including audio and video conferencing) 
  • design, build, management, and maintenance services
  • transformation support for the replacement and upgrade from analogue to digital estates
  • multimedia messaging (make and receive calls) over IP networks
  • consistent single user interface for voice, video, and data
  • audio and video conferencing (standalone or integrated)

Expires:

65 suppliers

Lot 4c: Contact Centre Solutions
Inbound and outbound contact centre management including: automation and queuing to multiple answering points.
  • automated call handling and queue management (to multiple answering points)
  • design, build, test, and deployment
  • equipment supply and managed support  
services
  • delivery and management
  • omnichannel customer experience platforms
  • ongoing support and maintenance

Expires:

52 suppliers

Lot 4d: Inbound Telephony Services
Access to telephone numbers for inbound call delivery. Including but not limited to; inbound call management services, non-geographic numbers.
  • inbound call management services for contact centre functionality,
  • the ability to provide you with a non-geographic number; and deliver all calls to that number to your nominated location

Expires:

23 suppliers

Lot 4e: Paging & Alerting
Alert and paging services for end users including:
  • tone, numeric, or text-based alerts
  • design, survey, build, management, support and maintenance services
  • bureau services
  • local, national, and international coverage options

Expires:

12 suppliers

How to buy

There are 3 ways to buy from this agreement. These are direct award from a catalogue, further competition, or aggregation.

Direct award 

  • available on all lots and suitable for straightforward, commoditised requirements
  • supplier offers are shown in the government marketplace
    • if you currently use e-Marketplace you should already be able to access the catalogue

Further competition

  • use for all your requirements
  • can be used when you require services or products from multiple lots 
  • should be used when you need suppliers to develop proposals or solutions to meet your statement of requirements
  • further competition helps you to amend or refine a wider range of the template call-off terms and conditions, giving you more flexibility when defining your statement of requirements

Aggregation

  • we use our complementary aggregation service to bring together customers with similar requirements
  • we leverage the volume to create greater commercial benefits for customers
  • we manage the procurement process from start to finish
  • case studies on successful aggregations are available to download below

Email the team for more information. 

For a more detailed step-by-step process on how to run a direct award or further competition, download the buyer guide in the documents section below.

Documents