Network Services 3

All UK public sector organisations can access network solutions, communication services, connectivity to cloud-based data and applications, audio and video conferencing, radio and satellite networking, and emerging technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Cities.

Updates

15/08/2025: Update post Procurement Act 2023: The RM6116 Network Services 3 framework was let under public contracts regulations (PCR) 2015, and these regulations will continue to apply for the duration of the agreement. The two award routes outlined in the buyer guide and in RM6116 Framework Schedule 7: Call-off award procedure (further competition and direct award) will remain available for the duration of RM6116, even though the Procurement Act 2023 regulations are now live.

12/03/2025: Agreement extension, this framework has been extended for 24 months. The new end date can be found on the right hand side of this page in the key facts section. For Lots 1c and 1d, the new end date is shown in the ‘Products and suppliers’ tab below.

19/09/2024: If you are looking to buy connectivity services within the scope of lot 1a and/or lot 2a, we have produced a new template and guidance video to help you to define your connectivity requirements. Please follow this link to access the new guidance video

20/09/2023: If you are looking for mobile voice and data services, please note this is no longer part of the Network Services framework. Please follow this link to access the new RM6261 Mobile Voice and Data Services Framework.

28/07/2023: Watch our pre-recorded customer webinar. The webinar provides:

  • a framework overview of Network Services 3
  • an outline of the buying process including direct award and further competition
  • details about terms and conditions and service offers

Description

Services which are available through this agreement include (but are not limited to):

  • core network infrastructure, including services and equipment needed for network access
    • both for traditional core network infrastructure needs, as well as public internet connectivity solutions 
  • local area network including products and services facilitating connectivity within the customers location
  • fibre optic cabling
  • 5G network
  • internet access
  • unified communications: application or platform that provides multiple communication methods including voice, video and data services
  • Internet Protocol (IP) Telephony enables voice calls over the internet
  • cloud services
  • audio and video conferencing (collaboration solutions)
  • satellite networking
  • maintenance and support services
  • contact centre services
  • security and surveillance
  • professional services required to design, build (install) and deliver (manage) network solutions

The agreement now also enables customers to buy a new range of ‘emerging technologies’ with the introduction of:

  • IoT (Internet of Things) and Smart Technologies (smart, shared and connected spaces)
  • tactical radio products and services
  • critical domain services: the services needed to register, maintain and manage domain names
  • communication platform as a service

The range of products and services enables customers to engage market leading suppliers in developing fully integrated communication solutions. 

This means you will be able to buy managed solutions from a supplier as well as individual component parts as you consider modernising, optimising and rationalising your connectivity and network needs within the modern hybrid workspace. 

The agreement length will be in the following format 2+1+1. This means the agreement will run for 2 years and you will have the option of 2, 12 month extensions. 

Find the contract notice for this agreement on contracts finder.

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

Carbon Reduction

All suppliers have committed to comply with Procurement Policy Note 006, 'Taking account of Carbon Reduction Plans in the procurement of major government contracts' as required. If a supplier is required to publish a carbon reduction plan, you can find it on their individual supplier details page.

Products and suppliers

There are 134 suppliers on this agreement

Lot 1a: Inter Site Connectivity (Wider Area Network) / Data Access Services
Access to connectivity services, enabling Site-to-Site or Site-to-cloud interconnectivity.
  • terrestrial, fibre, wireless and satellite solutions, 5G, 6G
  • data networking equipment
  • software defined WAN, Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
  • internet service providers and internet services and gateways
  • broadband routing and performance monitoring solutions
  • e-mail and website services as part of ISP service
  • professional services: design, build and deliver network connectivity solutions

Expires:

45 suppliers

Lot 1b: Commercial Radio Capabilities
Access to voice communication solution utilising ultra/very high frequency, mobile radio and two-way transceiver, point to point and/or point to multipoint, secure radio and support equipment.
  • design, survey, build, management, support and maintenance services
  • mobile radio and two-way transceiver
  • point to point and/or point to multipoint
  • supply, installation and, maintenance

Expires:

14 suppliers

Lot 1c: Tactical Radio Systems
Access to tactical radio communications systems, utilising line of sight, C, S and L band, ultra-high frequency and very high frequency. Including personal, manpack and platform radio systems.
  • design, survey, build, management, support and maintenance services
  • supply of radio system assembly
  • supply of supporting ancillary equipment, including but not limited to cable assembly for interfacing to any proprietary interfaces (power, data and audio)
  • system verification, acceptance, test and evaluation

Expires:

11 suppliers

Lot 1d: Critical Domain Services
Access to domain registry services to operate and manage Nationally Critical Public Sector Domains.
  • critical registry functions, as specified by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)
  • critical registry functions with enhanced resilience and availability
  • 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)
Access to solutions related to smart technologies, also referred to as “smart shared and connected spaces”, and Internet of Things. Applications including but not limited to:
  • smart buildings, water and waste management, crime prevention, education, smart street lighting, air and noise pollution monitoring
  • design, survey, build, management, support and maintenance services
  • vendor agnostic solution design
  • “Edge” sensor technologies, connectivity, data analytics platforms and visualisation applications
  • all forms of WAN connectivity between sensors in the field and cloud-based or “on-premise” data management platforms
  • infrastructure monitoring, preventative maintenance, and break-fix activities
  • data security and 3rd party integration into overall solution designs
  • image recognition applications, alarms and security monitoring, CCTV as a service

Expires:

26 suppliers

Lot 3b: Communication Platform as a Service
Access to software and hardware integration services to allow your applications to be interfaced to the communications suite with API’s (Application Programming Interface).
  • design, build, test and deployment delivery and management, plus support and maintenance services
  • API development from communications suite to external omni-channel applications

Expires:

15 suppliers

Lot 4a: Analogue Telephony
Access to analogue voice, previously known as traditional telephony. Connecting analogue telephony equipment with the public switched telephone network including voice connectivity, voice call packages, SIP (Session initiation protocol) trunks, DDI (Direct dialling in) number ranges.
  • design, survey, build, management, support and maintenance services including  transformation to IP telephony and equipment adaptation
  • adaptor/ convertor for internet protocol connection
  • voice call packages (including voice minutes, volume packages)
  • direct dial in (DDI) ranges
  • end user devices

Expires:

24 suppliers

Lot 4b: Digital Communication Services (Unified Communications)
Access to digital communications services. Including but not limited to:
  • IP telephony, unified communications, collaborative software application including audio and video conferencing and business enablement application software
  • design, survey, build, management, support and maintenance services including transformation support for the replacement and upgrade from analogue to digital estates
  • Internet Protocol (IP) telephony services with the ability to make and receive multimedia messaging over an IP based network service
  • consistent user interface for voice, video and data services allowing the full integration of these services within a single user device
  • audio and video conferencing capability within a UC suite or as a standalone service

Expires:

66 suppliers

Lot 4c: Contact Centre Solutions
Access to inbound and/or outbound contact centre management including automation and queuing to multiple answering points.
  • design, survey, build, test and deployment delivery and management, plus support and maintenance services
  • supply/support of equipment, commodity and managed services
  • omnichannel customer experience platforms

Expires:

53 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
Access to paging and alerting services with the ability to provide and users receive, a tone, numeric or word based alert.
  • design, survey, build, management, support and maintenance services
  • bureau services
  • local and/or national and/or international coverage

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