Public Sector Broadband Aggregation (PSBA) 3

The Welsh Government is preparing to procure a service integrator to deliver the next generation Public Sector Broadband Aggregation service, PSBA 3.0, which will provide a modern, secure, resilient, and futureproof national network covering over 120 public sector organisations and almost 5,000 sites across Wales.

PSBA 3.0 represents one of the largest and most strategic service integrator opportunities in the UK public sector, offering a long-term anchor contract, significant opportunity for innovation, and the ability to shape critical digital infrastructure that underpins health, education, emergency services, and government operations across Wales.

The vision for PSBA 3.0 is to ensure a secure and resilient national connectivity service with an "evergreen" design approach - meaning the underlying technology, security controls and service capabilities will be continuously refreshed and evolve over the life of the contract to meet the changing needs of the Welsh public sector in terms of performance and cost.

To support this stage of the market engagement, a PSBA 3.0 Prospectus has been produced to provide further details on aspects including the scope, current services, procurement approach commercial principles, delivery expectations and opportunities that suppliers may wish to consider prior to the formal competitive process. It also provides information on the opportunity for 1-2-1 engagement meetings, and the requirements bidders will need to meet to gain access to the data room during the tender process.

The PSBA 3.0 Market Engagement Prospectus is available to download through the Welsh Government's ETender Platform: https://etenderwales.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.shtml

Registration is free to any new suppliers. The prospectus is available within PQQ_33851 Public Sector Broadband Aggregation (PSBA 3.0)

The current PSBA service provides a core Welsh Government funded component comprising:

○ A core Wide Area Network (WAN);

○ The 24hrx7days a week x365 days a year service desk;

○ Engineering teams;

○ Service teams;

○ A rolling programme of network upgrades and improvement that keep pace with the exponential rise in public sector demand for connectivity services;

○ Individual contracts for a call-off catalogue of services available to PSBA users;

○ An 'E-sports' facility;

○ Cloud connectivity; and

○ An integrator function for the public sector in Wales, which includes the purchasing of:

○ Fully-managed WAN services using any combination of Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), Software Defined (SD) WAN, Ethernet, Internet, Mobile Data or more from a range of communications providers;

○ Secure roaming services to connect people on the move;

○ Resilient web filtering services for schools to determine if content should be blocked;

○ Direct internet services with high-capacity network connectivity;

○ Robust firewalls and other security services;

○ Consultancy and strategic advice to support network and associated infrastructure projects; and

○ Peering capability enabling the connection of internet networks and traffic exchange.

The service provision is complex as it needs to aggregate purchased services from different providers

Procurement Scope

● Provide scalable and flexible always on, resilient and robust connectivity services and efficient service management to Recipient Organisations

● Provide a dynamic service to deliver best value to the public sector in Wales

● Exploit existing investment in the PSBA network unless and until there is a business case for change;

● Maintain network services that support the increased sharing of information, collaboration and integration of services across public sector organisations;

● Ensure resilient network services for the public sector during transition from the current PSBA service to PSBA's successor(s);

● Provide a network service that facilitates Welsh Government in driving growth, delivering jobs and developing wealth (now to include social value and move to digital delivery of services for best user experience); and

● Provide an ICT infrastructure platform capable of supporting future technology evolution in the supply and demand of services to public sector organisations.

for further information/register interest please contact PSBA3@gov.wales