Student Halls Wi-Fi Upgrade (Pilot Phase)

The University is upgrading Halls of Residence Wi-Fi, which is a key service used by students for both educational and leisure purposes.

The University is seeking to run a pilot upgrade to test the effectiveness of in-room wall plate mounted access points. This Tender document relates specifically to the pilot phase of the project only. The outcomes of the pilot will inform the final design rolled out to the remainder of the Halls estate, should that go ahead.

The pilot model is to install an in-room WAP in every other student bedroom (i.e. approximately one per two rooms) and reposition existing enterprise class WAP in the corridors of each flat. All WAPs will be free-issue by the University from existing stock.

The Pilot Phase is the initial phase of a wider project the University is looking to undertake to support the upgrade of the student halls. Wi-Fi service information gathered from the Pilot Phase will inform the approach adopted for the full rollout.

A separate project will be tendered to upgrade the remaining student halls outside of the Pilot Phase.

Awarding of a contract for the Pilot Phase, does not mean the automatic awarding of a contract for the upgrading of the remaining student halls buildings outside of the Pilot Phase.

The University reserves the right to cancel or delay the undertaking of a further tender for the upgrading of the remaining student halls buildings outside of the Pilot Phase.

Additional information: Tender Portal

In-Tend: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton

The University is utilising an electronic tendering tool (In-Tend: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton) to manage this procurement and to communicate with bidders. All documentation in relation to this tender can be downloaded from the In-Tend portal.

Bidders are advised that there will be no hard copy documents issued to organisations and all communications with the University including the submission of PQQ and/or Invitation to Tender Responses will be conducted via the In-Tend portal. Regular monitoring of the portal is the responsibility of the bidder.

If you are not already registered as a supplier with the University of Southampton, you will need to register in In-Tend in order to access the tender documentation.

Once you have logged in as a supplier: click on 'Tenders'; locate the relevant project; and click 'View Details'. Once you are in the project screen, you will be able to register your company against the project and access all documentation by clicking 'Express Interest'.

Bidders are advised that formal expressions of interest in the project must be by way of completion and return of the relevant Pre-Qualification (if applicable) or Invitation to Tender documents via the In-Tend portal.

Further instructions for the submission of Invitation to Tender responses are below. To submit your return, please follow the instructions below: 1. Log In 2. Click 'Tenders' 3. Locate the relevant project 4. View Details 5. Click on the tab relating to the relevant project stage (e.g. 'Invitation to Tender') 6. Click on the 'Attach Documents' button and upload your return. 7. Check ALL your response documents are uploaded and displayed in the "My Tender Return" panel. The system will only permit your organisation to make one return. 8. Click the red "Submit Return" button. Please note that, to preserve the integrity of the tendering procedure, all queries must made be via the correspondence function within the In-Tend portal.

In accordance with Regulation 50, paragraph (2) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and subject to Article 5 and Annex 5, Part D (13) of Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (if applicable), the University intends to publish the value of any resulting contract at the award stage, and reserves the right to do so. By submitting a tender response, bidders are consenting to publication of this information unless otherwise agreed in advance with the University.

Due to the nature of this project, it has been deemed unsuitable for division into lots. The risk of dividing the requirement would render the execution of the contract excessively technically difficult, not cost effective and would undermine the proper execution of the contract.