Section I: Contracting entity

I.1) Name, addresses and contact point(s)

Internet address(es):

General address of the contracting entity: URL: http://www.bordgais.ie

Address of the buyer profile: URL: http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA01428

Further information can be obtained from:

:Specifications and additional documents (including documents for a dynamic purchasing system) can be obtained from

:Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to

I.2) Main activity

Production, transport and distribution of gas and heat

I.3) Contract award on behalf of other contracting entities

Section II: Object of the contract

II.1) Description

II.1.1) Title attributed to the contract by the contracting entity:

Provision of managed bandwidth services for the networks business of Bord Gáis Éireann.

II.1.2) Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance

Services

Service category No 5: Telecommunications services

Main site or location of works, place of delivery or of performance: Dublin, Meath, Westmeath, Offaly, Roscommon, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Cork.

NUTS codeIE

II.1.3) Information about a public contract, a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system (DPS)

The notice involves a public contract

II.1.4) Information on framework agreement

II.1.5) Short description of the contract or purchase(s):

Bord Gáis Éireann t/a Aurora Telecom wishes to expand the range of services available across some or all of its network to include managed bandwidth services. Managed bandwidth services are fully managed point-to-point connectivity backed by a Service Level Agreement (SLA) guaranteeing delivery and service availability (the "Managed Bandwidth Services"). The capacities envisaged by Aurora under the terms of the SLA include single&multiple Gigabit carrier grade services in the near term, with the capability to scale with market demands to 40 Gigabit and beyond in the long term.

This requirement is being tendered by Bord Gáis Éireann for its Networks business ("Bord Gáis Networks")with respect to any Aurora related activities. Bord Gáis Networks is the business and division of the Company which is responsible for construction, operation and maintenance of the Bord Gáis Éireann transmission and distribution networks used to transport natural gas with respect to any Aurora related activities.

Note: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the eTenders web site at URL: http://www.etenders.gov.ie/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=336533
.

II.1.6) Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

64200000

II.1.7) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

II.1.8) Information about lots

II.1.9) Information about variants

II.2) Quantity or scope of the contract

II.2.1) Total quantity or scope:

This requirement is being tendered by Bord Gáis Éireann for its Networks business with respect to any Aurora related activities. Unless otherwise expressly stated in the tender and/or contract documents, this requirement does not relate to the Energy business of Bord Gáis Éireann.

II.2.2) Information about options

Options: no

II.2.3) Information about renewals

II.3) Duration of the contract or time limit for completion

Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information

III.1) Conditions relating to the contract

III.1.1) Deposits and guarantees required:

As per contract documents.

III.1.2) Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions governing them:

As per contract documents.

III.1.3) Legal form to be taken by the group of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded:

Requests to participate may be submitted by single entities or by groups of service providers. A group will not be required to convert into a specific legal form in order to submit a request to participate, but may if Bord Gáis Éireann considers it necessary to ensure that the contract is carried out to its satisfaction, be required to do so prior to award of the contract. Bord Gáis Éireann also reserves the right to contract with each member of the group on the basis of joint and several liability, or with one member of the group as a main contractor with a number of sub-contractors or on any other basis as Bord Gáis considers appropriate.

III.1.4) Other particular conditions:

The performance of the contract is subject to particular conditions: no

III.2) Conditions for participation

III.2.1) Personal situation of economic operators, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: If any of the conditions set out in Regulation 53(1) of The European Communities (Award of Public Authorities Contracts) Regulations 2006 apply to the applicant, the applicant will be excluded from the competition.

III.2.2) Economic and financial ability

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: A full description of candidates' required economic and financial capacity will be set out in the Pre qualification questionnaire.

III.2.3) Technical capacity

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: A full description of candidates' required technical capacity will be set out in the Pre qualification questionnaire.

III.2.4) Information about reserved contracts

III.3) Conditions specific to services contracts

III.3.1) Information about a particular profession

III.3.2) Staff responsible for the execution of the service

Legal persons should indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff responsible for the execution of the service: yes

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1) Type of procedure

IV.1.1) Type of procedure

Negotiated

Some candidates have already been selected (if appropriate under certain types of negotiated procedures): no

IV.2) Award criteria

IV.2.1) Award criteria

The most economically advantageous tender in terms of the criteria stated in the specifications or in the invitation to tender or to negotiate

IV.2.2) Information about electronic auction

IV.3) Administrative information

IV.3.1) File reference number attributed by the contracting entity:

11/046

IV.3.2) Previous publication(s) concerning the same contract

IV.3.3) Conditions for obtaining specifications and additional documents

IV.3.4) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

19.12.2011 - 17:00

IV.3.5) Language(s) in which tenders or requests to participate may be drawn up

English.

Other: Gaeilge.

IV.3.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

IV.3.7) Conditions for opening tenders

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.1) Information about recurrence

VI.2) Information about European Union funds

VI.3) Additional information:

A pre-qualification questionnaire will be issued to all candidates who respond to this notice. Expressions of Interest should be addressed in writing and sent via email for the attention of The Networks Procurement Manager toE-mail: cwhite@bge.ie
. The questionnaire will cover the financial, economic and technical capacity of the candidates. The questionnaire must be completed and returned to the address in I.1. above not later than Monday 19.12.2011 (17:00). The responses will be used to assist in drawing up a tender list. This process may also include interviews with candidates. The contracting entity will not be responsible for any costs, charges or expenses incurred by candidates or tenderers relating to this contract award procedure. In order to receive the Pre qualification questionnaire please forward your Expression of Interest toE-mail: cwhite@bge.ie
.

This requirement is being tendered by Bord Gáis Éireann for its Networks business ("Bord Gáis Networks"). It is envisaged that a contract will be awarded by Bord Gáis Éireann with respect to such requirement for Aurora related activitites. Candidates should note that Bord Gáis Éireann reserves the right at any time, and from time to time, at its absolute discretion, to transfer all or any part of the contract to a third party (which may be an associated company of Bord Gáis Éireann or otherwise). Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, Bord Gáis Éireann may exercise this right because it is required, or it considers it appropriate, to do so having regard to any arrangements implementing the unbundling requirements of the Third Gas Directive (Directive 2009/73/EC) in Ireland (expected to be implemented from approx. July 2012). The successful tenderer may be required to put in place arrangements to comply with Bord Gáis Éireann’s regulatory separation obligations with respect to its Networks and Energy businesses. Where this competition is ongoing at the time of any transfer of the Networks business of Bord Gáis Éireann to a third party, such third party may take over the conduct of this competition. In such case, the contract will be awarded by and entered into with that third party.

(ET Ref: 336533).

VI.4) Procedures for appeal

VI.4.1) Body responsible for appeal procedures

VI.4.2) Lodging of appeals

Precise information on deadline(s) for lodging appeals: Interested parties are referred to Statutory Instrument 131 of 2010, European Communities (Award of Contracts by Utility Undertaking) (Review Procedures). Regulations 2010 (and in particular Regulation 7 and 10(2).

VI.4.3) Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice:

15.11.2011