Managed Wide Area Network (WAN)

North Ayrshire Council (“NAC”) are looking to notify the market about the potential contract opportunity for a managed wide area network (“WAN”). The purpose of this market engagement questionnaire is to give suppliers advanced notice of the contract, determine the best route to market, and to help shape the procurement process in terms of any minimum requirements set.

This procurement is not simply a technical refresh. NAC’s WAN is the backbone of its service delivery—supporting schools, corporate functions, libraries, cloud adoption, public safety, digital learning, and emerging smart technologies.

It will also provide the foundation upon which NAC intends to build broader digital connectivity ambitions. Suppliers should therefore view this opportunity through both a technical and strategic lens.

While the immediate requirement is the delivery of a secure, resilient, high-performance WAN, NAC also intends to leverage this procurement to invite ideas, innovation, and additional value that can support wider digital, economic, and social outcomes across the region. NAC are a strong believer in early supplier engagement to ensure the success of contracts.

We would therefore like to encourage you to participate to ensure your feedback is captured and considered. The resultant procurement process will be carried out via Public Contract Scotland-Tender.

Exact dates have yet to be confirmed however, NAC’s current contract is due to expire September 2027. It is imperative the new WAN is in place before this time to allow a seamless transition. We therefore hope to award by September 2026 (allowing a 12 months mobilisation period).