government networks (Template rft)
Government Networks (GN) is a private, managed, wide area network (WAN) connecting public service agencies on a data, voice and video capable network. GN is designed primarily to facilitate easy, efficient, secure and reliable communication between Government agencies and to support existing and future Government applications. A mechanism for providing agencies with a secure access to the Internet is included as well as a means for agencies to securely host Internet services.
GN offers a number of potential cost and operational benefits to participating agencies and to government as a whole:
- Facilitates inter-agency collaboration and delivery of joined-up government services by providing a secure connectivity environment for data exchange/sharing.
- All agencies regardless of size have access to network capability and products/technology usually available only to large ICT capable agencies.
- Takes care of many standard day-to-day infrastructure services so agencies can focus their resources on providing their core programmes and services.
- Security of government information systems is significantly improved by consolidating expertise and resources at a small number of network connections.
- Internet access costs for government agencies have substantially been incorporated into one highly resilient infrastructure, providing much greater bandwidth to agencies than had been practicable heretofore.
- Offers the commercial advantages of an aggregrated procurement approach, resulting in significantly reduced costs and tariffs.
To obtain detailed information, including pricing and the Template RFT please visit our secure site: http://gn.gov.ie (only accessible to employees of public sector bodies that are connected to the Government Networks). A PDF version of the website is available on request from the Government Networks Team.
duration
GN services and products are available from May 2007 onwards.
participating customers
Non-commercial public sector bodies that are eligible to use these arrangements include:
- Central Government Departments, Offices and non-commercial agencies and organisations which have a formal reporting and legal relationship with these Departments;
- Local authorities in Ireland including urban and district councils; regional assemblies; county enterprise boards; and, libraries;
- The Irish Health Sector including the Department of Health and Children, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), the Health Services Executive (HSE) and all public sector organisations under their aegis;
- Department of Education and associated agencies and organisations; third level institutions (Universities, Institutes of Technology); VEC schools, primary and secondary schools;
- Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and agencies and organisations which have a formal reporting and legal relationship with the Department;
- Department of Defence agencies and organisations which have a formal reporting and legal relationship with the Department;
All such bodies are eligible to use the GN once they have acquired a connection (LAN speed WAN connectivity) from a peered carrier on the back of running a public procurement exercise using the "Request For Tender" (Template RFT).
scope of services and products
GN delivers a suite of converged voice, data and video services. GN has a modular structure, enabling agencies to take up services as they require them, and as their existing telecommunication supply arrangements dictate. The following table illustrates some of the services and products available to agencies connected to GN.
| Service and Products | Definition |
|---|---|
| GN-Connect | The mandatory "GN-Connect" service provides the initial connection to GN and is the platform for all other GN services. Agencies may take more than one connection for resilience purposes. |
| Managed Services | "Managed Services" are high-level services - e.g. DNS and Mail Relay services - that operate across the Core Network backbone and are managed centrally within the GN Core Network. |
| Data Services | The "Data Services" comprise connectivity to other agencies, connectivity to the Internet, remote access connectivity for agency staff and other trusted third parties and basic application hosting services. |
| Voice Services | The "Voice Services" comprise Fixed, Mobile and VoIP services which act as extension to, or replacement for agency based telephony solutions. |
| Video Services | The "Video Services" comprise IP TV and Video Conferencing services. |
peered carriers
Currently there are seven carriers peered with GN who can provide connectivity to agencies:
| Peered Carriers |
|---|
| BT Government Network |
| Complete Government Network |
| eircom BIP service/eircom Metro Network |
| Magnet |
| Smart Telecom Government Network |
| UPC Government Network |
As part of the Mobile Framework, Meteor, O2 and Vodafone are also peered with GN for both Voice and Data traffic.
how to procure a connection to gn
GN is built on the concept of providing the most appropriate technologies and services through a multi-supplier sourcing strategy. Agencies use a GN "Peered" Carrier Network as the access mechanism to connect to the Core Network. The actual Peered Carrier selected by an Agency is decided on back of a public competitive tendering exercise and is usually determined by a number of factors including what access links are available in the Agency locality, the capacity needed and the level of availability required.
In order to procure a connection to Government Networks it is necessary to go through a public procurement exercise. To help agencies achieve the best possible service and pricing, a template Request For Tender (Template RFT) document is available from our secure site http://gn.gov.ie .
To use the Template RFT agencies simply fill out a number of basic fields (name, locations, deadline, etc.).
Once the Template RFT has been completed it should be published to http://www.etenders.gov.ie .
Agencies are encouraged to contact the Government Networks Section in the Department of Finance to discuss their needs and any special requirements in order that the appropriate service choices are made.
payment/invoicing
Payment and Invoicing arrangements will be agreed by the relevant Customer and the selected Carrier in each case.
Contact government networks team
The Government Networks Team can be contacted with any queries:
| Contact | |
|---|---|
| Name: |
 |
| Address: | CMOD, Department of Finance, Lansdowne House, Lansdowne Road, Dublin 4 |
| Phone: | (01) 604 5037 |
| Email: |
 |
secure site
To obtain detailed information, including pricing and the Template RFT please visit our secure site:
This secure site is only accessible by employees of public sector bodies that are connected to the Government Networks. A PDF version of the website is available on request.