The Local Government Computer Services Board (LGCSB), which is responsible for the IT needs of Ireland’s local authorities, has put out a tender seeking high-speed bandwidth to connect its headquarters in Dublin with two remote sites in Waterford and Limerick.
The LGCSB currently operates a data centre for hosting local authority and central government sites at Phoenix House in Dublin 8.
It recently appointed Data Electronics, following a competitive tender, to create a secondary hosting centre at Data’s west Dublin Kilcarbery facility.
According to the latest tender document the LGCSB, which provides IT services including hardware, software and support/maintenance to local authorities across Ireland, is seeking broadband links to two remote locations in Waterford and Castletroy, Limerick.
It intends to award contracts to two providers, utilising independent infrastructure for a period of one year and extendable for up to three years.
The immediate requirement is for two 30MB internet links to Phoenix House, a 10MB internet link to Data Electronics in Kilcarbery and a 10MB link between the two sites in Waterford and Limerick.
For resilience purposes, the two 30MB connections must be supplied on independent networks from two different suppliers.
The circuits will have to have the ability to increase bandwidth up to 100MB, without the need for physical hardware changes.
The successful companies will be expected to liaise with the existing suppliers, Cable & Wireless and BT, in the event of them being replaced to facilitate the LGCSB’s service configuration
The deadline for tenders is set for 4pm on 23 January.
By John Kennedy
