NBN Co prepares to shortlist suppliers

James Riley
Friday, 15 January 2010 10:36

Business IT - Networking

Networking equipment and services providers will have to wait a couple more weeks before finding out whether they've made the shortlist as a supplier to the massive National Broadband Network project.

The NBN Company says it now expects to finalise its shortlist of suppliers by the end of the month. NBN Co late last year went to market with a Request for Capability Statements from potential providers.

Suppliers had been expecting the shortlist to be announced today. NBN said it was "working through the Statements as part of its detailed evaluation process."

"Following this process, NBN Co will invite selected suppliers to participate in one or more formal Request for Proposal processes during the first quarter of this year," the company said in a statement.

"This Request for Capability Statement process is designed to identify preferred suppliers capable of supplying suitable network equipment, supporting network construction and maintenance and also contributing to network testing and development over many years," it said.

The Request for Capability Statement is the first of a series of would address different elements of the NBN Co's requirements for network development, design, supply, construction, testing, commissioning, operations and maintenance.

A spokesman for equipment provider Huawei said the company was "looking forward" to seeing which companies make the short-list.

"We are very happy with the process and like all other vendors who have raised their hand to say they want to participate in this exciting project we wait with anticipation to see what the result is at the end of the month," the spokesman told iTWire.

NBN Co plans to progressively issue further request for capability statement and Request for Proposal documents covering other goods and services.