Planning

Met Office Academic Partnership Science Delivery Framework which includes Joint Chair Services for up to 8 Universities, Co-Sponsorship Agreements and Science Delivery Services Contracts for those Universities covering 11 research and innovation themes

  • Met Office

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2022/S 000-007911

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-032581

Published 23 March 2022, 4:05pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Met Office

Fitzroy Road

Exeter

EX1 3PB

Contact

Mrs Mel Staton

Email

mel.staton@metoffice.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 1392885279

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk

Buyer's address

http://www.procontract.due-north.com

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

http://www.procontract.due-north.com

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Regional or local Agency/Office

one.5) Main activity

Other activity

Weather and Climate Services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Met Office Academic Partnership Science Delivery Framework which includes Joint Chair Services for up to 8 Universities, Co-Sponsorship Agreements and Science Delivery Services Contracts for those Universities covering 11 research and innovation themes

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

13 Lots in total covering Met Office Academic Partnership Services and Agreements, for up to 8 Universities covering:

Lot 1 - Joint Chair Services - estimated annual spend up to £400,000

These are the Research and Innovation theme Lots - exact spend per Lot is an unknown, however spend per annum on contracts for services covering Lots 2 to 12 based on previous spend trends is approximately £1m in total.

Lot 2 - Hazard to Decision Making

Lot 3 - Research to Production

Lot 4 - Producing, Refining and Delivering data

Lot 5 - Seamless Environmental Prediction

Lot 6 - Next Generation Modelling Systems

Lot 7 - Fusing Simulation with Data Sciences

Lot 8 - The Path to High Resolution

Lot 9 - Producing and Exploiting Ensembles

Lot 10 - Capturing Environmental Complexity

Lot 11 - Technology Architecture and Innovation

Lot 12 - Advancing Observations

Lot 13 - Co-Sponsorship Agreements approximate spend per annum is £500,000

All Lots will be covered by up to 8 Universities.

Each of the Lots numbered 2 to 12 may be represented by 1 or any number up to the maximum of up to 8 Universities.

Lots 1 and 13 will be awarded to up to the same 8 potential Universities

A strategic overview, operational overview and Commercial overview can be found https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/approach/collaboration/partnership

The Bid documents will be available mid April 2022 when the contract notice goes live.

Please register your interest on the ProContract Portal against the Project.

A copy of the Met Office Research and Innovation Strategy can be found: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/research/r-i_strategy_full_version_sml.pdf

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £8,000,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: Yes

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Joint Chair Services

Lot No

1

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 73100000 - Research and experimental development services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Met Office Academic Partnership (MOAP) is a cluster of research excellence bringing together the Met Office and leading UK Universities through a formal collaboration to advance the science and skill of weather and climate prediction.

To foster the Partnership the Met Office invests in jointly funded chairs (‘MOAP Joint Chair Services’) with partner Universities. Up to 8 Universities will be awarded a place on Lot 1 to deliver Joint Chair Services.

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Renewal to be completed every 48 months

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Hazard to Decision Making

Lot No

2

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 73100000 - Research and experimental development services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Hazard to Decision Making Research and Innovation Theme

Expand and improve our services for stakeholders’ risk-based decision-making by working with users, social scientists, behavioural scientists, financial impact experts and engineers to gain an increased understanding of the impacts of hazards and to develop better impact-based services.

**see the Strategy for further details https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/research/r-i_strategy_full_version_sml.pdf

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Renewal to be completed every 48 months

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Research to Production

Lot No

3

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 73100000 - Research and experimental development services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Research to Production Theme

Pull through developments in weather and climate research to improve our forecast systems, tailored to services in the forecasting timescales of primary interest to the Met Office and its customers.

**see the Strategy for further details https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/research/r-i_strategy_full_version_sml.pdf

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Renewal to be completed every 48 months

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Producing, Refining and Delivering data

Lot No

4

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 73100000 - Research and experimental development services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Producing, Refining and Delivering data Theme

Develop the Met Office supercomputing estate for operations and research, establish the technology and science needed to move, store and process our data, and design a flexible post-processing framework to turn predictions and observations into customer products.

**see the Strategy for further details https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/research/r-i_strategy_full_version_sml.pdf

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Renewal to be completed every 48 months

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Seamless Environmental Prediction

Lot No

5

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 73100000 - Research and experimental development services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Seamless Environmental Prediction Theme

Further develop our world-leading seamless environmental prediction capability, whereby a single model family is used in conjunction with observations and theory, to quantify weather hazards in the past, in present day climate and into the future across weather and climate timescales.

**see the Strategy for further details https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/research/r-i_strategy_full_version_sml.pdf

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Renewal to be completed every 48 months

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Next Generation Modelling Systems

Lot No

6

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 73100000 - Research and experimental development services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Next Generation Modelling Systems Theme

Revolutionise the Met Office’s complete weather and climate research and operational simulation systems so that the Met Office and its partners are ready to fully exploit future generations of supercomputer.

**see the Strategy for further details https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/research/r-i_strategy_full_version_sml.pdf

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Renewal to be completed every 48 months

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Fusing Simulation with Data Sciences

Lot No

7

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 73100000 - Research and experimental development services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Fusing Simulation with Data Sciences Theme

Use new and evolving data science methods such as artificial intelligence and machine learning and advanced data assimilation in order to remain at the cutting edge of weather and climate prediction and impact-based services.

**see the Strategy for further details https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/research/r-i_strategy_full_version_sml.pdf

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Renewal to be completed every 48 months

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

The Path to High Resolution

Lot No

8

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 73100000 - Research and experimental development services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Path to High Resolution Theme

In order to better predict hazards and extremes, develop the next generation of very high resolution global and regional environmental prediction systems, based on global convection-permitting atmosphere models coupled to eddy-resolving ocean models and eddy-permitting regional atmosphere models coupled to estuary-resolving shelf-seas models.

**see the Strategy for further details https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/research/r-i_strategy_full_version_sml.pdf

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Renewal to be completed every 48 months

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Producing and Exploiting Ensembles

Lot No

9

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 73100000 - Research and experimental development services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Producing and Exploiting Ensembles Theme

In order to include forecasts of uncertainty at the heart of our endeavour, develop ensemble-based systems and exploit them for prediction across timescales, while developing new and novel uses of ensemble information for improved understanding of weather and climate.

**see the Strategy for further details https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/research/r-i_strategy_full_version_sml.pdf

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Renewal to be completed every 48 months

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Capturing Environmental Complexity

Lot No

10

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 73100000 - Research and experimental development services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Capturing Environmental Complexity Theme

In order to pioneer new and improved impact-based forecast services and advice on global climate change mitigation, extend our environmental prediction capability with a focus on cities, air quality, the water cycle, and carbon and nitrogen cycles.

**see the Strategy for further details https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/research/r-i_strategy_full_version_sml.pdf

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Renewal to be completed every 48 months

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Technology Architecture and Innovation

Lot No

11

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 73100000 - Research and experimental development services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Technology Architecture and Innovation - Further Information to follow in the contract notice

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Renewal to be completed every 48 months

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Advancing Observations

Lot No

12

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 73100000 - Research and experimental development services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Advancing Observations - Further Information to follow in the Contract Notice

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Renewal to be completed every 48 months

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Co-Sponsorship Agreements for up to 8 Universities

Lot No

13

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 73100000 - Research and experimental development services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Co-Sponsorship Agreements may be available for up to 8 Universities (The same Universities who achieve a Joint Chair Services place on Lot 1)

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Renewal to be completed every 48 months

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

15 April 2022


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes