Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
ADVANCED RESEARCH AND INVENTION AGENCY
96 EUSTON ROAD,
LONDON
NW12DB
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKI31 - Camden and City of London
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
http://aria.org.uk/scaling-compute
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
http://aria.org.uk/scaling-compute
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Scaling compute: AI at 1/1000th the cost
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 73110000 - Research services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
ARIA is an R&D funding agency built to unlock scientific and technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone. We empower scientists and engineers to pursue research at the edge of what is technologically or scientifically possible.
We reach across disciplines, sectors and institutions to shape, fund and manage projects across the R&D ecosystem, from startups to universities, to break down silos and discover new pathways.
We're looking for proposals for our Scaling compute: AI at 1/1000th the cost programme for info see http://aria.org.uk/scaling-compute
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The digital electronics industry that has transformed our lives in immeasurable ways is defined by the simple fact that, for 60+ years, we have benefited from exponentially more computing power, at lower cost.
This fact is no longer true. For the first time in history, increased performance requires increasing costs and this coincides with an explosion of demand for more compute power driven by AI.
Our current mechanisms for training AI systems utilise a narrow set of algorithms and hardware building blocks, which require significant capital to develop and manufacture. The combination of this significance and scarcity has far-reaching economic, geopolitical and societal implications.
What we're shooting for:
We see an opportunity to draw inspiration from natural processing systems, which innately process complex information more efficiently (on several orders or magnitude) than today's largest AI systems.
Our goal: to increase + open up new vectors of progress in the field of computing by reducing the cost of AI hardware.
In doing so, we'll open up new opportunities to reap the economic + social benefits of AI, from accelerating scientific research to improving the efficiency of our public services.
In order to realise these targets, we're looking to fund three Technical Areas.
For more info see http://aria.org.uk/scaling-compute
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £39,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Additional funding, scope and duration could be added to any contracts awarded.
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions
See ARIA website http://aria.org.uk/scaling-compute
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Competitive procedure with negotiation
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
7 May 2024
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.3) Additional information
Detailed timelines can be found in the programme call information on ARIAs website https://www.aria.org.uk/scaling-compute/#timeline
The application process for Technical Areas 1, 2 and 3 consists of two stages:
- Submission of a concept paper - At this stage and based on your concept paper, you will either be encouraged/ discouraged to submit a full proposal. If you receive feedback indicating that you are not encouraged to submit a full proposal you can still choose to submit a full proposal. You should note that this preliminary assessment/encouragement provides no guarantee of any full proposal being selected for award of funding.
The deadline for submission of concept papers is 27.03.24 (12:00 GMT).
- Submission of a full proposal - the deadline for submission of full proposals is 07.05.24 (12:00 BST).
The total funding value is the estimated budget available. We expect to fund multiple applicants.
Funding is anticipated to be award via both contracts and grants. For information on how we fund https://www.aria.org.uk/faqs-funding/
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Not Applicable, see the ARIA Act 2022
London
Country
United Kingdom