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
https://www.aria.org.uk/seeds-nature-computes-better/
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://www.aria.org.uk/seeds-nature-computes-better
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
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
Opportunity Seed Funding Call: Nature Computes Better
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 73110000 - Research services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Breakthroughs require finding people who think differently about what's possible - and empowering them to follow their vision.
To support scientific and technological breakthroughs, outside of programmes, ARIA Programme Directors can award opportunity seeds to support ambitious research aligned to the opportunity spaces they've identified. To understand how opportunity seeds work within our model, see how we're working here (https://www.aria.org.uk/how-were-working/).
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £2,400,000
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
This funding call specifically relates to our Programme Director Suraj Bramhavar's opportunity space (https://www.aria.org.uk/what-were-working-on/#suraj).
In Nature Computes Better (https://www.aria.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ARIA-Nature-computes-better-v1.0-1.pdf), we're looking to fund high potential proposals with between £10k and £500k each. We initially expect to fund up to 10 opportunity seeds in this space.
We're looking for bold ideas that could challenge assumptions, open up new research paths, or provide steps towards new capabilities. If you have an important idea you're obsessed with, but you don't currently have the resources or support to take it forward, we'd like to hear from you.
Ideas could come from anywhere, so we welcome applications from individuals and teams who are early in their career or who have atypical backgrounds. We care more about your idea and your intrinsic motivation than we do about your CV.
To help you decide if this is the right funding call for you, here's some guidance on the scope:
In scope:
+ Ideas that sit within the Nature Computes Better opportunity space. By this, we mean your proposal should show how your idea either aligns with or challenges the assumptions of the Summary, Beliefs, or Observations in the opportunity space document (https://www.aria.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ARIA-Nature-computes-better-v1.0-1.pdf).
+ Ideas that could change the conversation about what is possible or valuable.
+ Ideas that range from early stage curiosity-driven research through to pre-commercial science and technology.
Out of scope:
+ Ideas that are within scope of Suraj Bramhavar's programme Scaling Compute - AI at 1/1000th the Cost, as these should be submitted to his programme funding call (https://www.aria.org.uk/scaling-compute/). If you are unsure whether your idea is in scope of the programme, ask us by sending an email to clarifications@aria.org.uk.
+ Ideas that are undifferentiated or that are likely to happen without ARIA support.
+ Commercial or close-to-commercial stage products.
Beyond this scope and our evaluation criteria outlined in the full opportunity seed call document on ARIA's website (https://www.aria.org.uk/seeds-nature-computes-better), we don't have preconceptions about what ideas you might send our way. You don't need to contort your project to fit our goals: we want to hear what you really want to do.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
36
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.
two.2.14) Additional information
The estimated total value is the maximum budget available. We expect to fund multiple applicants.
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 here (https://www.aria.org.uk/seeds-nature-computes-better).
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
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.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
17 April 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
This call for opportunity seed proposals will initially be open for 2 months, and may be extended to add additional rounds. During this period, we will review each application on a rolling basis, with two funding decision points in February and March as detailed below.
As this is our first opportunity seed call, we may update timelines based on the volume of responses we receive or other learnings.
Round 1 is now closed. The timeline for round is as below:
+ Clarifying questions deadline: 14.04.24 (00:00 BST)
+ Application deadline: 17.04.24 (12:00 BST)
+ Shortlisted / unsuccessful applicants notified. Shortlisted applicants invited to meet with Programme Director: 29.04.24 - 03.05.24
+ Final award decision; successful / unsuccessful applicants notified: 10.05.24
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Not Applicable, see the ARIA Act 2022
London
Country
United Kingdom