Scope
Description
NPL intends to engage with the market to explore solutions, delivery models, and commercial approaches for a Quantum Market Analysis and Intelligence Platform, delivered via a secure online portal. The objective is to access timely, structured, and actionable market intelligence on quantum technologies, companies, investments, research outputs, supply chains, standards, and policy/regulatory developments, to support evidence-based decision-making, business development, and strategic planning.
This premarket engagement seeks to:
• Understand the maturity of available platforms and datasets;
• Validate feasible functional, data, and security requirements;
• Explore delivery and licensing models (e.g., subscription/SaaS, enterprise seats);
• Identify potential risks, dependencies, and interoperability constraints.
The potential future procurement is expected to cover access to an online quantum market intelligence portal, optional API/data feeds, and associated support and services.
2.1 Core Deliverables
• Online Portal Access (role-based): Browser-accessible, secure platform providing dashboards, search, filtering, and/or export for quantum market intelligence.
• Data Coverage (quantum domain-specific), including:
o Company & ecosystem data: Start-ups, SMEs, incumbents, labs, Catapults; profiles with locations, maturity stage, funding history, partnerships, products, and IP footprints.
o Investment & funding: VC/PE, grants, public funding rounds; timelines, amounts, investors, co-investments, and geographic trends.
o Research outputs: Publications, patents, standards development, datasets; linkages to organisations/authors and topics.
o Technology segmentation: E.g., ion traps, superconducting, photonics, neutral atoms, NV centres, quantum communications, quantum timing and quantum sensors, enabling components, software stacks.
o Policy & regulation: HMG and overseas policies, standards activity (e.g., BSI/ISO/ETSI), export controls, subsidy regimes, and public programmes.
o Market sizing & forecasts (where available): Methodology disclosure and refresh cadence.
o Supply chain intelligence: Key suppliers, manufacturing capabilities, critical materials, bottlenecks, geographic exposure.
• Analytics & Reporting:
o Custom dashboards, saved views, alerting (e.g., new funding rounds, policy changes), comparison tools.
o Methodology transparency: Source lists, update frequency, inclusion/exclusion criteria.
• User Enablement:
o Onboarding, training sessions, knowledge base, and helpdesk access.
o Named-user or enterprise licensing, with flexible seat management.
2.2 Technical & Integration (Indicative)
• Security: SSO (SAML/OIDC) preferred, role-based access control, audit logging, data encryption in transit and at rest, UK GDPR compliance, documented data provenance and licensing.
• Availability & Performance: Target uptime (e.g., ≥99.5%), responsive UX with scalable backend.
• Hosting: UK/EU data residency preferences (EU/FVEY accepted), clarity on sub-processors and cloud regions.
• Auditability: Clear citation trails, confidence scoring, and version history for datasets and outputs.
2.3 Service & Support
• Support Channels: Email/ticketing, dedicated CSM (for enterprise).
• Training: Initial and refresher training; materials suitable for different user personas (policy, BD, technical).
• Roadmap Engagement: Mechanism to suggest feature enhancements and receive updates.
2.4 Commercial & Contractual (Indicative)
• Licensing: Subscription (annual/multi-year), named or concurrent seats; enterprise licenses.
• Pricing Transparency: Clear rate cards; volume tiers; fair usage parameters.
• IP & Data Rights: Clarity on:
o Rights to use platform outputs internally;
o Restrictions on redistribution;
o Ownership of any custom analyses developed for the Authority.
• Data Ethics: Approach to bias, representativeness, methodology robustness, and corrections/dispute processes.
2.5 Optional Components
• Bespoke analyst support: Periodic briefings, deep dives, or validation of key assumptions.
• Custom dashboards aligned to policy/business questions (e.g., UK supply chain resilience; regional clustering).
This is not an evaluation exercise and nothing in this activity will limit the opportunity to engage in any follow on ITT.
Total value (estimated)
- £280,000 excluding VAT
- £336,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029
- 3 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
- 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Engagement
Engagement deadline
13 March 2026
Engagement process description
Prior to initiating the procurement, NPL wishes to establish the level of market interest in the forthcoming procurement process.
Suitably qualified and experienced suppliers who may have an interest in this project are invited to register for this Preliminary Market Engagement.
The purpose of the market engagement is to help assess the reaction of the market, to understand risks and future possibilities to ensure a future proofed procurement strategy and resulting contract.
Any submission received in response to this exercise will not constitute any contractual agreement between the respondent and NPL. Nor does the receipt of a response automatically include the respondent in the procurement process.
Interested parties shall bear their own costs of participation in this Market Engagement of whatever nature. NPL shall not be liable for the costs, expenses or losses howsoever arising (including, without limitation, any loss of profit or other economic loss incurred), regardless of the outcome of the Market Engagement.
The next stage in the process will be considered once this exercise has been completed.
Questions:
Your Organisation
1. What is your organisation's name?
2. What is your name and role at the organisation?
3. Please Provide a brief description of your Organisation
4. Please provide the location (s) of your organisations operational facilities (e.g. headquarters, prominent locations).
Capabilities
5. Does your organisation have the capability to deliver a solution in line with the requirements described in the Scope section of this document.
a. If yes, please provide an estimated lead time for delivery from the point of contract award.
b. Are there any current or upcoming commitments, capacity constraints, or resource limitations that may affect your ability to submit an offer or deliver the project.
Scope Delivery & Budget Alignment
6. Would your organisation be able to deliver the full project scope independently?
If not, please specify which elements would require sub-contracting and identify any anticipated delivery partners (if known).
7. Are there any risks, issues, or opportunities that you believe NPL should consider in relation to the delivery of this project?
8. NPL's estimated budget for this project is £280,000 excluding VAT. Please confirm if delivery within this budget is feasible. If not please provide an indicative budget for a project of this nature.
If you have any questions or would like to provide a response to the above, please email etenders@npl.co.uk to request a Preliminary Market Engagement Supplier Questionnaire "FOR RESPONSES" excel spreadsheet. Please include the notice reference number.
Please return all responses by 17.00, Friday 13 March 2026
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Contracting authority
NPL Management Limited
- Companies House: 02937881
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYDB-8862-JBYM
National Physical Laboratory
Teddington
TW11 0LW
United Kingdom
Email: etenders@npl.co.uk
Website: http://www.npl.co.uk
Region: UKI75 - Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames
Organisation type: Public undertaking (commercial organisation subject to public authority oversight)