Planning

Partnership for the Provision and Development of Research Computing Technology

  • THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-019644

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03e04b

Published 10 July 2023, 3:07pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

EDGBASTON

BIRMINGHAM

B152TT

Contact

Karen Aird

Email

k.aird@bham.ac.uk

Telephone

+44 1214158491

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKG31 - Birmingham

Companies House

RC000645

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofbirmingham

one.3) Communication

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

https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofbirmingham

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Education


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Partnership for the Provision and Development of Research Computing Technology

Reference number

FRAM577/23

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 72222300 - Information technology services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The procurement is for a new partnership agreement, to succeed the current contract 'THE PROVISION OF RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP AND SOLUTIONS' SC/3818/15. Since 2015, it has supported the evolution and success of the Birmingham Environment for Academic Research (BEAR); its High Performance Computing (HPC) capability as well as other major research computing initiatives, including the EPSRC funded Tier2, accelerated compute facility, Baskerville and the MRC funded CLIMB cloud.

The new technology partnership will underpin the University's ambitious goals, encapsulated in 'Birmingham 2030' and the role of HPC for computational science in achieving those goals. We are looking for a partner to bring expertise and industry insight in the drive to exploit the latest technologies to build high performance, sustainable and reliable services. As such, the partner must be able to deliver added value across our broad spectrum of activity in addition to the basic supply of high-performance infrastructure and services.

It is anticipated that due to the investment required on both sides of this partnership, that this non-exclusive framework will be for 4 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years + 2 years.

The spend is estimated at £25,000,000. This would be distributed unevenly throughout the course of the contract.

For background to the current operation, see bear.bham.ac.uk

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £25,000,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 30211100 - Super computer
  • 72222300 - Information technology services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKG - West Midlands (England)

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

This PIN is being used as a call for competition and tenderers are expected to express their interest through the In-tend website, address provided above. The procurement will be a restricted procedure with a maximum of 5 tenderers being selected at SQ stage (Stage 1) to proceed to the Invitation to Tender (Stage 2).

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

15 September 2023


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: No


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

Any queries and questions regarding this PIN and the upcoming tender should be submitted via the In-Tend portal

https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofbirmingham/