Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
University of Strathclyde
40 George Street, Procurement Department
Glasgow
G1 1QE
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM82 - Glasgow City
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00113
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
Provision of artificial intelligence hardware and software
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 48900000 - Miscellaneous software package and computer systems
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
The equipment to be procured is state of the art GPU-powered servers that enhance and massively accelerate our data-driven AI research for medicines manufacturing.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £195,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 72212900 - Miscellaneous software development services and computer systems
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM82 - Glasgow City
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The system to be procured is state of the art GPU-powered servers that enhance and massively accelerate our data-driven AI research for medicines manufacturing.
The system shall have:
- GPUs: 8x NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPUs
- CPU Specifications: 6912 CUDA cores & 432 TF32 Tensor Cores per GPU
- GPU Memory: 80GB per GPU - 640GB total
- GPU Interconnet: 6x NVSwitch
- Host CPUs: 2x AMD EPYC 7742, total 128 cores / 256 threads
- System Memory: 2TB ECC Reg DDR4
- System Drives: 2x 1.92TB NVMe SSDs
- Storage Drivers: 8x 3.84TB NVMe SSDs
- Networking: 8x single-port NVIDIA ConnectX-6 VPI 200Gb/s Infiniband. 2x NVIDIA ConnectX-6 VPI 200Gb/s Ethernet or 8x single-port NVIDIA ConnectX-7 VPI 200Gb/s Infiniband. 2x NVIDIA ConnectX-7 VPI 200Gb/s Ethernet
- Operatin system: Ubuntu Linux
- Power Requirement: 6.5kW
- Operating Temperature Range: 5ºC to 30ºC (41ºF to 86ºF)
The System (DGX with NVIDIA A100 AI System )to be provided by Scan Computers International Limited meets all of these requirements and is built to a high standard which will in turn maximise it’s up-time and lifespan at University of Strathclyde which will directly the engage the research projects the system will support.
The system is required as soon as possible to support the research timelines required by the University: Nvidia, as key hardware component suppliers, work closely with Scan who are the providers of the assembled GPU servers we require for our research. Nvidia prioritise hardware delivery to Scan and as such, Scan are in a position to deliver the final product in an 8-week timeframe. This is exceptionally fast given current global hardware shortages which are causing large companies and even governments to wait up to 12 months for hardware. This is an essential elements of this purchase.
Uniqueness of Scan offering: Scan will provide after care support not only in terms of support for the commissioning of the hardware but in terms of familiarisation with software platforms which will be required by the research teams at Strathclyde. Via Scan, we will have access to Nvidia’s leading AI experts. This will allow us to unlock the full potential of the hardware in a timely manner which is crucial for delivery on a number of significant, large value (10mGBP) research programmes.
Scan’s ability to assemble the GPU servers and support of the software that runs on top makes them uniquely placed to deliver our bespoke AI, modelling and simulation platform and within the timelines required of our funded research projects, which are already live and in need of the proposed compute resource.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The Contracting Authority reserves the right to request additional deliveries by the Successful Tenderer, either intended as partial replacement of supplies or installations or as extensions of existing supplies and installations.
The Contracting Authority may at it's sole discretion exercise this option.
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- The products involved are manufactured purely for the purpose of research, experiment, study or development
Explanation:
This hardware and software is manufactured specifically to support research within a University environment. This procurement meets the requirements of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. Regulation 33.4(a)
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
UOS-24665-2022
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
19 July 2022
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Scan Computers International Limited
25-23 Enterprise Business Park, Middlebrook
Horwich
BL6 6PE
Telephone
+00 0000000000
Fax
+00 0000000000
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £195,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=703757.
(SC Ref:703757)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Glasgow Sheriff Court
1 Carlton Pl
Glasgow
G5 9TW
Country
United Kingdom