Tender

IT Services: Supply and Installation of a High Performance Computer Facility

  • University of St Andrews

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-035304

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-041de6

Published 30 November 2023, 9:56am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

University of St Andrews

Walter Bower House, Eden Campus

Guardbridge

KY16 0US

Contact

Adrian Wood

Email

procurement@st-andrews.ac.uk

Telephone

+44 1334462523

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKM72 - Clackmannanshire and Fife

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/procurement/

Buyer's address

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00111

one.3) Communication

Access to the procurement documents is restricted. Further information can be obtained at

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

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

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

Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at

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

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

IT Services: Supply and Installation of a High Performance Computer Facility

Reference number

ITS/291123/DD/SL

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 30211100 - Super computer

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

Supply and Installation of a High Performance Computer Facility at the University of St Andrews.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £2,900,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM72 - Clackmannanshire and Fife
Main site or place of performance

UK-St Andrews

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The University is seeking to provide a high performance compute (HPC) facility to support research and teaching. This will be vital resource for existing high-profile staff in many areas of current research and its importance is expected to grow in an era of expanding digital research and increasingly larger datasets, including computationally intensive approaches such as machine learning and generative artificial intelligence.

The proposed solution should provide at least 15,000 x64 compatible compute cores at 2GB RAM per core, excluding log-in nodes and peripheral devices. An alternative configuration providing the same or better level of performance would be acceptable.

The proposed solution should provide high-memory nodes containing at least one 4TB RAM and two 2TB RAM. An alternative configuration providing the same or better level of performance would be acceptable.

The proposed solution should provide a number of GPU Nodes whose combined cost equates to 20% of the combined cost of requirements above.

Data Storage

The University requires the following storage tiers as a minimum:

1TB of scratch storage per node

100TB of fast scratch storage to service parallel tasks

2PB of fast shared scratch storage

1PB of archive storage

Networking

The proposal must include a low-latency 100Gb network fabric connecting all nodes.

Extensibility

The proposed solution must provide a seamless means to extend to make use of public and private cloud resources.

Scalability

The proposed solution must be able to scale for each use case (fast throughput parallel processing, single-node high core-count and high memory processing, and GPU workloads).

Additional Support

The responses should include an optional proposal for the provision of user support services.

Please see ITT documents for full details.

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: £2,900,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

60

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Se ITT documents.

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: Yes

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No

two.2.14) Additional information

All tenders for the University of St Andrews are administered through our eTendering System (InTend).To Express an Interest please go to our tender website at https://intendhost.co.uk/universityofstandrews

Please note that 'Notes of Interest' placed via PCS (Public Contracts Scotland) are not automatically accepted


Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information

three.1) Conditions for participation

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

three.2) Conditions related to the contract

three.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract

Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Open procedure

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date

12 January 2024

Local time

12:00pm

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English

four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

Duration in months: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

12 January 2024

Local time

12:00pm

Place

Procurement - University of St Andrews

Information about authorised persons and opening procedure

Appointed Procurement Staff.


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: No

six.2) Information about electronic workflows

Electronic ordering will be used

Electronic invoicing will be accepted

Electronic payment will be used

six.3) Additional information

All tenders for the University of St Andrews are administered through our eTendering System (InTend).To Express an Interest please go to our tender website at https://intendhost.co.uk/universityofstandrews

Please note that 'Notes of Interest' placed via PCS (Public Contracts Scotland) are not automatically accepted

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=751860.

(SC Ref:751860)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Dundee Sheriff Court

6 West Bell Street

Dundee

DD1 9AD

Telephone

+44 1382229961

Country

United Kingdom

six.4.3) Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures

The University of St Andrews will incorporate a minimum of 10 calendar day standstill period at the point of information on the award of the contract being communicated to tenderers. This period allows unsuccessful tenderers to seek further debriefing from the contracting authority before the contract is entered into. Applicants have 2 working days from the notification of the award decision to request additional debriefing and that information has to be provided a minimum of 3 working days before the expiry of the standstill period. Such additional information should be requested from The University of St Andrews.

If an appeal regarding the award of contract has not been successfully resolved The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2012 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rule to take action in the Sheriff Court or Court of Session.

The anticipated review body in such cases would be:

Dundee Sheriff Court

6 West Bell Street

Dundee

DD1 9AD

Telephone: +44 1382 229 961

Anyone bringing court proceedings against the University of St Andrews must inform the University of St Andrews in advance of the alleged breach and its intention to bring proceedings. Any such action must be brought within 15 days of the date on which a decision is sent to them or published to challenge that decision.

Proceedings seeking an ineffectiveness order must be brought within 30 days of the publication of the contract award notice in the OJEU, or 30 days from the date of a decision letter to all tenderers concerned, and any candidates concerned, containing a summary of the reason for the recipient being unsuccessful, otherwise 6 months from the date of entering into the contract or concluding the framework agreement.

Where a contract has not been entered into the Court may, by interim order, suspend the procurement procedure. The court may also set aside a decision or actions taken by the University or order it to amend and document; and/or award damages. However, by express requirement the court may decide not to grant an interim order when the negative consequences of such an order are likely to outweigh the benefits, having regard to a number of considerations.

If the contract has been entered into the Court may, depending on the nature of the breach: make an ineffectiveness order; impose a financial penalty; shorten the duration of the contract; make any other order considered appropriate to address the consequences of ineffectiveness or shortening the duration or the contract; award damages.