Scope
Reference
DN779864
Description
Software and operational support delivery requirements
This sets out the general requirements for the work required to accelerate the
implementation of the SWIMMR R2O projects on Met Office systems. The
scope is to assist the Met Office in the transition of the SWIMMR models
towards operational status, as measured by Application Useability Levels
(aiming for AUL9). To facilitate this process, the following general software
engineering processes and practice should be adhered to:
Play a key and proactive role in the maintenance of existing software. In
particular,
• Monitor the list of open pull requests (PRs) on the GitHub repository
containing the model code daily. When new PRs appear (and within a
working week),
o Respond to any questions raised by MO SSEs.
o Accept any requests to review code contributions authored by
MO SSEs.
o Where appropriate, engage in the online discussions around
these.
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• When you discover issues, contribute (via PR) carefully tested code
fixes within an agreed time frame of two weeks.
o Aim to respond to and act on reviewer queries within one
business week.
o Merge in the code changes into the alpha branch within three
working days, when changes (pull requests) have been
approved - changes to the beta release will be merged by Met
Office team
• Resolve critical security vulnerabilities (resolution and approved PR)
in collaboration with MO teams within two weeks (backlog completed
by March 2026)
• Maintain existing software by routinely patching to ensure security
updates, version updates are implemented as soon as possible and
within two weeks
• Follow the PR process outlined above and documented on the portal.
• Participate in knowledge exchange to enable Met Office to become
more self-sufficient in model maintenance
• provide technical/scientific 4th line support in code bug resolution
[working days support- response/resolution timeline to be agreed]
• work with Met Office (MO) Scientific Software Engineers (SSEs) to
measurably increase the robustness of the codes (e.g. through test
coverage assessment and defining required tests) by improving
testing and logging according to the principles documented on the Met
Office R2O portal.
• Ensure logging sufficient to diagnose workflow issues ensure
containers have sufficient test coverage to allow deployment.
• Support the continued feature and functional design development of
the Research to Operations portal/ platform, through participation in
activities such as user interviews and, usability testing
• Contribute expertise as part of user research discussions with end
users (MOSWOC/industry) in determining the product strategy for
utilising the MAIRE+ data to deliver the most value.
Contract 1
Supplier
Contract value
- £158,000 excluding VAT
- £189,600 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
18 September 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2026
- 6 months
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 73100000 - Research and experimental development services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
- Single supplier - intellectual property or exclusive rights
- Single supplier - technical reasons
Competition is absent for technical reasons and proprietary rights:
The deliverables within the contract are associated with a model and code already developed and owned by the partner, (supplier) to a specific maturity under the SWIMMR Programme. The academics hold the model code IPR and provide model access to Met Office under Licence (pending renewal on signature of the contract) and therefore are uniquely placed to provide these services to the Met Office. Delivery will 'accelerate' the model's development towards transition to operations within the Met Office Space Weather service as mandated by DSIT. The purpose of the contract is to continue development of the models (which requires the 'deep expertise' of the model developer) and to transfer model and model code knowledge and expertise. In short, there is no other supplier for the work associated with this model as the Met Office requires the code and expertise solely located at Surrey.
Supplier
University of Surrey
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PJPT-2767-WQLG
Stag Hill
Guildford
GU2 7XH
United Kingdom
Region: UKJ25 - West Surrey
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1
Contracting authority
Met Office
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVZW-3234-DTLY
Met Office
Exeter
EX1 3PB
United Kingdom
Region: UKK43 - Devon CC
Organisation type: Public authority - central government