Scope
Reference
PS25300
Description
Procurement description
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) will shortly publish a procurement to appoint a supplier to develop an infrastructure directory that maps the UK's open-access quantum infrastructure, enabling discovery, collaboration, and strategic planning across industry, academia, facilities, and government bodies. At this stage the Department are seeking engagement with the market to better inform our requirements. Interested suppliers are to refer to the Engagement section of this notice for further details of the preliminary market engagement process being undertaken.
This procurement will be split into two phases, the first phase taking place this financial year, and the second phase continuing in the next financial year. Phase 1 will entail desk-based research and engagement to map the UK's quantum-relevant infrastructure, and Phase 2 will involve the development of an online database to host the information collected in Phase 1.
Background
The UK has a swathe of existing quantum-related research infrastructure spread across the country. Knowledge of these facilities, their capabilities, tooling, and access conditions is limited to users already directly working with those institutions or organisations or closely involved in the ecosystem. The RAEng quantum infrastructure review identified that there is a lack of awareness of existing infrastructure and difficulties in identifying resources available.. This fragmentation can result in duplicated efforts, inefficient use of resources, and missed opportunities. Additionally, feedback from industry, academia and facility operators shows that discovering the available infrastructure is time-consuming and fragmented. There is currently no comprehensive infrastructure database for the quantum sector. A well-maintained, user-focused database would support technology advances, collaborations, strategic planning and international infrastructure negotiations.
Aims and Objectives
The full project will establish an online quantum infrastructure directory that maps the UK's quantum infrastructure within a single, user-friendly platform. It will enable industry and academia to discover tools, equipment, characterisation capabilities, and expertise; support facility operators in benchmarking and identifying complementary capabilities for collaboration and to avoid duplication; provide government and funding bodies with robust evidence to inform funding competitions and infrastructure investment or upgrades; and facilitate integration with related technologies such as semiconductors and engineering biology.
The contract will have two components:
1. Undertaking desk-based research and stakeholder engagement with academia, industry and facility operators to capture infrastructure data and user needs; Collaborating closely with the relevant stakeholders to define technical specifications, data standards and governance. Consulting key ecosystem partners (Innovate UK, KTN, STFC, EPSRC, NPL, UKQuantum, Henry Royce Institute, Quantum Hubs, techUK etc.) to ensure accuracy, avoid duplication and secure industry buy-in. Suppliers will also need to set out an onward strategy for ensuring the information held in the database is up to date.
2. Developing the directory into a web-hosted, publicly facing database. Proposing a governance and maintenance model (potentially combining a neutral governance partner, a partner for content quality assurance, and a technical partner for platform development). We are still in the early stages of scoping our requirements for this phase, and how this may interface with existing platforms.
The outputs required are:
- A fully functional, web-based Quantum infrastructure directory featuring a user-friendly interface accessible to non-specialists with smart search and filtering by facility type, capability, access terms, and location;
- API integration to connect with external platforms (such as UKRI databases);
- User contribution and feedback mechanisms to maintain relevance;
- Detailed entries covering equipment and tools, characterisation and testing capabilities, access schemes, contact information, case studies, and educational resources.
Total value (estimated)
- £100,000 excluding VAT
- £120,000 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 22 December 2025 to 31 March 2026
- 3 months, 10 days
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
Engagement
Engagement deadline
4 November 2025
Engagement process description
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, alongside UK Shared Business Services Limited will be hosting a Microsoft Teams meeting to further discuss this requirement before it goes live to the open market.
This Market Engagement Session will be help on Tuesday 4th November 2025, time 10:00. The session will last approximately 90 minutes.
In order to register your interest for this session, please provide the following information to coreservices@uksbs.co.uk, marking the email FTO Lucy Walters / David Gatehouse and referencing our unique reference number of PS25300. Please note organisations will be limited to three attendees.
- Attendee(s) Name
- Attendee(s) Email Address
- Organisation Name
Please register your interest by Friday 31st October 2025 at 17:00 in order to recieve the meeting details for Tuesday 4th November 2025.
The Department is utilising this preliminary market engagement notice to:
(a) make the market aware of the upcoming requirement;
(b) to better understand the market landscape of suppliers who would be able to deliver this requirement;
(c) to gain views on formulation of its requirements;
Following the session, we will look to issue a market engagement questionnaire to those suppliers who have expressed interest to better inform our requirements.
By registering and attending you will be engaging in non-competitive dialogue which will enable DSIT to develop and assess the market's appetite, and views on formulation of its requirements.
DSIT may consider the information and responses received as part of the preliminary market consultation to help inform the specification and further decision making in relation to the planning and conduct of the proposed procurement.
Not registering interest shall not prevent any supplier participating in a future procurement, nor is it intended that any information supplied as part of the preliminary market consultation shall place any supplier at an advantage in a potential procurement process.
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
12 November 2025
Contracting authority
Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVWZ-3216-PVQL
22 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2EG
United Kingdom
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Other organisation
These organisations are carrying out the procurement, or part of it, on behalf of the contracting authorities.
UK Shared Business Services Ltd
Summary of their role in this procurement: Shared Service Provider
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PMPN-7535-GNTG
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Swindon
SN2 1FF
United Kingdom
Email: coreservices@uksbs.co.uk
Region: UKK14 - Swindon