Scope
Reference
UKB0023
Description
UK Biobank ("UKB") currently hosts a cloud-based health Research Analysis Platform which makes research projects and data accessible to researchers ("RAP"). The current RAP was procured by UKB in 2020 and was developed by DNAnexus, in collaboration with, and cloud infrastructure provided by, Amazon Web Services.
As part of a series of changes to implement UKB's strategy to create a more secure data environment, UKB intends to initiate a procurement exercise for the development of a new RAP ("RAP2.0") and associated services to take account of advances in technology over the past 5 years and its future requirements. The RAP2.0 is anticipated to be the default way that most researchers will access and analyse UKB's biomedical database and it is anticipated to comprise one or more software platforms or data analysis services that work together to meet the diverse functional needs to the research community.
UKB currently intends to undertake separate procurements in relation to (i) the RAP2.0, (ii) cloud infrastructure which will host data on RAP2.0, and (iii) the development of an Output Checking System to control the extraction of data held by UKB for research purposes, whilst ensuring the ongoing security and confidentiality of the data ("OCS"). UKB has established an informatics working group consisting of senior experts who will provide guidance to help develop the requirements for the technology listed at (i) - (iii) above.
It is currently envisaged that the first procurement to be undertaken will relate to the OCS (in the first half of 2026), followed by a procurement for cloud infrastructure (in the second half of 2026), followed by the procurement of the RAP2.0 in 2027.
This updated Preliminary Market Engagement Notice relates to the development of the OCS. Separate Preliminary Market Engagement Notices were published for RAP2.0 and cloud infrastructure in April 2025 and are being updated.
The OCS will act as a data management tool to check compliance with confidentiality requirements when data is exported from the current RAP and RAP2.0. The development of the OCS may also be required for UKB to achieve certification by DHSC/NHS as a Trusted Research Environment for the purpose of continuing to receive and make available linked health record data and is intended to provide additional assurance in addressing the principles set out in the ONS Five Safes Framework.
UKB held two preliminary market engagement meetings with interested suppliers in September 2025. Following additional due diligence carried out by UKB it is now intended that the approach to the procurement of the Output Checking System will be carried out under two procurement processes in the first half of 2026:
A. A proposed procurement for the Workflows and User Interfaces that will form the framework for the OCS which it is intended will be carried out via CCS Framework and will utilise pre-built accelerators in the existing AWS cloud technology stack
B. A proposed procurement for the Decision Engine which forms the key automated decision making element of the OCS and which is intended to be carried out via a competitive procurement process under the Procurement Act 2023
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2032
- 6 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 72230000 - Custom software development services
Contract locations
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKI - London
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
Engagement
Engagement deadline
9 January 2026
Engagement process description
UKB currently envisages that, in addition to the work of the informatics working group, it may engage with suppliers, researchers and users prior to launch of the Airlock procurement. Further details of any proposed engagement would be set out in a further preliminary market engagement notice including the activities to be undertaken (which may take place in stages and may take the form of one-to-one meetings with suppliers, researchers and/or users and/or requests to complete written questionnaires).
Interested organisations should register their interest in this potential opportunity via the following link: tenders@ukbiobank.ac.uk
Contracting authority
UK BIOBANK LIMITED
- Companies House: 04978912
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PXGY-4832-TWCN
Units 1 & 2 Spectrum Way,
Stockport
SK3 0SA
United Kingdom
Email: tenders@ukbiobank.ac.uk
Region: UKD35 - Greater Manchester South East
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government