Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Cardiff University
Procurement Services, McKenzie House, 30-36 Newport Road
Cardiff
CF24 0DE
UK
Contact person: Procurement Team
Telephone: +44 2920879648
E-mail: HodgkinsR@cardiff.ac.uk
NUTS: UKL
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/business/why-work-with-us/for-suppliers
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0258
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/cardiffuniversity/aspx/Home
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/cardiffuniversity/aspx/Home
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Education
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Supercomputing Wales - Software Maintenance
Reference number: CU.844.RH
II.1.2) Main CPV code
72267000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Supercomputing Wales (SCW) is a GBP20m pan-Wales programme part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Welsh Government (Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO)) to provide a state-of-the-art supercomputing and big data facility for Wales.
The programme is a collaboration between four universities, led by Cardiff University in partnership with Swansea, Bangor and Aberystwyth universities. Researchers at the consortium universities access two supercomputing (high-performance computing (HPC)) hubs, one at Cardiff University and one at Swansea university, via a high-speed network. The facilities allow these users to perform complex calculations which wouldn’t otherwise be possible. Expert Research Software Engineers work with researchers to develop software to utilise the facilities, simulate complex problems and enable innovative, world-class research that will lead to vital research breakthroughs.
An OJEU tender process was conducted on behalf of Supercomputing Wales by Cardiff University in 2017 to award a bespoke framework agreement to provide the technology infrastructure (hardware and software). This resulted in the identification of a main technology lead contractor with a number of authorised subcontractors to supply the research computing infrastructure and relevant support services to Supercomputing Wales. The two HPC hubs were upgraded in 2018 through this framework. Further goods and services have been purchased via the framework since 2018 by both Cardiff and Swansea universities; the majority of these expansion purchases have been funded from other research grants to allow dedicated access or functionality for specific research teams; they also add value to the original ERDF investment.
The framework agreement, of which the signatories are Cardiff University (acting on behalf of the Supercomputing Wales consortium) and a main supplier (acting on behalf of sub-contractors), came to the end of its four-year term in March 2022.
This procurement process is for the following:
New Software Maintenance and Support (M&S) agreements for existing call-off contracts/systems.
Currently there are a number of Call-off Contracts in place between SCW and the lead Contractor. Many of these call-off contracts out-live the overall framework agreement which expired in March 2022. There is therefore now a requirement for new Software Maintenance and Support agreements.
The Cardiff University M&S contract for the main Hawk system expires late September 2022, but as this procurement will likely lead to the purchase of new software, it needs to be in place for testing before that date.
The following is within scope:
Cardiff University Invitation to Tender – ITT Guidance and Instructions
4
Licenses for the multiple components of system software that, together, deliver the optimal performance of the high performance computing infrastructure on research-based workloads: “the software stack”; associated maintenance and support, which includes software updates, fixing of snags and glitches, security patches and guidance, advice and training on using the software.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
300 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
72267000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL22
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Supercomputing Wales (SCW) is a GBP20m pan-Wales programme part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Welsh Government (Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO)) to provide a state-of-the-art supercomputing and big data facility for Wales.
The programme is a collaboration between four universities, led by Cardiff University in partnership with Swansea, Bangor and Aberystwyth universities. Researchers at the consortium universities access two supercomputing (high-performance computing (HPC)) hubs, one at Cardiff University and one at Swansea university, via a high-speed network. The facilities allow these users to perform complex calculations which wouldn’t otherwise be possible. Expert Research Software Engineers work with researchers to develop software to utilise the facilities, simulate complex problems and enable innovative, world-class research that will lead to vital research breakthroughs.
An OJEU tender process was conducted on behalf of Supercomputing Wales by Cardiff University in 2017 to award a bespoke framework agreement to provide the technology infrastructure (hardware and software). This resulted in the identification of a main technology lead contractor with a number of authorised subcontractors to supply the research computing infrastructure and relevant support services to Supercomputing Wales. The two HPC hubs were upgraded in 2018 through this framework. Further goods and services have been purchased via the framework since 2018 by both Cardiff and Swansea universities; the majority of these expansion purchases have been funded from other research grants to allow dedicated access or functionality for specific research teams; they also add value to the original ERDF investment.
The framework agreement, of which the signatories are Cardiff University (acting on behalf of the Supercomputing Wales consortium) and a main supplier (acting on behalf of sub-contractors), came to the end of its four-year term in March 2022.
This procurement process is for the following:
New Software Maintenance and Support (M&S) agreements for existing call-off contracts/systems.
Currently there are a number of Call-off Contracts in place between SCW and the lead Contractor. Many of these call-off contracts out-live the overall framework agreement which expired in March 2022. There is therefore now a requirement for new Software Maintenance and Support agreements.
The Cardiff University M&S contract for the main Hawk system expires late September 2022, but as this procurement will likely lead to the purchase of new software, it needs to be in place for testing before that date.
The following is within scope:
Cardiff University Invitation to Tender – ITT Guidance and Instructions
4
Licenses for the multiple components of system software that, together, deliver the optimal performance of the high performance computing infrastructure on research-based workloads: “the software stack”; associated maintenance and support, which includes software updates, fixing of snags and glitches, security patches and guidance, advice and training on using the software.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 80
Price
/ Weighting:
20
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
May be extended for up to another 12 months
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
Yes
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
18/07/2022
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
CY
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
18/07/2022
Local time: 12:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.3) Additional information
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=122225.
(WA Ref:122225)
The buyer considers that this contract is suitable for consortia.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
Telephone: +44 2079477501
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
16/06/2022