CONTRACT NOTICE – NATIONAL

1 Authority Details

1.1

Authority Name and Address

1.2

Address from which documentation may be obtained

As in 1.1

1.3

Completed documents must be returned to:

As in 1.1

2 Contract Details

2.1

Title

Supercomputing Wales Project Final Evaluation

2.2

Description of the goods or services required

The Supercomputing Wales ERDF Operation (SCW, “the Operation”) is a programme of investment in the university sector in Wales led by Cardiff University, in a consortium with Aberystwyth, Bangor and Swansea universities.

With an estimated total cost of £16m, the programme will fund the purchase and running of new High Performance Computing (HPC) hubs at Cardiff and Swansea, along with necessary technical posts to support the operation of the equipment. The programme will also support a new cohort of ‘Research Software Engineers’ to work with academic researchers to develop software and algorithms using the supercomputing facilities. The programme is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund via Welsh Government (c. £9m in total), and by the university partners.

During the lifetime of the Operation (1 July 2015-30 September 2021), it is required to undertake three separate external independent evaluations to provide supporting evidence for how the programme is delivering against its aims, and how it contributes to the wider objectives of European Structural Funds and Welsh Government Policy in Wales.

The aim of this procurement is to procure external services to evaluate and report on the activities of the Supercomputing Wales Operation by implementing the following evaluations:

Final Evaluation, contract to end 30th November 2021 with a view to first draft report being submitted and corresponding follow-up meeting taking place before 30th September 2021, in line with operation end date.

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=110527.

2.3

Notice Coding and Classification

2.4

Total quantity or scope of tender

The Supercomputing Wales ERDF Operation (SCW, “the Operation”) is a programme of investment in the university sector in Wales led by Cardiff University, in a consortium with Aberystwyth, Bangor and Swansea universities.

With an estimated total cost of £16m, the programme will fund the purchase and running of new High Performance Computing (HPC) hubs at Cardiff and Swansea, along with necessary technical posts to support the operation of the equipment. The programme will also support a new cohort of ‘Research Software Engineers’ to work with academic researchers to develop software and algorithms using the supercomputing facilities. The programme is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund via Welsh Government (c. £9m in total), and by the university partners.

During the lifetime of the Operation (1 July 2015-30 September 2021), it is required to undertake three separate external independent evaluations to provide supporting evidence for how the programme is delivering against its aims, and how it contributes to the wider objectives of European Structural Funds and Welsh Government Policy in Wales.

The aim of this procurement is to procure external services to evaluate and report on the activities of the Supercomputing Wales Operation by implementing the following evaluations:

Final Evaluation, contract to end 30th November 2021 with a view to first draft report being submitted and corresponding follow-up meeting taking place before 30th September 2021, in line with operation end date.

3 Conditions for Participation

3.1

Minimum standards and qualification required

As stated in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) documents.

4 Administrative Information

4.1

Type of Procedure

Single stage

4.2

Reference number attributed to the notice by the contracting authority

CU.640.JP

4.3

Time Limits

4.5

Language or languages in which tenders or requests to participate can be drawn up

Welsh

4.6

Tender Submission Postbox

5 Other Information

5.1

Additional Information

All tender costs and liabilities incurred by bidders shall be the sole responsibility of bidders.

The University reserves the right to award the contract in whole or in part.

The University reserves the right to annul the tendering process and not award any contract.

All documents to be priced in GBP and all payments made in GBP.

All documents to be priced in GBP excluding VAT

(WA Ref:110527)

Relates to the following project/programme financed by EU Community Funds: The procured goods and services will be used on the Supercomputing Wales Operation (Welsh European Funding Office case number 80900 for East Wales, case number 80898 for West Wales and the Valleys), which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government

5.2

Additional Documentation

5.3

Publication date of this notice