Prior Information Notice (EOI) - UKRI STFC Scientific Computing Department Data Management System

UKRI's Scientific and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), specifically The Scientific Computing Department (SCD) at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL), intends to purchase replacement Data Management software to support its function of providing an active archive for scientific data. The majority of the data is for the worldwide Large Hadron Collider Computing Grid (wLCG) Tier-1 archive of physics data, from the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) at CERN, managed as part of the UK GridPP project.

In addition, there are also significant holdings of climate modelling data from the Centre for Environmental Data Analysis (CEDA), data from Diamond Light Source Ltd (DLS) and data from STFC's own facilities. Much of this data must be stored indefinitely.

The existing data management system cannot be supported long-term. Therefore an alternative data management system software is required to replace it.

The replacement software must be integrated with any mandatory interfaces required by existing user communities. The solution must be highly scalable and once procured is expected to be in use at least until 2030.

Please see the attached document for more details on this requirement. Additional information: This Prior Information Notice is being issued in order to undertake a market consultation exercise with regards to the requirements detailed above and in section 3 and Attachments.

UKRI STFC intend to hold a supplier engagement day and/ or individual sessions in order to assess the market's appetite, and view on the approach to procuring the requirement. Dates and times for the engagement activities will be communicated after the close date for expressions of interest.

Expressions of Interest to attend must be received at the above email address by no later than 1200hrs BST on Thursday 11th April 2019 (the EOI Deadline). Your email should have the subject heading "UK SBS PR19035 UKRI STFC Scientific Computing Department Data Management System PIN EOI" you should include your company name and the names and contact telephone numbers of up to two representatives wishing to attend the engagement event/s and the email address(s) for reply confirmation.

The location and agenda for the event/s will be issued after the close date for EOI. PLEASE NOTE: Due to coordinating access/ attendance arrangements, Expressions of Interest received after EOI Deadline will not be considered and access to the event/s will not be possible.

UKRI STFC may consider information and responses received as part of the preliminary market consultation to help inform specification and further decision making in relation to the planning and conduct of the proposed procurement. For the avoidance of doubt, this notice is not a Call for Competition; a Contract Notice will be issued as a call for competition.

Not registering an interest shall not prevent any supplier participating in a future procurement, nor is it intended that any information supplied as part of preliminary market consultation shall place any supplier at an advantage in a potential procurement process. Participation in preliminary market consultation will be at each supplier's own cost. UKRI STFC reserves the position not to award a contract.