Award

AI Roadmap

OPEN UNIVERSITY(THE)

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

26 Feb 2024 at 12:15

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Open University has awarded a contract for their "AI Roadmap" project. The contract falls under the IT services category, with a total value of £999,999.60. The procurement method used was selective, involving call-off from a framework agreement. The contract period is from February 26, 2024, to February 25, 2026. The procurement stage was at the award stage as of February 22, 2024, after a tender period that ended on January 15, 2024. The buying organisation, The Open University, is located in Milton Keynes, England.

This contract presents opportunities for SMEs with expertise in MLOps, AI, ML Models, Data Engineering, BI, Application Development, and Cloud Support. The project aims to develop and deploy various AI-based services using Microsoft's Azure cloud platform. Businesses well-suited to compete in this tender are those with capabilities in MLOps implementation, web application development, and other AI initiatives. The selected supplier for the contract is Innovation Technology and Business Solutions Limited, which aligns with the Open University's preference for the .NET framework for application development.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

AI Roadmap

Notice Description

The AI Roadmap is a multi-year programme for the Open University (OU) that will enable the development and deployment of a series of AI based services. These services will be primarily developed using Microsoft's Azure cloud platform. To achieve this, the OU will at times require external support to supplement the skills and capabilities of the existing AI Roadmap team. Support will be required in the next 6 months for MLOps implementation and web application development support, and potentially for other initiatives at some point over the next 2 years. The ML Ops implementation, known as Project 1, will be the realisation of our newly defined MLOps framework. This will see the development and deployment of all new ML models built using this framework, whilst existing ML models will be retrospectively adapted to ensure overall operational efficiencies, increased automation, and a reduction in overall risk to the development and use of AI capabilities. The application development support, known as Project 2, will cover the Student Performance Tracker (SPT) development. This will involve the development of a pilot data application built on MS Azure and aimed at the operational use of AI solutions in supporting student outcomes. As part of the SPT development process, the .NET framework will be used for development of the application's backend. To bring our QME application in line with SPT development, Project 3 will be undertaken to retrospectively change that application's backend to .NET framework as well. .NET is the Buyer's preferred backend development framework for all application development. The OU require a single supplier with the appropriate expertise across MLOps, AI, ML Models, Data Engineering, BI, Application Development and Cloud Support over the next 2 years.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-8f4543cf-ca5f-4822-91a7-aadb792d1771
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c19a929e-e876-44b8-a846-1851b1cfaeb4
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Call-off from a framework agreement
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£999,999 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£999,999 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Feb 20241 years ago
Submission Deadline
15 Jan 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
22 Feb 20242 years ago
Contract Period
26 Feb 2024 - 25 Feb 2026 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
OPEN UNIVERSITY(THE)
Contact Name
Procurement Team
Contact Email
fbs-procurement@open.ac.uk
Contact Phone
01908655814

Buyer Location

Locality
MILTON KEYNES
Postcode
MK7 6AA
Post Town
Milton Keynes
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ12 Milton Keynes
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Milton Keynes
Electoral Ward
Monkston
Westminster Constituency
Milton Keynes Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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