Planning

Output Checking System (formerly badged Airlock Software) for Research Analysis Platform

UK BIOBANK LIMITED

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

10 Dec 2025 at 17:39

PlanningUpdate

26 Aug 2025 at 13:06

Planning

23 Apr 2025 at 14:15

Summary of the contracting process

UK Biobank Limited, a sub-central public authority, is initiating a procurement process for an Output Checking System (formerly the Airlock Software) to enhance its Research Analysis Platform (RAP). The planned procurement is in the 'planning' stage, with key activities such as supplier and researcher engagement scheduled, culminating in an execution likely to begin in early 2026. The procurement is strategically phased to align with advancements in data management and confidentiality requirements and is central to UK Biobank's commitment to securely hosting their cloud-based health research projects. The initiative covers various regions across the UK and addresses the need for custom software development services.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in technology and custom software development, particularly those proficient in working with cloud-based infrastructure. Companies that focus on security, compliance tools, and data management systems would find this project well-suited to their expertise. Moreover, the possibility of leveraging frameworks like AWS and participating in competitive procurement processes aligned with the new Procurement Act 2023 further adds to the growth potential for these businesses. The contract, slated to start mid-2026 and end in 2032, offers long-term collaboration prospects, encouraging enterprise readiness in meeting UK Biobank's evolving data analysis and management needs.

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Notice Title

Output Checking System (formerly badged Airlock Software) for Research Analysis Platform

Notice 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

Planning Information

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

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05067c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081712-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

72230000 - Custom software development services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
9 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Jun 2026 - 30 Jun 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK BIOBANK LIMITED
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
tenders@ukbiobank.ac.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
STOCKPORT
Postcode
SK3 0SA
Post Town
Stockport
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD35 Greater Manchester South East
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)

Local Authority
Stockport
Electoral Ward
Davenport & Cale Green
Westminster Constituency
Stockport

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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