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NG-LFRic Project: LFRic Modelling Code Computational Performance Optimisation and Input/Output API infrastructure functionality development in XIOS - Third Procurement Stage Oct 2026 - March 2028

Met Office

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

20 Oct 2026 at 11:57

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

16 Oct 2026 at 16:13

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Met Office commissioned research and software development to improve the computational performance of its LFRic weather-modelling code and develop input/output API infrastructure using XIOS. The work supports Momentum, the Met Office’s next-generation forecasting capability, as it moves towards operational use. It builds on earlier work under the Next Generation Modelling Systems programme, including the Next Generation Architectures and LFRic Infrastructure projects. The initial focus is the global C896 model at 10 km resolution, using more than 10,000 computing cores, full physics and realistic diagnostic workloads. The supplier is also to investigate performance and scalability for kilometre-scale regional models. Performance analysis includes the model time-step and initialisation, using tools such as CrayPAT and Vernier on HPE AMD systems. Delivery is across the United Kingdom.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been awarded to the University of Edinburgh. The Met Office used a competitive selective process, making an award under a framework agreement. There was one lot. The award was made on 7 September 2026, and the contract was signed on 6 October 2026. The contract runs from 16 October 2026 to 31 March 2028, with an optional 12-month extension and a maximum end date of 31 March 2029. Its value is £1,268,467 excluding VAT (£1,522,160.40 including VAT). The procurement data describes the work and technical focus but does not set out evaluation weightings or a detailed scoring basis.

For suppliers assessing this buyer’s future demand, the award indicates a requirement for specialist high-performance-computing research and software engineering applied to operational weather models. A credible competitor would need to optimise complex scientific code, measure model time-step and initialisation costs, and demonstrate performance and scalability across large global and kilometre-scale regional configurations. Experience with LFRic or comparable modelling systems, full-physics workloads and realistic diagnostics would be relevant, alongside practical capability with performance-analysis tools such as CrayPAT and Vernier and HPE AMD computing systems. The work is substantial and technically focused, combining measurable optimisation with development of model input/output infrastructure using XIOS. The route used was a competitive award through a framework, so suppliers would also need to be positioned to compete through an appropriate framework arrangement.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

NG-LFRic Project: LFRic Modelling Code Computational Performance Optimisation and Input/Output API infrastructure functionality development in XIOS - Third Procurement Stage Oct 2026 - March 2028

Notice Description

As the Met Office's next-generation weather forecasting capability, Momentum, moves towards operational implementation, it is essential to build on the foundations established through the Next Generation Modelling Systems (NGMS) Programme, including the Next Generation Architectures (NG-ARCH) and LFRic Infrastructure (NG-LFRic) projects. This work will focus on optimising operational model performance to achieve target resolutions while sustaining a full scientific workload. Initially, efforts will concentrate on the C896 configuration (10 km resolution, 10,000+ cores) with full physics and a realistic diagnostic workload. In parallel, we will investigate the performance and scalability of kilometre-scale regional configurations to support future operational requirements. Following on from the work undertaken on the Initial NG-LFRic project, the Met Office is looking to perform additional LFRic Modelling Code Computational Performance Optimisation, broken down into the cost of the time-step and the initialisation using tools such as CrayPAT and Vernier on HPE AMD systems for key model configurations such as the global 10km C896 model.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078a07
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/098921-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Award under framework
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73110000 - Research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,268,467 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£1,268,467 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
7 Sep 20261 months ago
Contract Period
16 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Met Office
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EXETER
Postcode
EX1 3PB
Postcode Area
Exeter
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK43 Devon CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Exeter
Electoral Ward
Pinhoe
Westminster Constituency
Exmouth and Exeter East

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

University of Edinburgh

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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