This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process led by the University Of Edinburgh focused on the acquisition of "Annual Support and OpenStack Upgrades" for their Scientific OpenStack cloud platform. This procurement falls under the education industry category and is located in Edinburgh, UK, specifically at the University's premises. The process concluded with the award stage, with the contract being formally signed on 3rd June 2026. The procurement was executed using a limited method, specifically a Non-Competitive Action due to the technical exclusivity held by StackHPC Ltd, the awarded supplier. This bespoke procurement method was chosen as StackHPC Ltd is the only supplier capable of delivering the necessary enhancements due to their exclusive expertise and proprietary knowledge of the existing platform.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in cloud computing and OpenStack platforms, particularly for those that have or seek to develop strong technical ties with academic institutions like the University of Edinburgh. SMEs in the tech consultancy and software development sectors could greatly benefit from such contracts by establishing themselves as key partners in academic and research settings. The contract's focus on a specialised platform like OpenStack highlights the potential for niche tech firms to leverage their unique capabilities to meet specific institutional needs, thereby encouraging growth and fostering long-term collaborations.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Annual Support and OpenStack Upgrades

Notice Description

Scientific OpenStack cloud platform

Lot Information

Lot 1

Three years support for the Scientific OpenStack cloud platform that is running on the Somerville research cloud platform (operated by SoPA staff and hosted at the ACF).

Procurement Information

The requested software assets will serve as enhancements to the existing Scientific OpenStack platform, which is exclusively developed and maintained by StackHPC Ltd. As the sole developer and maintainer of Scientific OpenStack, StackHPC is the only supplier with the technical expertise and proprietary knowledge required to carry out this work. No alternative suppliers exist that can provide the necessary modifications and support for this specialised platform. Given these circumstances, procurement via a competitive process is not feasible, and the contract has been awarded under a Non-Competitive Action (NCA).

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000834502
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN557834
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems


CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£228,296 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Jun 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
3 Jun 20263 weeks ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH1 1HT
Post Town
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM75 City of Edinburgh

Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

STACKHPC

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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