Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

FORTE Project Tapeout Rounds 5+

University Of Edinburgh

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

13 Aug 2026 at 01:00

PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Edinburgh procured fabrication of integrated circuits for the EPSRC FORTE (Functional Oxide Reconfigurable Technologies) research project. This was the project’s fifth engineering run, or “tape-out”, requiring continuity of materials, manufacturing processes and quality. The work involved accessing TSMC fabrication services through EUROPRACTICE, with IMEC acting as intermediary. The circuits use TSMC’s proprietary Process Design Kit and licensed intellectual-property libraries, with a niche combination of technical characteristics intended to meet safety, interoperability and performance requirements. The procurement was for goods, classified under CPV 31700000 and 31220000. Delivery is associated with the University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh. The University is the buyer and a central purchasing body. The award also allows additional purchases within the same specification if the requirements and product parameters remain unchanged.

This procurement has been awarded and the contract is active. It used a limited procedure without prior publication of a call for competition, on the stated basis that technical requirements could be supplied by only one economic operator. IMEC was selected as the supplier for the single lot. One bid was received, from an EU supplier, and it was submitted electronically; no SME bids were recorded. The contract was signed on 27 March 2026. Its value is £102,200. The procurement was evaluated on the technical match required for the FORTE tape-out, including continuity of materials and processes, and the safety, interoperability and performance requirements. The award was covered by the Government Procurement Agreement. The contract outcome is recorded as complete, while the contract itself is active.

This opportunity is relevant to specialist semiconductor manufacturers, foundries and technology intermediaries able to deliver research integrated-circuit fabrication through established supply-chain arrangements. A credible competitor would need access to advanced fabrication services, the ability to work with proprietary process design kits and licensed IP libraries, and demonstrable control of materials, process continuity and product quality across repeated engineering runs. The requirement also favours suppliers able to provide a precise technical match for a niche circuit configuration while meeting safety, interoperability and performance needs. IMEC’s award shows the buyer values an intermediary capable of connecting European research customers with TSMC fabrication. Suppliers should therefore have strong semiconductor fabrication partnerships, research-project delivery experience and the technical capacity to support repeat tape-outs to consistent specifications.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

FORTE Project Tapeout Rounds 5+

Notice Description

The fabrication for integrated circuits on the EPSRC Project FORTE (Functional Oxide Reconfigurable Technologies)

Lot Information

Lot 1

This procurement is for fabrication of integrated circuits on the EPSRC Project FORTE (Functional Oxide Reconfigurable Technologies, details here: https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/projects/functional-oxide-reconfigurable-technologies-forte-a-programme-gr). This is the fifth engineering run, known as a "tape out" for this project. To support our integrated circuit design research within the FORTE project, all tape-outs must be processed in the same way to ensure continuity of materials, processes and quality to ensure continuity of research. The tape-out must be processed through EUROPRACTICE, utilizing imec as the intermediary to access TSMC's fabrication services which are otherwise not available to any other customer in Europe and the UK. The design is built using TSMC's proprietary Process Design Kit and specific IP libraries that are licensed exclusively for use with TSMC fabrication. The specific combinations of technical characteristics is a niche configuration. No other manufacturer can provide an identical technical match that meets the safety, interoperability, and performance requirements. As such, there is currently only 1 supplier who can provide a product that meets the University's requirements.

Options: The University reserves the right for additional purchases that fall within the specification and requirements of this award should all the parameters and need for the products remain unchanged.

Procurement Information

This procurement is for fabrication of integrated circuits on the EPSRC Project FORTE (Functional Oxide Reconfigurable Technologies, details here: https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/projects/functional-oxide-reconfigurable-technologies-forte-a-programme-gr). This is the fifth engineering run, known as a "tape out" for this project. To support our integrated circuit design research within the FORTE project, all tape-outs must be processed in the same way to ensure continuity of materials, processes and quality to ensure continuity of research. The tape-out must be processed through EUROPRACTICE, utilizing imec as the intermediary to access TSMC's fabrication services which are otherwise not available to any other customer in Europe and the UK. The design is built using TSMC's proprietary Process Design Kit and specific IP libraries that are licensed exclusively for use with TSMC fabrication. The specific combinations of technical characteristics is a niche configuration. No other manufacturer can provide an identical technical match that meets the safety, interoperability, and performance requirements. As such, there is currently only 1 supplier who can provide a product that meets the University's requirements.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000840143
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG562280
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
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting

CPV Codes

31220000 - Electrical circuit components

31700000 - Electronic, electromechanical and electrotechnical supplies

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£102,200 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
27 Mar 20265 months 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

Buyer & Supplier

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
Postcode Area
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

IMEC

Further Information

Notice Documents

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.

Loading OCDS record...