--- title: "Request for Information for Data Centre Co-Location Services" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-06d89631-898e-4108-898b-f6e67f5b04f7" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-06d89631-898e-4108-898b-f6e67f5b04f7" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-06d89631-898e-4108-898b-f6e67f5b04f7.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-06d89631-898e-4108-898b-f6e67f5b04f7.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON" published: "2019-12-16" --- # Request for Information for Data Centre Co-Location Services Buyer: UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-06d89631-898e-4108-898b-f6e67f5b04f7 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-06d89631-898e-4108-898b-f6e67f5b04f7) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-06d89631-898e-4108-898b-f6e67f5b04f7.json) ## Summary The University College London (UCL) is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "Request for Information for Data Centre Co-Location Services". This procurement falls under the classification of IT services and aims to identify suitable suppliers capable of providing data centre co-location services, particularly for high performance computing (HPC) equipment. The engagement end date for suppliers to submit their information is set for 27 January 2019. The services will primarily be required at UCL's campus in London, where the institution seeks to expand its data centre capacity to support current and future projects. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the IT services sector, especially those specialising in data centre solutions, high performance computing, and innovative cooling technologies. Companies that have expertise in managing high power density requirements and can provide flexible data centre space are particularly well-suited to compete. Additionally, businesses that can respond promptly to the fluctuating demands associated with research grant-funded projects may find this opportunity particularly beneficial for their growth and expansion. ## Notice Background to the Project / Contract: UCL currently has one main onsite data centre on its London campus and also makes use of co-location space hosted by a data centre provider located outside London. UCL wishes to appoint a Supplier for the provision of Data Centre Co-location Services, predominantly to host High Performance Computing (HPC) equipment. UCL is therefore looking to identify Suppliers who have the capacity and capability within the marketplace by way of seeking a response to this RFI. The requirement: UCL has identified the requirements for off-site data centre co-location space as a result of a number of current and proposed projects. These initiatives are coupled with a demand to provide more data centre space for customers. The interested Suppliers are requested to provide information for each of the following requirements summarising how they can meet and/or exceed UCL's requirements. HPC systems tend to require higher power densities than typical IT equipment. 30kW cabinets are now regarded as entry level, with 40kW and above likely to be needed in the near future. Due to the use of low latency network interconnects the cabinets need to be located closely together and ideally it needs to be possible to expand into adjacent space over time. Vendors of HPC solutions generally prefer to provide their own cabinets and these are usually delivered with systems pre-populated in them, which can present logistics challenges. There is an emerging requirement for innovative cooling solutions - notably the connection of servers to a water supply to provide CPU cooling. As the majority of HPC usage is for research activities, equipment is increasingly funded via Research grants to the university. This brings additional challenges as not all grant bids are successful. However, when they are, there are usually very aggressive timescales associated for purchase and installation of equipment. This means that UCL often needs to obtain data centre capacity at short notice, with a high degree of certainty that it will be available. Accurately predicting future capacity can also be very difficult. Additional information: You are being invited to participate in the RFI for Request for Information for Data Centre Co-Location Services UCL-PROC-919. The process will be managed via our Intend system. The link to Intend is here https://in-tendhost.co.uk/ucl/. If your company is not registered on Intend, you will need to create an account via the link above so that you can attached yourself to the project. For troubles registering please email procurement@ucl.ac.uk mentioning UCL-PROC-919 in the subject line. Note that ALL other queries or correspondence must be sent via Intend. I wish you well with the opportunity. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f68cfa20-55e4-49d6-8cc1-dc692ebcaed0 | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 16 Dec 2019 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 27 Jan 2019 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | Central London | | Postcode | WC1E 6BT | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI36 Camden | | Local authority | Camden | | Electoral ward | Bloomsbury | | Westminster constituency | Holborn and St Pancras | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ### Codes - 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ## Release History - 16 Dec 2019 at 09:34 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f68cfa20-55e4-49d6-8cc1-dc692ebcaed0 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f68cfa20-55e4-49d6-8cc1-dc692ebcaed0 16th December 2019 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/ucl/ Tendering Portal ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-06d89631-898e-4108-898b-f6e67f5b04f7. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-06d89631-898e-4108-898b-f6e67f5b04f7.json.