---
title: "\"Airlock\" Output Checking System OCS Decision Engine Development Partner"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-8640d5c4-8f33-4b11-b142-5de918f37abe"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-8640d5c4-8f33-4b11-b142-5de918f37abe"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-8640d5c4-8f33-4b11-b142-5de918f37abe.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-8640d5c4-8f33-4b11-b142-5de918f37abe.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK BIOBANK LIMITED"
published: "2026-07-06"
---

# "Airlock" Output Checking System OCS Decision Engine Development Partner

Buyer: UK BIOBANK LIMITED  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-8640d5c4-8f33-4b11-b142-5de918f37abe

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## Summary

UK Biobank Limited has awarded a contract to Kainos Software Limited for the development of an "Airlock" Output Checking System (OCS) Decision Engine. The procurement, classified under IT services, focuses on enhancing data security and trustworthiness within the UKB Resource and Activity Platform (UKB-RAP). Located in the North West region of the United Kingdom, this procurement is part of an open procedure tender, with the award decision finalised on 22 May 2026. The contract, valued at £2,000,000, is set from 3 July 2026 to 2 July 2032, marking the Award stage of the procurement.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in IT services, particularly those capable of delivering sophisticated data security solutions. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to engage, given the suitability considerations. The focus on developing core algorithms for the OCS Decision Engine offers a pathway for businesses to collaborate on pioneering data control technologies. Enterprises with expertise in automated assessment tools and integration with existing infrastructures will be well-suited to compete and thrive in this sector.

## Notice

UKB is seeking to further improve its technical controls and intends to implement a functional mechanism to check data egress requests to ensure that participant record-level data is not being removed and does not contain information that can identify individual participants. This Output Checking System (OCS) functionality will allow UKB to enhance the security of the UKB-RAP, reduce the risk of advertent and inadvertent data breaches and importantly increase the trust and transparency of the UKB resource. UKB intends to commence a procurement exercise to procure a replacement for the current UKB-RAP in 2027, which will come into effect in 2028. The OCS will need to be integrated with the new UKB-RAP. To develop and deliver the OCS, UKB is separating the procurement into two elements which will need to be fully interoperable: 1. OCS User Interface (UI) and Workflow (subject to a separate tender exercise completed via the CCS G-Cloud 14 framework): The development of a seamless UI and Workflow for the OCS, including secure movement of data and integration with existing UKB infrastructure. 2. The OCS Decision Engine (this procurement): The development of the core algorithms to allow an automated assessment of the data being egressed, giving an overall confidence assessment score and a Red/Amber/Green (RAG) rating for decision making The OCS Decision Engine is made up of two components: 1. Data Trust Engine: reviews the egressed file(s) from UKB-RAP to detect the presence of sensitive information. Through the application of transparent, heuristic rules and configurable thresholds, the Data Trust Engine will create a score for how 'disclosive' the egressed data is that, when coupled with the researcher confidence score below, provides a Red (fail), Amber (unclear) or Green (pass) egress rating. 2. Researcher Behaviour Engine: derives the overall credibility of a given researcher within AMS and UKB-RAP, and assigns a confidence score, which will dictate how human-review decisions are made for 'Amber' outcomes from the Trust Engine. This procurement relates to a development partner to design and deliver the OCS Decision Engine, which will include the Data Trust Engine and Researcher Behaviour Engine. - The evaluation was concluded and a decision to award was made on Friday 22 May 2026 - UK Biobank has provided an assessment summary to each supplier on Friday 19 June 2026 - The standstill period will run until midnight on 30 June 2026

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9e4bf3b6-ff7d-46b4-8af7-d859e1412e68 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 6 Jul 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 1 Jan 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 18 Jun 2026 |
| Contract period | 2 Jul 2026 - 2 Jul 2032 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £2,000,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £2,000,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UK BIOBANK LIMITED |
| Locality | STOCKPORT |
| Post town | Stockport |
| Postcode | SK3 0SA |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD3 Greater Manchester |
| ITL 3 | TLD35 Greater Manchester South East |
| Local authority | Stockport |
| Electoral ward | Davenport & Cale Green |
| Westminster constituency | Stockport |
| Delivery location | TLD North West (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | KAINOS SOFTWARE |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

## Release History

- 6 Jul 2026 at 16:45 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9e4bf3b6-ff7d-46b4-8af7-d859e1412e68

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9e4bf3b6-ff7d-46b4-8af7-d859e1412e68
  6th July 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.mytenders.co.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL171573
  NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the myTenders Web Site at the link provided.

## Provenance

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