--- title: "Request for Information - Research Data Storage (RDS) Housekeeping tool" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-a44393a8-3740-409d-94c8-923026d5a7cf" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-a44393a8-3740-409d-94c8-923026d5a7cf" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a44393a8-3740-409d-94c8-923026d5a7cf.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a44393a8-3740-409d-94c8-923026d5a7cf.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER" published: "2025-07-31" --- # Request for Information - Research Data Storage (RDS) Housekeeping tool Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-a44393a8-3740-409d-94c8-923026d5a7cf [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-a44393a8-3740-409d-94c8-923026d5a7cf) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a44393a8-3740-409d-94c8-923026d5a7cf.json) ## Summary The University of Manchester is in the planning stages of a procurement process aimed at acquiring a Research Data Storage (RDS) Housekeeping tool. This Request for Information (RFI) pertains to an unstructured data management tool that will aid in the management and analysis of research data stored on Dell EMC Powerscale/Isilon, totalling 10PB of data. The key focus of this process is to identify and manage metadata, such as data ownership and condition, to optimise storage solutions. The engagement is set to conclude on the 21st of August, 2025. The procurement falls under the 'Data Services' industry category, classified with the CPV code 72300000, and is located in Manchester, England. The process is in the planning stage and is not a formal bid request, as it seeks information only. The RFI presents potential growth opportunities for businesses specialising in data management and storage solutions, especially those adept in handling large datasets and complex metadata analysis. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE) are indicated as suitable contenders for this opportunity. Due to the University of Manchester's status as an institution receiving public funds, there is an emphasis on managing expenditure effectively and seeking value for money, which firms with competitive and innovative solutions can exploit. Information and requirements will be made available through the University's procurement portal, allowing interested businesses easy access to participation. ## Notice The University is undertaking a project to purchase an unstructured data management tool to assist us in carrying out "housekeeping" on the files/folders stored within our Research Data Storage (RDS). RDS is on Dell EMC Powerscale/Isilon. We need to scan and analyse the metadata belonging to 10PB of research data (~ 3.5 billion files). The tool will assist in identification of, for example, the owners, whether the data is cold or warm, duplicate and orphan data. It will allow us to tag files/folders with tags such as "cold", "retain-until-2040", "faculty", "school", "classification". The tool will allow us to move data to our new, tape, cold storage platform. The University of Manchester no longer meets the criteria of a 'body governed by public law' and is therefore not considered a contracting authority for the purposes of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and/or any replacement legislation. As a result, the University of Manchester will no longer be subject to the regime contained in The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and/or any replacement legislation with effect from 1 August 2023. However, as an institution founded for the public good, an exempt charity and an organization in receipt of public funds, the University has a duty to manage expenditure in an appropriate manner and aims to deliver value for money across its non-pay spend by adhering to good procurement practice Additional information: Information, formalities and necessary requirements to be met will be set out in the procurement documents, all of which are freely available via the University's procurement portal In-Tend - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/manchesteruniversity Please note - This process is not a formal request for bids. The RFI may ask for prices/costs but this is for information purposes only at this stage. The publication of this RFI does not commit the University to any procurement. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ab64bac7-a362-4aeb-8f41-a204557166e3 | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 31 Jul 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 21 Aug 2025 | | 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 OF MANCHESTER | | Locality | MANCHESTER | | Post town | Manchester | | Postcode | M13 9PL | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD3 Greater Manchester | | ITL 3 | TLD33 Manchester | | Local authority | Manchester | | Electoral ward | Hulme | | Westminster constituency | Manchester Rusholme | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ### Codes - 72300000 - Data services ## Release History - 31 Jul 2025 at 08:54 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ab64bac7-a362-4aeb-8f41-a204557166e3 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ab64bac7-a362-4aeb-8f41-a204557166e3 31st July 2025 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder ## Notice URLs - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/manchesteruniversity ## 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-a44393a8-3740-409d-94c8-923026d5a7cf. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a44393a8-3740-409d-94c8-923026d5a7cf.json.