---
title: "Research Data Hosting and Storage Software Solution"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02ad58"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02ad58"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02ad58.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02ad58.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY"
published: "2021-07-30"
---

# Research Data Hosting and Storage Software Solution

Buyer: HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02ad58

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## Summary

The recent procurement process initiated by Heriot-Watt University involved a tender for a "Research Data Hosting and Storage Software Solution," classified under goods with a specific focus on storage management software. Located in Riccarton, Edinburgh, this procurement stage is currently in an award status, with a contract signed on 1 June 2021. The estimated value of the contract is £165,000, reflecting the substantial investment in managing over 135TB of important research data, which has specific delivery requirements within the UKM75 region. This tender was conducted using a limited procurement method, allowing for negotiations without prior publication of a call for competition.

This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses specialising in cloud-based storage solutions and related support services. Companies that focus on data management, storage, or cloud computing would be particularly well-positioned to compete, especially those capable of offering tailored solutions with minimal disruption to critical research activities. The engagement with Dropbox highlights the need for robust support capabilities, indicating that firms with extensive experience in handling large-scale data migrations and maintenance would find this procurement process especially relevant for business growth.

## Notice

Heriot-Watt University currently stores 135TB of research data in a cloud hosted and storage solution provided by Dropbox Business.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Heriot-Watt University currently stores over 135TB of key dynamic research data within a cloud hosted and storage software solution provided by Dropbox Business.

### Procurement Information

Heriot-Watt University has entered into a contract with Dropbox Inc. in accordance with Paragraph 33 Part 4(b) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. Specifically, the contract pertains to purchasing additional supplies of an existing research data storage solution with relevant support and maintenance element which is cloud hosted. Any change to such a supply arrangement would oblige Heriot-Watt University to encounter a solution with different technical characteristics resulting in a high level of disproportionate technical difficulty being encountered in implementing and the subsequent operation of the system due to the challenges of transferring a large volume of critically important research data. Any file transfer process would require to be specifically designed and would require to incorporate several iterative actions and subsequent planned downtime with disruption to key research programmes. Additionally, the capacity to migrate large volumes of data would require the involvement of a third party adding to the disproportionate complexity of the process whilst increasing the risk data corruption to critical research projects.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018186-2021 |
| Notice type | 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 |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 30 Jul 2021 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 29 Apr 2021 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £165,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY |
| Locality | RICCARTON, EDINBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH14 4AP |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM13 City of Edinburgh |
| Local authority | City of Edinburgh |
| Electoral ward | Pentland Hills |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh South West |
| Delivery location | TLM75 City of Edinburgh |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | DROPBOX |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 48 - Software package and information systems

### Codes

- 48782000 - Storage management software package

## Release History

- 30 Jul 2021 at 08:15 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018186-2021
- 5 May 2021 at 13:14 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009703-2021

## Notice URLs

- http://hw.ac.uk
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00307

## 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-h6vhtk-02ad58. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02ad58.json.