---
title: "Provision of artificial intelligence hardware and software"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-03614b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03614b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03614b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03614b.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE"
published: "2023-03-07"
---

# Provision of artificial intelligence hardware and software

Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-03614b

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## Summary

The University of Strathclyde has recently completed a procurement process for the provision of artificial intelligence hardware and software. The procurement stage was completed, and the main procurement category was goods. The University of Strathclyde, located in Glasgow, United Kingdom, initiated this tender. The equipment to be procured consists of state-of-the-art GPU-powered servers for data-driven AI research in medicines manufacturing. The tender was cancelled, and the award status was unsuccessful.

This tender process could have offered opportunities for businesses specialising in software development services and computer systems. The procurement method was a limited negotiation without publication of a contract notice. Businesses suited for this opportunity would have expertise in GPU technology and AI hardware development. The tender was tailored for research purposes within a university setting, aligning with The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. The University of Strathclyde, a public body governed by public law, acted as the buyer in this procurement process.

## Notice

The equipment to be procured is state of the art GPU-powered servers that enhance and massively accelerate our data-driven AI research for medicines manufacturing.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The system to be procured is state of the art GPU-powered servers that enhance and massively accelerate our data-driven AI research for medicines manufacturing. The system shall have: - GPUs: 8x NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPUs - CPU Specifications: 6912 CUDA cores & 432 TF32 Tensor Cores per GPU - GPU Memory: 80GB per GPU - 640GB total - GPU Interconnet: 6x NVSwitch - Host CPUs: 2x AMD EPYC 7742, total 128 cores / 256 threads - System Memory: 2TB ECC Reg DDR4 - System Drives: 2x 1.92TB NVMe SSDs - Storage Drivers: 8x 3.84TB NVMe SSDs - Networking: 8x single-port NVIDIA ConnectX-6 VPI 200Gb/s Infiniband. 2x NVIDIA ConnectX-6 VPI 200Gb/s Ethernet or 8x single-port NVIDIA ConnectX-7 VPI 200Gb/s Infiniband. 2x NVIDIA ConnectX-7 VPI 200Gb/s Ethernet - Operatin system: Ubuntu Linux - Power Requirement: 6.5kW - Operating Temperature Range: 5oC to 30oC (41oF to 86oF) The System (DGX with NVIDIA A100 AI System )to be provided by Scan Computers International Limited meets all of these requirements and is built to a high standard which will in turn maximise it's up-time and lifespan at University of Strathclyde which will directly the engage the research projects the system will support. The system is required as soon as possible to support the research timelines required by the University: Nvidia, as key hardware component suppliers, work closely with Scan who are the providers of the assembled GPU servers we require for our research. Nvidia prioritise hardware delivery to Scan and as such, Scan are in a position to deliver the final product in an 8-week timeframe. This is exceptionally fast given current global hardware shortages which are causing large companies and even governments to wait up to 12 months for hardware. This is an essential elements of this purchase. Uniqueness of Scan offering: Scan will provide after care support not only in terms of support for the commissioning of the hardware but in terms of familiarisation with software platforms which will be required by the research teams at Strathclyde. Via Scan, we will have access to Nvidia's leading AI experts. This will allow us to unlock the full potential of the hardware in a timely manner which is crucial for delivery on a number of significant, large value (10mGBP) research programmes. Scan's ability to assemble the GPU servers and support of the software that runs on top makes them uniquely placed to deliver our bespoke AI, modelling and simulation platform and within the timelines required of our funded research projects, which are already live and in need of the proposed compute resource.

Options: The Contracting Authority reserves the right to request additional deliveries by the Successful Tenderer, either intended as partial replacement of supplies or installations or as extensions of existing supplies and installations. The Contracting Authority may at it's sole discretion exercise this option.

### Procurement Information

This hardware and software is manufactured specifically to support research within a University environment. This procurement meets the requirements of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. Regulation 33.4(a)

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006633-2023 |
| 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 | 7 Mar 2023 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 18 Jul 2022 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £195,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Cancelled |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active, Unsuccessful |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE |
| Locality | GLASGOW |
| Post town | Glasgow |
| Postcode | G1 1QE |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM3 West Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM32 Glasgow City |
| Local authority | Glasgow City |
| Electoral ward | Anderston/City/Yorkhill |
| Westminster constituency | Glasgow North East |
| Delivery location | TLM82 Glasgow City |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | SCAN COMPUTERS INTERNATIONAL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 48 - Software package and information systems
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 48900000 - Miscellaneous software package and computer systems
- 72212900 - Miscellaneous software development services and computer systems

## Release History

- 7 Mar 2023 at 15:48 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006633-2023
- 22 Aug 2022 at 09:03 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023214-2022

## Notice URLs

- http://www.strath.ac.uk/
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000703757
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00113

## 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-03614b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03614b.json.