--- title: "AIRR Expansion AI Cloud Compute" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05a227" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05a227" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05a227.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05a227.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY" published: "2026-02-04" --- # AIRR Expansion AI Cloud Compute Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05a227 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05a227) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05a227.json) ## Summary ```html The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) is initiating a procurement process under the title "AIRR Expansion AI Cloud Compute" to expand the UK's AI Research Resource. This contract, valued at up to £250,000,000, is currently in the planning stage and seeks to increase the existing advanced compute capacity significantly. The procurement, which falls under the services category, focuses on integrating cloud compute resources to support AI research across the UK. A key milestone is a webinar scheduled for 10th February 2026 to engage with potential suppliers. This project, aligned with the AI Opportunities Action Plan, aims to enhance access to AI-optimised computing resources in a flexible and scalable manner across the country. A formal engagement session will take place to gather feedback and specifications from interested suppliers. This tender provides a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in IT services, data storage, and network management, particularly those listed under the CCS Technology Services 4 framework. Enterprises can leverage this procurement to establish themselves as strategic partners in delivering cutting-edge AI capabilities within the UK. It presents an ideal growth platform for companies with strategic cloud brokerage capabilities and those experienced in managed services and cloud platform integration. Engaging in this process allows businesses to showcase their innovation and capability, potentially influencing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and public sector bodies. Suppliers are advised to prepare for competitive selection by evaluating their cloud service partnerships and internal resource capacities ahead of the tender. ``` ## Notice The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is responsible for delivering the UK's ambitions set out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, and the UK Compute Roadmap, including expanding the existing advanced compute capacity of the AI Research Resource (AIRR). AIRR currently comprises of two AI-optimised supercomputers (Dawn at University of Cambridge and Isambard-AI at University of Bristol). The UK government has committed to expanding this compute capacity 20x by 2030 through a blended portfolio that combines on-premises systems with cloud-based compute. The procurement is focused on: Scaling access to AI-appropriate compute for UK researchers, SMEs and public bodies; Supporting innovation across the UK digital and research ecosystem; Enhancing flexibility to match varying workload and user needs. DSIT intends to procure a single supplier in a managed service provider capacity to integrate cloud compute resources into the existing AIRR ecosystem. This shall be conducted via a two-stage competitive selection process of Lot 6 suppliers on the CCS framework RM6190 Technology Services 4. The successful supplier shall be responsible for: Strategic Cloud Brokerage and Aggregation - managing relationships and subcontracts with Cloud Service Providers (CSPs), ensuring flexible and cost-effective access to accelerated compute. AIRR Cloud Platform integration - developing a platform layer that integrates with the existing AIRRPortal and provides user support and usage visibility. Managed Services including optimisation, forecasting, security, reporting and operation management. DSIT anticipates that the successful supplier will be required over the duration of the contract to establish and manage subcontracts with a range of CSPs to meet diverse workload needs across the AIRR programme. In addition, the supplier may also utilise their own internal cloud resources, where appropriate, to fulfil the requirements and ensure optimal service delivery. The competition process is being designed under CCS Tech Services 4 Lot 6. Suppliers on Lot 6 TS4 may wish to begin exploring potential CSP partnerships in advance of this procurement at their own risk. ### Planning Information DSIT, in collaboration with CCS, shall host a webinar on 10th February 2026 at 10:00AM with suppliers on Lot 6 Tech Services 4. DSIT is seeking feedback on: The Feasibility of the delivery partner model Proposed timelines Commercial and Technical Assumptions Supplier capacity and interest. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009957-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 4 Feb 2026 | | Submission deadline | 30 Nov 2025 | | Future notice date | 4 Nov 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 22 Jun 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £214,439,710 | | Lots value | £214,439,710 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | South West London | | Postcode | SW1A 2EG | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London | | Local authority | Westminster | | Electoral ward | St James's | | Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster | | 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 - 72315000 - Data network management and support services - 72317000 - Data storage services - 72416000 - Application service providers - 72500000 - Computer-related services ## Release History - 4 Feb 2026 at 12:48 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009957-2026 - 10 Dec 2025 at 16:09 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081657-2025 - 10 Dec 2025 at 14:29 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081554-2025 - 1 Dec 2025 at 13:32 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078492-2025 - 21 Nov 2025 at 09:57 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075900-2025 - 26 Sep 2025 at 09:52 - PlanningUpdate - UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060026-2025 - 25 Sep 2025 at 12:49 - Planning - UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059707-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009957-2026 4th February 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081657-2025 10th December 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081554-2025 10th December 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078492-2025 1st December 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075900-2025 21st November 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060026-2025 26th September 2025 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059707-2025 25th September 2025 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-05a227. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05a227.json.