---
title: "Research Data Hosting and Storage Software Solution"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000652905"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000652905"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000652905.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000652905.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
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-r6ebe6-0000652905

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000652905.json)

## Summary

Heriot-Watt University, located in Riccarton, Edinburgh, has completed a procurement process for a "Research Data Hosting and Storage Software Solution" to support the storage of 135TB of research data. The tender was initiated under a limited procurement method, specifically an award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition. The contract, valued at £165,000, was signed on 30 April 2021, and related to the existing cloud-hosted storage solution provided by Dropbox. The procurement has been classified under the goods category and aligns with the education industry.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses, particularly those specialising in cloud storage solutions, data management, and IT support services. Companies that provide innovative data hosting capabilities or have experience in handling large volumes of critical research data would be particularly well-suited to compete in similar future tenders. The nature of the contract also suggests a preference for high-quality service delivery, indicating that suppliers with a proven track record in reliability and technical support will be advantageous candidates.

## 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 | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL422615 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F3 - Contract 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 | 1 Jun 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 | Complete |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| 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 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL422615
- 5 May 2021 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F15 - Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY413789

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY413789
  Research Data Hosting and Storage Software Solution - Heriot-Watt University currently stores 135TB of research data in a cloud hosted and storage solution provided by Dropbox Business.
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL422615
  Research Data Hosting and Storage Software Solution - Heriot-Watt University currently stores 135TB of research data in a cloud hosted and storage solution provided by Dropbox Business.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://hw.ac.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000652905

## 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-r6ebe6-0000652905. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000652905.json.