---
title: "FORTE Project Tapeout Rounds 5+"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000840143"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000840143"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000840143.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000840143.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "University Of Edinburgh"
published: "2026-08-13"
---

# FORTE Project Tapeout Rounds 5+

Buyer: University Of Edinburgh  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000840143

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## Summary

The University of Edinburgh procured fabrication of integrated circuits for the EPSRC FORTE (Functional Oxide Reconfigurable Technologies) research project. This was the project’s fifth engineering run, or “tape-out”, requiring continuity of materials, manufacturing processes and quality. The work involved accessing TSMC fabrication services through EUROPRACTICE, with IMEC acting as intermediary. The circuits use TSMC’s proprietary Process Design Kit and licensed intellectual-property libraries, with a niche combination of technical characteristics intended to meet safety, interoperability and performance requirements. The procurement was for goods, classified under CPV 31700000 and 31220000. Delivery is associated with the University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh. The University is the buyer and a central purchasing body. The award also allows additional purchases within the same specification if the requirements and product parameters remain unchanged.

This procurement has been awarded and the contract is active. It used a limited procedure without prior publication of a call for competition, on the stated basis that technical requirements could be supplied by only one economic operator. IMEC was selected as the supplier for the single lot. One bid was received, from an EU supplier, and it was submitted electronically; no SME bids were recorded. The contract was signed on 27 March 2026. Its value is £102,200. The procurement was evaluated on the technical match required for the FORTE tape-out, including continuity of materials and processes, and the safety, interoperability and performance requirements. The award was covered by the Government Procurement Agreement. The contract outcome is recorded as complete, while the contract itself is active.

This opportunity is relevant to specialist semiconductor manufacturers, foundries and technology intermediaries able to deliver research integrated-circuit fabrication through established supply-chain arrangements. A credible competitor would need access to advanced fabrication services, the ability to work with proprietary process design kits and licensed IP libraries, and demonstrable control of materials, process continuity and product quality across repeated engineering runs. The requirement also favours suppliers able to provide a precise technical match for a niche circuit configuration while meeting safety, interoperability and performance needs. IMEC’s award shows the buyer values an intermediary capable of connecting European research customers with TSMC fabrication. Suppliers should therefore have strong semiconductor fabrication partnerships, research-project delivery experience and the technical capacity to support repeat tape-outs to consistent specifications.

## Notice

The fabrication for integrated circuits on the EPSRC Project FORTE (Functional Oxide Reconfigurable Technologies)

### Lot Information

Lot 1

This procurement is for fabrication of integrated circuits on the EPSRC Project FORTE (Functional Oxide Reconfigurable Technologies, details here: https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/projects/functional-oxide-reconfigurable-technologies-forte-a-programme-gr). This is the fifth engineering run, known as a "tape out" for this project. To support our integrated circuit design research within the FORTE project, all tape-outs must be processed in the same way to ensure continuity of materials, processes and quality to ensure continuity of research. The tape-out must be processed through EUROPRACTICE, utilizing imec as the intermediary to access TSMC's fabrication services which are otherwise not available to any other customer in Europe and the UK. The design is built using TSMC's proprietary Process Design Kit and specific IP libraries that are licensed exclusively for use with TSMC fabrication. The specific combinations of technical characteristics is a niche configuration. No other manufacturer can provide an identical technical match that meets the safety, interoperability, and performance requirements. As such, there is currently only 1 supplier who can provide a product that meets the University's requirements.

Options: The University reserves the right for additional purchases that fall within the specification and requirements of this award should all the parameters and need for the products remain unchanged.

### Procurement Information

This procurement is for fabrication of integrated circuits on the EPSRC Project FORTE (Functional Oxide Reconfigurable Technologies, details here: https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/projects/functional-oxide-reconfigurable-technologies-forte-a-programme-gr). This is the fifth engineering run, known as a "tape out" for this project. To support our integrated circuit design research within the FORTE project, all tape-outs must be processed in the same way to ensure continuity of materials, processes and quality to ensure continuity of research. The tape-out must be processed through EUROPRACTICE, utilizing imec as the intermediary to access TSMC's fabrication services which are otherwise not available to any other customer in Europe and the UK. The design is built using TSMC's proprietary Process Design Kit and specific IP libraries that are licensed exclusively for use with TSMC fabrication. The specific combinations of technical characteristics is a niche configuration. No other manufacturer can provide an identical technical match that meets the safety, interoperability, and performance requirements. As such, there is currently only 1 supplier who can provide a product that meets the University's requirements.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG562280 |
| Notice type | PCS Notice - Website 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 | 13 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 27 Mar 2026 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £102,200 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | University Of Edinburgh |
| Locality | EDINBURGH |
| Postcode area | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH1 1HT |
| 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 | City Centre |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh East and Musselburgh |
| Delivery location | TLM75 City of Edinburgh |

## Supplier

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

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting

### Codes

- 31220000 - Electrical circuit components
- 31700000 - Electronic, electromechanical and electrotechnical supplies

## Release History

- 13 Aug 2026 at 01:00 - Award - PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG562280

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG562280
  FORTE Project Tapeout Rounds 5+ - The fabrication for integrated circuits on the EPSRC Project FORTE (Functional Oxide Reconfigurable Technologies)

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.ed.ac.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000840143
- https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/projects/functional-oxide-reconfigurable-technologies-forte-a-programme-gr

## 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-r6ebe6-0000840143. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000840143.json.