UK-Swindon: Database services.
Section I: Contracting Authority
I.1) Name and addresses
UK Research and Innovation
Polaris House,, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1FL, United Kingdom
Tel. +44 1793442000, Email: commercial@ukri.org
Main Address: www.ukri.org
NUTS Code: UKK14
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract involves joint procurement: No.
In the case of joint procurement involving different countries, state applicable national procurement law: Not provided
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body: Yes.
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Swindon:-Database-services./ZTD8FJ7428
Additional information can be obtained from: the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at: Not provided
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Other activity:

Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title: UKRI-2171 Vista to EPICS project
Reference Number: UKRI-2171
II.1.2) Main CPV Code:
72320000 - Database services.

II.1.3) Type of contract: SERVICES
II.1.4) Short description: the provision of technical and engineering services to support the design, implementation and validation of some work packages of the Vista to EPICS project in ISIS Neutron and Muon Source. The support services will be ordered under a framework service contract by means of task orders. Most of the job can be performed at the Contractor premises but some tasks might require for presence at ISIS premises.
II.1.5) Estimated total value:
Value excluding VAT: 720,000
Currency: GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots:
This contract is divided into lots: No

II.2) Description

II.2.2) Additional CPV codes:
Not Provided
II.2.3) Place of performance:
UKJ14 Oxfordshire

II.2.4) Description of procurement: Initial tasks

Move OpenVMS applications to Linux/EPICS. Related to WP-7

The Open VMS servers that host the V-system run many different control applications written in VSI Basic and C. These applications shall be converted into Python and moved to the new Linux servers hosting EPICS.

The first step would be to document each of these software applications. The document shall include a high-level functional description of each application.
Some of these applications are or will be obsolete. The in-house team will use the delivered functional descriptions to identify which of these applications are obsolete and therefore do not need to be moved into the new Linux servers or EPICS.
After this step is done the contractor team will proceed to translate and move the remaining applications from the OpenVMS/Vsystem servers to the Linux/EPICS architecture.

Many of these applications are called from a control screen. A validation process needs to be done to make sure that all the elements in the control chain (screen, application, middleware) are properly linked and operate as expected.
Vsystem specific code includes:

- Readers – input data from controlled hardware, e.g. FINS, Modbus, CPS (internally-developed XML format), etc. Approximately 10 readers, all written in ANSI C.
- Handlers – output data from controlled hardware (same as above). Approximately 10 handlers, all written in ANSI C.
- Applications – either triggered by user action or scheduled. There are a minimum of 346 applications (~125k Lines of Code (LOC)) written in VSI Basic applications, and a further 28 written in C ~2.6k LOC).
- Scripts – a mixture of simple wrappers around other applications, system functionality, and more advanced scripting. There are a minimum of 493 scripts written in DCL (Digital Command Language; the default command line interpreter for OpenVMS systems) (~20k LOC) and a further 26 written in Python (~2k LOC).
- Converters – strictly change engineering units to display units or vice versa, but often used for more complicated purposes internal to Vsystem triggered uses. 25 files (~4.5k LOC) written in Ansi C.
- Vsystem shareable images – overlap with applications above, primarily VSI Basic. These are user generated libraries called by Vsystem, and unlike applications are not runnable separately in a shell.

Validation platform. Related to WP-2, WP-6 and WP-7

Design and build a platform to test and validate the V-system screens that are converted into EPICS, the software applications that are moved from the OpenVMS server into the Linux server and the new middleware interfaces.

This platform will have to check that the EPICS screens are properly linked with the applications in the Linux server and the middleware that conform the rest of the control system. A list of the different types of middleware that we use at ISIS will be given in the TO.

It will also be used to test and validate any new or modified screens, applications and interfaces before these are implemented in the control system.
Apart from the platform itself, a method for the testing and validation of these components as well as a template document for documenting these tests should be given.
II.2.5) Award criteria:
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value:
Value excluding VAT: 720,000
Currency: GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system:
Start: 15/08/2022 / End: 14/08/2023
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals: 3+1 3 + 1 year periods from commencement of the Contract. running up to August 2026

II.2.10) Information about variants:
Variants will be accepted: No
II.2.11) Information about options:
Options: No
Description of options: Not provided
II.2.12) Information about electronic catalogues:
Tenders must be presented in the form of electronic catalogues or include an electronic catalogue: No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds:
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Identification of the project: Not provided
II.2.14) Additional information: Not provided


Section III: Legal, Economic, Financial And Technical Information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions:
Not Provided
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria:
Not Provided
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :
Not Provided
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria:
Not Provided
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :
Not Provided
III.1.5) Information about reserved contracts (if applicable)
The contract is reserved to sheltered workshops and economic operators aiming at the social and professional integration of disabled or disadvantaged persons: No
The execution of the contract is restricted to the framework of sheltered employment programmes: No

III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.1) Information about a particular profession
Reference to the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision:
Not Provided
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
Not Provided
III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract: No

Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description OPEN
IV.1.1) Type of procedure: Open

IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Framework agreement with a single operator
Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement:
Not Provided
In the case of framework agreements justification for any duration exceeding 4 years: Not Provided


IV.1.6) Information about electronic auction:
An electronic auction will be used: No
Additional information about electronic auction: Not provided
IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure:
Notice number in the OJ S: Not provided
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date: 06/07/2022 Time: 14:00

IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: English,
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender:
Duration in month(s): 3

IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders:
Date: 06/07/2022
Time: 14:00
Place:
Electronically, via web based portal


Section VI: Complementary Information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: Not provided
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used Yes
Electronic invoicing will be accepted Yes
Electronic payment will be used Yes
VI.3) Additional Information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Swindon:-Database-services./ZTD8FJ7428

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/respond/ZTD8FJ7428
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body:
UK Research and Innovation
Polaris House,, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1FL, United Kingdom
Email: commercial@ukri.org
Internet address: https://www.ukri.org
VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures:
UK Research and Innovation
Polaris House,, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1FL, United Kingdom
Email: commercial@ukri.org
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
Not Provided
VI.4.4) Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained:
Not provided
VI.5) Date Of Dispatch Of This Notice: 27/05/2022

Annex A