UK Research & Innovation: UKRI-1245 NQCC WP18 Open Standards for Emerging Quantum Processors

UK-Oxford: Software programming and consultancy services.
Section I: Contracting Authority
      I.1) Name and addresses
             UK Research & Innovation
             Science & Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxford, OX110QX, United Kingdom
             Tel. +44 7563420665, Email: Elizabeth.Gage@ukri.org
             Contact: Elizabeth Gage
             Main Address: https://www.ukri.org/
             NUTS Code: UK
      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://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/
      Additional information can be obtained from: the abovementioned address
      Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically via https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com 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-1245 NQCC WP18 Open Standards for Emerging Quantum Processors       
      Reference Number: UKRI-1245
      II.1.2) Main CPV Code:
      72200000 - Software programming and consultancy services.

      II.1.3) Type of contract: SERVICES
      II.1.4) Short description: The National Quantum Computing Centre has an objective to deliver an early-stage quantum computer (Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum, NISQ machine) that can outperform conventional computing for a range of tasks, by 2025. In order to achieve this medium-term goal, the NQCC has developed a technology roadmap, and has identified a series of technical work packages (WPs) that are suitable for delivery by external contractors. These WPs focus on the delivery of technology solutions according to a set of required technical performance specifications, for both hardware and software, related to quantum computing. This tender relates to WP18 - Open standards for emerging quantum processors.       
      II.1.5) Estimated total value:
      Value excluding VAT: 210,000       
      Currency: GBP
      II.1.6) Information about lots:
      This contract is divided into lots: No       
   
II.2) Description
      
      II.2.2) Additional CPV codes:
      48000000 - Software package and information systems.
      
      II.2.3) Place of performance:
      UK UNITED KINGDOM
      
      II.2.4) Description of procurement: The NQCC seeks to commission a study involving the appraisal of existing metrics, and the development of new metrics, for measuring the performance (computational power) of quantum processors, including non-circuit-based devices. Existing metrics are to include, but not be limited to, qubit count, noise and (both variants of) quantum volume. The intent is to address the need for objective performance comparisons, by defining standard metrics and the associated methodologies by which emerging quantum processors can be fairly measured and compared.
      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: 210,000       
      Currency: GBP       
      II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system:
      Duration in months: 18       
      This contract is subject to renewal: No       
      Description of renewals: Not provided
      II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited:
             Envisaged minimum number: 3
            / Maximum number: 5       
      Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates: During this RFI Stage, it is UKRI’s intention to shortlist no more than 5 qualified
Suppliers who are to be considered and invited to the RFQ stage of this tender
process.
In order to qualify for the shortlisting and to be invited to the RFQ stage,
Suppliers are to pass all of the mandatory Selection and Award Pass/Fail
Questions as well as scoring a minimum of 80.00% on the scored Questions.

In the event that there are more than the maximum stated number of qualified
Suppliers, the RFI submissions will be ranked.
      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: Yes
      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: This is Procurement Exercise is being run as a two-stage Restricted Procurement Procedure. Suppliers will need to register within the Delta portal in order to access the information provided for this stage of the process by following the link: https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/       


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 RESTRICTED
      IV.1.1) Type of procedure: Restricted   
   
   IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system    
         The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement - NO        
         The procurement involves the setting up of a dynamic purchasing system - NO    
         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: No       
   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: 09/06/2021 Time: 11:00
      IV.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates: Not Provided       
      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
      
      

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 No       
   Electronic invoicing will be accepted No       
   Electronic payment will be used No       
   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:
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Oxford:-Software-programming-and-consultancy-services./P4A729P5Y5

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/respond/P4A729P5Y5
   VI.4) Procedures for review
   VI.4.1) Review body:
             UK Research and Innovation
       Polaris House, Swindon, SN2 2FP, United Kingdom
   VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures:
Not provided
   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: 05/05/2021

Annex A