UK SBS IT18126 UKRI-STFC Mantid Phase 4

Tender description

Why the Work is Being Done STFC’s ISIS Neutron and Muon Source has been developing Mantid as part of an international collaboration to support the data reduction and analysis of neutron scattering and muon data at ISIS and other Neutron and Muon sources, supporting and developing the framework to leverage the data from the current and future generations of materials science facilities. Phases 1, 2 and 3 of Mantid have been rolled out. Work is now required for phase 4. Problem to Be Solved Neutron and Muon instrument improvements and changes to experimental design and analysis workflows require continual improvement in the data reduction and analysis framework in order to extract the greatest scientific impact from materials science experiments. The challenge is multi-faceted in complexity, scientific domain knowledge and scale. Working as part of an international collaboration requires a wider view of the benefit and risks of potential approaches to all parties. A team is required to support the in-house team to deliver this. Who Are the Users The users of the system are research scientists, some of whom are based full-time at ISIS; others are visiting scientists from universities and other research institutes making short-term use of ISIS facilities. Their needs can be summarised as: As a scientist, I need to extract the scientific data from my instrumental data, and from that understanding of the properties, or dynamics of the material being studied, this must be done in a timely manner so that I can get the best value out of the limited and highly valuable time on the instrument. Early Market Engagement Work Already Done The Mantid framework has been under development for 10 years. Phases 1 -3 are in use at 7 Neutron and Muon Facilities worldwide, and supports the majority of instruments at the ISIS facility. The Mantid framework architecture is as follows: * a Central Mantid C++ framework supporting the computation and analysis for the system. * a comprehensive and deep integration layer with Python allowing efficient scripting usage. * an extensive general graphical user interface supporting ad hoc analysis as well as hosting specific user interfaces for more common analysis workflows. Existing Team The supplier's team will be expected to work on-site, alongside the existing Mantid team at ISIS. The ISIS team consists of approximately 12 members of staff. Current Phase Live Work Location ISIS Neutron and Muon Source STFC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell Didcot OX11 0QX. Some travel to international partner sites will be required. The project manager will require roughly annual trips to each partner site (Tennessee, USA; Grenoble, France; Copenhagen, Denmark) and the whole team once per year to one of these sites. Working Arrangments The supplier team will work on-site at ISIS, alongside the STFC Mantid team. The supplier should provide a flexible team - the exact size and skills mix of the team required is expected to change during the course of the project. ISIS will provide office accommodation, development software, hardware and infrastructure. Security Clearance Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) required. Additional T&Cs Skills & Experience Demonstrate how you will apply your skills and expertise to: Manage large scale open source projects (~2M lines of code) and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. Undertake agile project management in a technologically complex, scientific research environment and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. Manage mixed teams (composed of customer staff, supplier staff and staff from 3rd party organisations) and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. Develop software in a scientific research environment using: - C/C++, - Python, in a cross-platform environment (Windows, Linux, Mac) and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. Develop large open source C++ and Python projects and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. Test software (automated and manual testing) and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. Design user interfaces, including for advanced 3D visualisation techniques for >3D data and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. Develop distributed and parallel computing solutions and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. Nice to Haves Demonstrate how you will apply your skills and expertise to: Apply algorithmic optimization methods, including application of complex constraints and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. Apply simultaneous functional fitting to multiple datasets and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. Understand and utilise materials science techniques and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. Interface with ICAT, GSAS and molecular dynamics codes and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 5 Proposal Criteria The proposed technical solution The proposed approach and methodology How the approach or solution meets user needs Team structure and organisational makeup Cultural Fit Criteria Demonstrate how you will work with ISIS staff as a member of the Mantid team, and integrate well with the wider collaboration throughout this project. Demonstrate how you will contribute and collaborate in improving software development processes and practices at ISIS throughout this project. Demonstrate how you will participate and collaborate on complex scientific activities with scientists, both locally and remotely throughout this project. Demonstrate how you will discuss technically complex ideas with scientists and technicians throughout this project. Demonstrate how you will lead across a worldwide distributed development team involving international collaborators throughout this project. Payment Approach Time and materials Assessment Method Written proposal Case study Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 60% Cultural fit 20% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers Budget range the total value of this requirement is up to £1,400,000.00 exclusive of vat.