Computer-related services

Tender description

UK Biobank is an international resource for health research, offering access to researchers seeking to understand the determinants of disease. The resource will likely comprise over 15 petabytes of health-related data by 2025. To date, UK Biobank provided data to approved researchers by way of download. The scale of these increasingly large and complex datasets will mean it is no longer tenable to use this model. This requires the development of a new managed service ‘informatics platform’ to enable researchers to access and analyse the data. UK Biobank considers that the development of this platform will happen in stages. In the first instance, it is seeking to appoint a supplier to implement the first phase - scheduled provisionally for Q1/Q2 2020 – for a managed informatics platform (comprising a Web access portal, compute and storage) to provide secure access to certain of the UK Biobank data via discrete project spaces that allow a range of analytical tools to be utilised. UK Biobank is seeking to procure an initial platform (which combines a Web access portal, compute and storage elements) which can be implemented in relatively short order. The functionality of the platform will centre on enabling access to genetic data (genotype, whole exome, whole genome sequence) for analysis with the existing UK Biobank phenotypic data (field-level, structured data including health record data and derived imaging variables) available within the resource. This is the first phase currently intended to be implemented in Q1/Q2 2020. The key aspects of a managed informatics platform for the first phase are as follows: — access to certain of the different types of UK Biobank data, — defined project areas for individual research group projects, — cohort browser to define sub-cohorts based on specific traits, — availability of a range of analytic tools and workflows, — ability to incorporate additional tools and workflows; and — ability to incorporate or link to other datasets. Beyond the first phase, UK Biobank seeks to extend the functionality in future tenders. The additional functionality that UK Biobank is seeking is likely to include: — the integration of other UK Biobank datasets (such as the DICOM data), — the development of further interfaces and the creation of further tools, applications and algorithms that can analyse these data, and — the development of further core capabilities (such as support for artificial intelligence/machine learning). UK Biobank considers that after the first phase (when it seeks to enter into a singular arrangement) a desirable long-term solution will involve: — a number of different platform providers, and — a number of different compute/storage providers. UK Biobank’s current plan envisages the initial service being operational in Q1/Q2 2020, subject to review. It intends to use the responses the market awareness event to inform its understanding of current marketplace maturity and provide confidence that what it seeks to procure within the first phase can be delivered. This notice is not an invitation for formal expressions of interest. The purpose is to commence a pre-procurement market awareness phase before the start of a formal procurement process (for which a separate contract notice will be issued). This market engagement phase will take the form of UK Biobank issuing a document that outlines its considerations for provision of a managed informatics platform for access to its data, accompanied by a set of questions against which it would welcome feedback from potential suppliers. In addition, as part of this exercise, UK Biobank will hold one-to-one meetings undertaken by video conference, and which will provide an opportunity for UK Biobank to consult with and receive feedback from potential suppliers. The background information to UK Biobank and its prospective procurement is being made available with this prior information notice, along with the specific questions to which UK Biobank now invites advance written responses from potential suppliers. On the 12th November, UK Biobank will convene video conference meetings throughout the day with individual suppliers who have responded to the questions in writing and who have expressed an interest to have such a meeting. UK Biobank anticipates being able to accommodate all interested parties who seek a video conference meeting, although if demand is very high this may not be possible. UK Biobank will circulate a synopsis of the summary findings from this exercise. A potential supplier is neither advantaged nor disadvantaged by participating in any part of this exercise. All the information provided in this notice represents UK Biobank’s thinking and is subject to change following the market engagement. exercise and following other consideration/ approvals (both internal and external).