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Find a TenderAwarded without competitionContract award notice
Published 26 Jan 2026, 10:23 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

UKRI-5676 Equipment Hire Agreement

Official notice

Authority: UK Research and Innovation (Central government)

Direct awardSME suitableVCSE suitable
Sectors: IT Services & Software (72) Delivery: South East (UKJ14)
Awarded value£320,300published award · exc. VAT
Award in standstill 22 Jan 2026no call for competition
Award (standstill) to Aegiq Ltd

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Support and Maintenance for ARTEMIS system quantum computer hosted at RAL. Lessor shall provide software support in terms of bug fixes and occasional updates to Software. Software Support Services will be provided via remote call or email.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1AwardedSMEVCSE
Delivery: South EastEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
72261000 Software support services

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Direct award
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Notice status
Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
26 Jan 2026, 10:23 GMT
Last source update
26 Jan 2026, 10:28 GMT
Authority reference
UKRI-5676
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-006483
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Delivery area
South East (UKJ14)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-060e0e Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
Published justification

This contract has been awarded directly to Aegiq Ltd as they are the original designer and manufacturer of the ARTEMIS photonic quantum computer delivered to NQCC under the SBRI Testbeds funding call. The system is a bespoke, one‑off research asset that relies on proprietary technology and Aegiq‑specific expertise. Aegiq Ltd is the only supplier technically capable of providing the required support and maintenance services. Continued support is essential to ensure ongoing operation, benchmarking and exploitation of the system and to maximise the benefits of the Testbeds investment. A direct award is therefore justified for technical reasons.

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

26 Jan 2026 → 4 Feb 2026 · 2 dates
  1. Notice published275 days ago
    26 Jan 2026, 10:28 GMT
  2. Standstill ends265 days ago
    4 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT

Notice history

3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 26 Jan 2026
  1. Transparency notice published
    26 Jan 2026, 10:23 GMT
    UK5
  2. Contract award notice published
    26 Jan 2026, 10:28 GMT
    UK6
  3. Contract signature expected
    6 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £320,3001 award exc. VAT
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Aegiq Ltd9 Feb 2026 – 8 Feb 2027£320,30022 Jan 2026standstill to 4 Feb 2026Standstill

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PDQJ-7126-JDHG Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire, South West, SN2 1FLContact email, phone

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • Aegiq LtdAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PMLB-8284-LPDP Cooper Buildings, Arundel Street, Sheffield, Yorkshire & Humber, S1 2NSContact email

Official documents & specifications (2)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender