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Published 9 Feb 2026, 12:07 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

UKRI-5717 Support and Maintenance for ORCA quantum computer

Official notice

Authority: UK Research and Innovation (Central government)

Direct awardSME suitableVCSE suitable
Sectors: IT Services & Software (72) Delivery: South East (UKJ14)
Awarded value£480,000published award · exc. VAT
Award in standstill 9 Feb 2026no call for competition
Award (standstill) to ORCA Computing Limited

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Support and Maintenance for ORCA quantum computer hosted at RAL

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
9 Feb 2026, 12:07 GMT
Last source update
9 Feb 2026, 13:49 GMT
Authority reference
UKRI-5717
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-011389
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Delivery area
South East (UKJ14)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-064b06 Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
Published justification

The system is a one-off, state of the art system at the cutting edge of quantum computing R&D. It is bespoke to the SBRI testbed call and relies on proprietary technology and Orca-specific know-how and expertise. Orca Computing Ltd are the only organisation able to support and maintain this system effectively, and its continued operation is key to delivering benefits. A direct award is therefore justified for technical reasons.

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

9 Feb 2026 → 18 Feb 2026 · 2 dates
  1. Notice published261 days ago
    9 Feb 2026, 13:49 GMT
  2. Standstill ends251 days ago
    18 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT

Notice history

3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 9 Feb 2026
  1. Transparency notice published
    9 Feb 2026, 12:07 GMT
    UK5
  2. Contract award notice published
    9 Feb 2026, 13:49 GMT
    UK6
  3. Contract signature expected
    20 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £480,0001 award exc. VAT
Awarded toValueDateStatus
ORCA Computing Limited23 Feb 2026 – 22 Feb 2028£480,0009 Feb 2026standstill to 18 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
  • ORCA Computing LimitedAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PQHT-3258-LTGM 30 Eastbourne Terrace,, London, London, W2 6LAContact 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