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Published 2 Apr 2026, 16:02 BST

Official UK procurement notice

UKRI-5862 IBM Quantum Flex Plan Resource

Official notice

Authority: UK Research and Innovation (Central government)

Direct award
Sectors: IT Services & Software (72) Delivery: South East (UKJ14)
Awarded value£2,022,116published award · exc. VAT
Awarded 1 Apr 2026no call for competition
Awarded to IBM UNITED KINGDOM LIMITED

What is being bought

Published requirement description

IBM Quantum Flex Plan Resource Unit per Annum for National Quantum Computing Centre

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1Awarded
Delivery: South East
72800000 Computer audit and testing 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
2 Apr 2026, 16:02 BST
Last source update
29 Apr 2026, 15:12 BST
Authority reference
UKRI-5862
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-039308
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Delivery area
South East (UKJ14)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-067c38 Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Single Suppliers Intellectual Property Exclusive Rights; Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
Published justification

IBM is currently the only commercial cloud provider globally offering direct access to IBM Quantum Computers, which are essential for delivering the NQCC’s SparQ Access Programme and supporting internal quantum R&D. To maintain service continuity for NQCC and partner institutions, direct contracting with IBM is necessary.

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

16 Apr 2026 → 29 Apr 2026 · 2 dates
  1. Standstill ends193 days ago
    16 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
  2. Notice published180 days ago
    29 Apr 2026, 15:12 BST

Notice history

4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 2 Apr 2026
  1. Transparency notice published
    2 Apr 2026, 16:02 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract award notice published
    7 Apr 2026, 15:24 BST
    UK6
  3. Contract signature expected
    20 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled
  4. Contract details notice published
    29 Apr 2026, 15:12 BST
    UK7

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £2,022,1161 award exc. VAT
Contracts signed 1latest 24 Apr 2026
Awarded toValueDateStatus
IBM UNITED KINGDOM LIMITED1 May 2026 – 30 Apr 2027£2,022,1161 Apr 2026Awarded

Contracts

  • UKRI-5862 IBM Quantum Flex Plan Resource · IBM UNITED KINGDOM LIMITED

    Signed
    24 Apr 2026
    Value
    £2,022,116
    Period
    1 May 2026 – 30 Apr 2027
    Status
    active

    No agreed KPIs: No KPIS

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

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • IBM United Kingdom Limited,Awarded supplierGB-PPON: PNQM-8935-PYGQ IBM Hursley Office, Hursley Park Road, Winchester, South East, SO21 2JNContact email

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender