UK Public Sector Contracts & Tenders

UK Biobank ("UKB") currently hosts a cloud-based health Research Analysis Platform which makes research projects and data accessible to researchers ("RAP"). The current RAP was procured by UKB in 2020 and was developed by DNAnexus, in collaboration with, and cloud infrastructure provided by, Amazon Web Services. As part of a series of changes to implement UKB's strategy to create a more secure data environment, UKB intends to initiate a procurement exercise for the development of a new RAP ("RAP2.0") and associated services to take account of advances in technology over the past 5 years and its future requirements. The RAP2.0 is anticipated to be the default way that most researchers will access and analyse UKB's biomedical database and it is anticipated to comprise one or more software platforms or data analysis services that work together to meet the diverse functional needs to the research community. UKB currently intends to undertake separate procurements in relation to (i) the RAP2.0, (ii) cloud infrastructure which will host data on RAP2.0, and (iii) the development of an Output Checking System to control the extraction of data held by UKB for research purposes, whilst ensuring the ongoing security and confidentiality of the data ("OCS"). UKB has established an informatics working group consisting of senior experts who will provide guidance to help develop the requirements for the technology listed at (i) - (iii) above. It is currently envisaged that the first procurement to be undertaken will relate to the OCS (in the first half of 2026), followed by a procurement for cloud infrastructure (in the second half of 2026), followed by the procurement of the RAP2.0 in 2027. This updated Preliminary Market Engagement Notice relates to the development of the OCS. Separate Preliminary Market Engagement Notices were published for RAP2.0 and cloud infrastructure in April 2025 and are being updated. The OCS will act as a data management tool to check compliance with confidentiality requirements when data is exported from the current RAP and RAP2.0. The development of the OCS may also be required for UKB to achieve certification by DHSC/NHS as a Trusted Research Environment for the purpose of continuing to receive and make available linked health record data and is intended to provide additional assurance in addressing the principles set out in the ONS Five Safes Framework. UKB held two preliminary market engagement meetings with interested suppliers in September 2025. Following additional due diligence carried out by UKB it is now intended that the approach to the procurement of the Output Checking System will be carried out under two procurement processes in the first half of 2026: A. A proposed procurement for the Workflows and User Interfaces that will form the framework for the OCS which it is intended will be carried out via CCS Framework and will utilise pre-built accelerators in the existing AWS cloud technology stack B. A proposed procurement for the Decision Engine which forms the key automated decision making element of the OCS and which is intended to be carried out via a competitive procurement process under the Procurement Act 2023

UK Biobank ("UKB") currently hosts a cloud-based health Research Analysis Platform which makes research projects and data accessible to researchers ("RAP"). The current RAP was procured by UKB in 2020 and was developed by DNAnexus, in collaboration with, and cloud infrastructure provided by, Amazon Web Services. As part of a series of changes to implement UKB's strategy to create a more secure data environment, UKB intends to initiate a procurement exercise in 2027 for the development of a new RAP ("RAP2.0") to take account of advances in technology over the past 5 years and its future requirements. The RAP2.0 is anticipated to be the default way that most researchers will access and analyse UKB's biomedical database and it is anticipated to comprise one or more software platforms or data analysis services that work together to meet the diverse functional needs to the research community. UKB currently intends to undertake separate procurements in relation to (i) the RAP2.0, (ii) cloud infrastructure which will host data on RAP2.0, and (iii) the development of an Output Checking System (formerly badged as Airlock Software) to control the extraction of data held by UKB for research purposes, whilst ensuring the ongoing security and confidentiality of the data and confidentiality of the data ("OCS"). UKB has established an informatics working group consisting of senior experts who will provide guidance to help develop the requirements for the technology listed at (i) - (iii) above. It is necessary for the procurement exercises for cloud infrastructure services to be completed before preliminary market engagement can take place with suppliers and users regarding the requirements and strategic approach to the new RAP2.0. The identity of the cloud services infrastructure will inform the approach to the RAP2.0 procurement to ensure the compatibility of the technology underlying the platform or platforms. It is currently intended that such preliminary market engagement for RAP2.0 will take place in 2027, followed by the competitive procurement exercise for the new RAP2.0. The current contract for the enablement of the RAP with DNAnexus expires in June 2026. It is intended that this contract will be amended in January 2026 to extend the services through to June 2028. It is currently envisaged that the first procurement to be undertaken will relate to the OCS (in the first half of 2026), followed by a procurement for cloud infrastructure (in the second half of 2026), followed by the procurement of the RAP2.0 in 2027. This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice relates to the development of the RAP2.0. Separate Preliminary Market Engagement Notices were published for cloud infrastructure and OCS in April 2025 and are being updated. Further updates regarding preliminary market engagement activities will be included in an update to this notice, as appropriate.

UK Biobank ("UKB") currently hosts a cloud-based health Research Analysis Platform which makes research projects and data accessible to researchers ("RAP"). The current RAP was procured by UKB in 2020 and was developed by DNAnexus, in collaboration with, and cloud infrastructure provided by, Amazon Web Services. As part of a series of changes to implement UKB's strategy to create a more secure data environment, UKB intends to initiate a procurement exercise for the development of a new RAP ("RAP2.0") and associated services to take account of advances in technology over the past 5 years and its future requirements. The RAP2.0 is anticipated to be the default way that most researchers will access and analyse UKB's biomedical database and it is anticipated to comprise one or more software platforms or data analysis services that work together to meet the diverse functional needs to the research community. UKB currently intends to undertake separate procurements in relation to (i) the RAP2.0, (ii) cloud infrastructure which will host data on RAP2.0, and (iii) the development of an Output Checking System to control the extraction of data held by UKB for research purposes, whilst ensuring the ongoing security and confidentiality of the data. UKB has established an informatics working group consisting of senior experts who will provide guidance to help develop the requirements for the technology listed at (i) - (iii) above. It is currently envisaged that the first procurement to be undertaken will relate to the OCS (in the first half of 2026), followed by a procurement for cloud infrastructure (in the second half of 2026), followed by the procurement of the RAP2.0 in 2027. It is necessary for the procurement exercise for cloud infrastructure services to host the UKB data under the new RAP2.0 to be completed before preliminary market engagement can take place with suppliers and users regarding the requirements and strategic approach to the new RAP2.0. The identity of the cloud services infrastructure will inform the approach to the RAP2.0 procurement to ensure the compatibility of the technology underlying the platform or platforms. The current contract for the enablement of the RAP with DNAnexus expires in June 2026. It is intended that this contract will be amended in January 2026 to extend the services through to June 2028. This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice relates to the proposed procurement of cloud infrastructure as the enabling foundation of the platform ecosystem for RAP2.0. Separate Preliminary Market Engagement Notices were published for RAP2.0 and OCS in April 2025 and are being updated. It is envisaged that preliminary market engagement with interested cloud services suppliers will take place in 2026 to understand how storage capability and compute optimisation can enhance the functionality and security of UK Biobank's data. Further updates regarding preliminary market engagement activities will be included in a future update to this notice, as appropriate.

UK Biobank ("UKB") currently hosts a cloud-based health Research Analysis Platform which makes research projects and data accessible to researchers ("RAP"). The current RAP was procured by UKB in 2020 and was developed by DNAnexus, in collaboration with, and cloud infrastructure provided by, Amazon Web Services. UKB intends to initiate a procurement exercise for the development of a new RAP ("RAP2.0") and associated services to take account of advances in technology over the past 5 years and its future requirements. The RAP2.0 is anticipated to be the default way that most researchers will access and analyse UKB's biomedical database and it is anticipated to comprise one or more software platforms or data analysis services that work together to meet the diverse functional needs to the research community. UKB currently intends to undertake separate procurements in relation to (i) the RAP2.0, (ii) cloud infrastructure, and (iii) automated airlock software to control extraction of data held by UKB for research purposes, whilst ensuring the ongoing security and confidentiality of the data. UKB has established an informatics working group consisting of senior experts who will provide guidance to help develop the requirements for the technology listed at (i) - (iii) above. It is currently envisaged that the first procurement to be undertaken will relate to the cloud infrastructure (in late 2025/early 2026), followed by the procurement of the RAP2.0 in 2026. The procurement of the airlock software may be conducted in parallel to, or follow sequentially, (i) and/or (ii). This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice relates to the proposed procurement of cloud infrastructure as the enabling foundation of the platform ecosystem for RAP2.0. Separate Preliminary Market Engagement Notices are being published for RAP2.0 and airlock software.

UK Biobank ("UKB") currently hosts a cloud-based health Research Analysis Platform which makes research projects and data accessible to researchers ("RAP"). The current RAP was procured by UKB in 2020 and was developed by DNAnexus, in collaboration with, and cloud infrastructure provided by, Amazon Web Services. UKB intends to initiate a procurement exercise in 2026 for the development of a new RAP ("RAP2.0") to take account of advances in technology over the past 5 years and its future requirements. The RAP2.0 is anticipated to be the default way that most researchers will access and analyse UKB's biomedical database and it is anticipated to comprise one or more software platforms or data analysis services that work together to meet the diverse functional needs to the research community. UKB currently intends to undertake separate procurements in relation to (i) the RAP2.0, (ii) cloud infrastructure, and (iii) automated airlock software to control extraction of data held by UKB for research purposes, whilst ensuring the ongoing security and confidentiality of the data and confidentiality of the data. UKB has established an informatics working group consisting of senior experts who will provide guidance to help develop the requirements for the technology listed at (i) - (iii) above. It is currently envisaged that the first procurement to be undertaken will relate to the cloud infrastructure (in late 2025/early 2026), followed by the procurement of the RAP2.0 in 2026. The procurement of the airlock software may be conducted in parallel to, or follow sequentially, (i) and/or (ii). This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice relates to the development of the RAP2.0. Separate Preliminary Market Engagement Notices are being published for cloud infrastructure and airlock software.

UK Biobank ("UKB") currently hosts a cloud-based health Research Analysis Platform which makes research projects and data accessible to researchers ("RAP"). The current RAP was procured by UKB in 2020 and was developed by DNAnexus, in collaboration with, and cloud infrastructure provided by, Amazon Web Services. UKB intends to initiate a procurement exercise for the development of a new RAP ("RAP2.0") and associated services to take account of advances in technology over the past 5 years and its future requirements. The RAP2.0 is anticipated to be the default way that most researchers will access and analyse UKB's biomedical database and it is anticipated to comprise one or more software platforms or data analysis services that work together to meet the diverse functional needs to the research community. UKB currently intends to undertake separate procurements in relation to (i) the RAP2.0, (ii) cloud infrastructure, and (iii) automated airlock software to control extraction of data held by UKB for research purposes, whilst ensuring the ongoing security and confidentiality of the data ("Airlock"). UKB has established an informatics working group consisting of senior experts who will provide guidance to help develop the requirements for the technology listed at (i) - (iii) above. It is currently envisaged that the first procurement to be undertaken will relate to the cloud infrastructure (in late 2025/early 2026), followed by the procurement of the RAP2.0 in 2026. The procurement of the airlock software may be conducted in parallel to, or follow sequentially, (i) and/or (ii). This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice relates to the development of the Airlock software. Separate Preliminary Market Engagement Notices are being published for RAP2.0 and cloud infrastructure. The Airlock acts as a data management tool to check compliance with confidentiality requirements when data is exported from the RAP2.0. The Airlock may also be required for UKB to achieve accreditation by DHSC/NHS as a Trusted Research Environment for the purpose of continuing to receive and make available linked health record data and is intended to provide additional assurance in addressing the principles set out in the ONS Five Safes Framework.