PS24280 - Monitoring and Evaluation of the AI Research Resource

***** THIS IS AN AWARD NOTICE, NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION *****

This procurement is being concluded following a mini competition under the CCS Research & Insights RM6126 DPS.

Brief Description of Requirement

The purpose of the contract is to monitor and evaluate the first of its kind AI infrastructure policy programme called the "AI Research Resource (AIRR)". The AIRR programme is a £250m project that aims to increase compute capacity for AI research through creating a national AI research resource. The AIRR programme is made up two investments into supercomputers dedicated to AI research in the University of Cambridge and Bristol.

The evaluation will try to understand whether the AIRR programme has fulfilled its policy objectives to improve public provision and access to compute, leading to greater scientific output, a skilled AI workforce, increased AI adoption, and safer AI. The research should uncover what worked and what didn't work so well in the delivery of the programme.