Weather and climate forecasting

Role

UK Government: The UK government provides significant funding, enabling the Met Office to invest in advanced supercomputing technology. Microsoft: In 2020, the Met Office partnered with Microsoft to develop its next-generation supercomputer infrastructure, hosted in Microsoft’s Azure cloud environment. This collaboration aims to enhance computing power and support climate science and forecasting. Cray (now part of Hewlett Packard Enterprise): Historically, Cray was the provider of the supercomputing hardware used by the Met Office. Cray’s high-performance computing systems have powered many of the Met Office’s forecasting models. European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF): The Met Office collaborates closely with ECMWF to exchange data, share research, and improve weather and climate models for better medium-range forecasting. UK Universities: Several UK universities partner with the Met Office in researching new models and algorithms, contributing to forecasting accuracy, climate science, and meteorological advancements. Global Meteorological Organizations: The Met Office is part of international networks like the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), through which they collaborate with other national weather services and research institutions to share global data and improve forecasting systems.

Procurement procedure

Both Cray (HP) & Microsoft were procured under The Competitive Dialogue procedure under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 which is a procurement process used for complex contracts where the public sector entity is unable to specify the technical means, legal or financial structure of the procurement project in advance. This procedure is particularly suited for large, high-value projects, such as infrastructure, IT systems, or public-private partnerships, where more flexibility and interaction with potential suppliers are necessary to define the best solution

Role

UK Government: The UK government provides significant funding, enabling the Met Office to invest in advanced supercomputing technology. Microsoft: In 2020, the Met Office partnered with Microsoft to develop its next-generation supercomputer infrastructure, hosted in Microsoft’s Azure cloud environment. This collaboration aims to enhance computing power and support climate science and forecasting. HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprise) are Microsoft’s sub contractor for the hosting of the newly upgraded high-performance computing systems. European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF): The Met Office collaborates closely with ECMWF to exchange data, share research, and improve weather and climate models for better medium-range forecasting. UK Universities: Several UK universities partner with the Met Office in researching new models and algorithms, contributing to forecasting accuracy, climate science, and meteorological advancements. Global Meteorological Organizations: The Met Office is part of international networks like the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), through which they collaborate with other national weather services and research institutions to share global data and improve forecasting systems.

Procurement procedure

Both HPE & Microsoft were procured under The Competitive Dialogue procedure under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 which is a procurement process used for complex contracts where the public sector entity is unable to specify the technical means, legal or financial structure of the procurement project in advance. This procedure is particularly suited for large, high-value projects, such as infrastructure, IT systems, or public-private partnerships, where more flexibility and interaction with potential suppliers are necessary to define the best solution

Role

UK Government: The UK government provides significant funding, enabling the Met Office to invest in advanced supercomputing technology. Microsoft: In 2020, the Met Office partnered with Microsoft to develop its next-generation supercomputer infrastructure, hosted in Microsoft’s Azure cloud environment. This collaboration aims to enhance computing power and support climate science and forecasting. HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprise) are Microsoft’s sub contractor for the hosting of the newly upgraded high-performance computing systems. European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF): The Met Office collaborates closely with ECMWF to exchange data, share research, and improve weather and climate models for better medium-range forecasting. UK Universities: Several UK universities partner with the Met Office in researching new models and algorithms, contributing to forecasting accuracy, climate science, and meteorological advancements. Global Meteorological Organizations: The Met Office is part of international networks like the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), through which they collaborate with other national weather services and research institutions to share global data and improve forecasting systems.

Procurement procedure

Both HPE & Microsoft were procured under The Competitive Dialogue procedure under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 which is a procurement process used for complex contracts where the public sector entity is unable to specify the technical means, legal or financial structure of the procurement project in advance. This procedure is particularly suited for large, high-value projects, such as infrastructure, IT systems, or public-private partnerships, where more flexibility and interaction with potential suppliers are necessary to define the best solution

Role

UK Government: The UK government provides significant funding, enabling the Met Office to invest in advanced supercomputing technology. Microsoft: In 2020, the Met Office partnered with Microsoft to develop its next-generation supercomputer infrastructure, hosted in Microsoft’s Azure cloud environment. This collaboration aims to enhance computing power and support climate science and forecasting. HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprise) are Microsoft’s sub contractor for the hosting of the newly upgraded high-performance computing systems. European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF): The Met Office collaborates closely with ECMWF to exchange data, share research, and improve weather and climate models for better medium-range forecasting. UK Universities: Several UK universities partner with the Met Office in researching new models and algorithms, contributing to forecasting accuracy, climate science, and meteorological advancements. Global Meteorological Organizations: The Met Office is part of international networks like the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), through which they collaborate with other national weather services and research institutions to share global data and improve forecasting systems.

Procurement procedure

Both HPE & Microsoft were procured under The Competitive Dialogue procedure under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 which is a procurement process used for complex contracts where the public sector entity is unable to specify the technical means, legal or financial structure of the procurement project in advance. This procedure is particularly suited for large, high-value projects, such as infrastructure, IT systems, or public-private partnerships, where more flexibility and interaction with potential suppliers are necessary to define the best solution

Role

UK Government: The UK government provides significant funding, enabling the Met Office to invest in advanced supercomputing technology. Microsoft: In 2020, the Met Office partnered with Microsoft to develop its next-generation supercomputer infrastructure, hosted in Microsoft’s Azure cloud environment. This collaboration aims to enhance computing power and support climate science and forecasting. HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprise) are Microsoft’s sub contractor for the hosting of the newly upgraded high-performance computing systems. European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF): The Met Office collaborates closely with ECMWF to exchange data, share research, and improve weather and climate models for better medium-range forecasting. UK Universities: Several UK universities partner with the Met Office in researching new models and algorithms, contributing to forecasting accuracy, climate science, and meteorological advancements. Global Meteorological Organizations: The Met Office is part of international networks like the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), through which they collaborate with other national weather services and research institutions to share global data and improve forecasting systems.

Procurement procedure

Both HPE & Microsoft were procured under The Competitive Dialogue procedure under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 which is a procurement process used for complex contracts where the public sector entity is unable to specify the technical means, legal or financial structure of the procurement project in advance. This procedure is particularly suited for large, high-value projects, such as infrastructure, IT systems, or public-private partnerships, where more flexibility and interaction with potential suppliers are necessary to define the best solution

Role

UK Government: The UK government provides significant funding, enabling the Met Office to invest in advanced supercomputing technology. Microsoft: In 2020, the Met Office partnered with Microsoft to develop its next-generation supercomputer infrastructure, hosted in Microsoft’s Azure cloud environment. This collaboration aims to enhance computing power and support climate science and forecasting. HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprise) are Microsoft’s sub contractor for the hosting of the newly upgraded high-performance computing systems. European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF): The Met Office collaborates closely with ECMWF to exchange data, share research, and improve weather and climate models for better medium-range forecasting. UK Universities: Several UK universities partner with the Met Office in researching new models and algorithms, contributing to forecasting accuracy, climate science, and meteorological advancements. Global Meteorological Organizations: The Met Office is part of international networks like the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), through which they collaborate with other national weather services and research institutions to share global data and improve forecasting systems.

Procurement procedure

Both HPE & Microsoft were procured under The Competitive Dialogue procedure under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 which is a procurement process used for complex contracts where the public sector entity is unable to specify the technical means, legal or financial structure of the procurement project in advance. This procedure is particularly suited for large, high-value projects, such as infrastructure, IT systems, or public-private partnerships, where more flexibility and interaction with potential suppliers are necessary to define the best solution

Role

UK Government: The UK government provides significant funding, enabling the Met Office to invest in advanced supercomputing technology. Microsoft: In 2020, the Met Office partnered with Microsoft to develop its next-generation supercomputer infrastructure, hosted in Microsoft’s Azure cloud environment. This collaboration aims to enhance computing power and support climate science and forecasting. Cray (now part of Hewlett Packard Enterprise): Historically, Cray was the provider of the supercomputing hardware used by the Met Office. Cray’s high-performance computing systems have powered many of the Met Office’s forecasting models. European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF): The Met Office collaborates closely with ECMWF to exchange data, share research, and improve weather and climate models for better medium-range forecasting. UK Universities: Several UK universities partner with the Met Office in researching new models and algorithms, contributing to forecasting accuracy, climate science, and meteorological advancements. Global Meteorological Organizations: The Met Office is part of international networks like the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), through which they collaborate with other national weather services and research institutions to share global data and improve forecasting systems.

Procurement procedure

Both Cray (HP) & Microsoft were procured under The Competitive Dialogue procedure under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 which is a procurement process used for complex contracts where the public sector entity is unable to specify the technical means, legal or financial structure of the procurement project in advance. This procedure is particularly suited for large, high-value projects, such as infrastructure, IT systems, or public-private partnerships, where more flexibility and interaction with potential suppliers are necessary to define the best solution

Role

UK Government: The UK government provides significant funding, enabling the Met Office to invest in advanced supercomputing technology. Microsoft: In 2020, the Met Office partnered with Microsoft to develop its next-generation supercomputer infrastructure, hosted in Microsoft’s Azure cloud environment. This collaboration aims to enhance computing power and support climate science and forecasting. HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprise) are Microsoft’s sub contractor for the hosting of the newly upgraded high-performance computing systems. European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF): The Met Office collaborates closely with ECMWF to exchange data, share research, and improve weather and climate models for better medium-range forecasting. UK Universities: Several UK universities partner with the Met Office in researching new models and algorithms, contributing to forecasting accuracy, climate science, and meteorological advancements. Global Meteorological Organizations: The Met Office is part of international networks like the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), through which they collaborate with other national weather services and research institutions to share global data and improve forecasting systems.

Procurement procedure

Both HPE & Microsoft were procured under The Competitive Dialogue procedure under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 which is a procurement process used for complex contracts where the public sector entity is unable to specify the technical means, legal or financial structure of the procurement project in advance. This procedure is particularly suited for large, high-value projects, such as infrastructure, IT systems, or public-private partnerships, where more flexibility and interaction with potential suppliers are necessary to define the best solution