Specialised Genomic Cloud Services Framework for Wales’ National Genomics Services

Concepts

• cardiff
• information technology
• genomics partnership wales
• public health wales
• wales
• cloud services
• genomics services
• public health genomics programme
• ongoing support services
• cloud computing services

Location

Cardiff

Description

Genomics Partnership Wales (GPW) was established as part of the Genomics for Precision Medicine Strategy by Welsh Government in 2017. In 2022 Welsh Government updated this strategy, publishing a Genomics Delivery Plan for Wales which provides a set of concrete steps to develop and enhance the use of genomics to improve the health, wellbeing and prosperity of the people of Wales. GPW operates as a partnership, bringing together our patients and the public clinical and laboratory services, public health, research and innovation to deliver transformative change in the NHS in Wales. Key partners in GPW include Cardiff University (which hosts the Wales Gene Park), Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (which hosts the All-Wales Medical Genomics Service) and Public Health Wales (which hosts the Pathogen Genomics Unit and Public Health Genomics Programme). Collectively the GPW partners sequence tens of thousands of genomes every year, to provide clinical and public health services to the patients and public of Wales, and to underpin cutting edge research. At present, this data is stored locally, and analysed on-premise. The Genomics Delivery Plan for Wales includes ambitious targets to expand genomics services and research in Wales, which will bring with it significant expansion in the computational resources required to analyse the data generated. Based on this, GPW has identified a requirement to move analysis workloads and data storage into the cloud in order to enable service and research expansion, underpinned by data management that enables appropriate secure data sharing and collaboration. GPW intends to develop and award a framework agreement that has the ability to collaborate across GPW and beyond baked in from the start, and which will provide the mechanism to enable the GPW partners to expand their capabilities in a joined-up, collaborative way. The framework will be divided into the following lots: Lot 1 - Cloud Infrastructure Services: This lot will cover infrastructure as a service offerings, covering a wide range of cloud computing services, including but not limited to compute instances, storage solutions (both high-performance and archival), databases, networking, and security. These services will support the various products and platforms used by GPW for data processing, analysis, and management. Lot 2 - Cloud Professional Services and Support: This lot will include consulting, migration, integration, support and ongoing support services provided by the Cloud Service Provider (CSP). These services will ensure the successful implementation, operation, and optimization of the cloud infrastructure to meet GPW's specific requirements in the field of genomics. Suppliers should demonstrate proven experience and expertise in delivering cloud services within the genomics domain, showcasing their understanding of the unique challenges and requirements associated with handling large-scale genomics data. The framework will allow for both Direct Award and Mini-Competition procedures, providing flexibility in procuring the required cloud services based on GPW's specific needs and timelines. Because GPW sits at the heart of a wider collaborative network, the Framework will be designed to be available to all of the wider GPW partners and collaborating institutions across the UK.

Lot Division

CPV Codes

• 72222300 - Information technology services

Indicators

Other Information

For supplier information, we have already identified a number of situations where we would look to procure cloud services. These use cases are provided for information and to provide a basis for engagement at the supplier day. Data Storage GPW's genomics initiatives generate vast amounts of data that require efficient and secure storage solutions. The GPW partners currently host sequencing instruments that have the capability of generating 50TB+ of data per week. Data storage, across the data lifecycle, is therefore a critical issue for the GPW partners. Further, because the GPW sequencing instruments are envisaged to act as a shared resource, we require systems that enable data generated by a sequencer in one organisation to be shared with a different GPW partner. We therefore require a range of data storage systems, including: - Short-term high-performance storage is essential for ongoing data analysis and processing. This storage solution must provide fast read and write speeds, low latency, and high throughput to support the demanding computational requirements of genomics workflows. The storage system should be scalable, allowing for seamless expansion as data volumes grow. Currently the on-prem high performance storage is integrated into HPC systems. - Medium-tier storage for routine data access and analysis is required for a range of workloads where we want to return to data frequently. This data is pulled both by workloads running on HPC systems and by users running local analyses or applications such as R. The access is generally ad-hoc and in response to need, with data on this tier generally needing to be available for 2-5 years post sequencing for rapid access. - Long-term archival storage is necessary for the preservation of genomics data that must be retained for extended periods, often spanning several decades (NHS requirements are 10 years minimum, University requirements can be 10-15 years from date of last access). This storage solution should prioritize data integrity, ensuring that the data remains uncorrupted and accessible over time. The archival storage system must be cost-effective, as the data volumes can be substantial. The archival storage should also provide data lifecycle management capabilities, allowing for automated data tiering and migration based on access frequency and retention policies. In addition to the storage infrastructure, a robust data management and data access framework must be implemented to ensure data governance, auditability, security, and accessibility. This includes implementing granular access controls, encryption, and auditing mechanisms to protect sensitive genomics data. Data cataloguing and metadata management are essential for efficient data discovery and retrieval. Integration with data analysis platforms and bioinformatics tools should be seamless, enabling researchers and clinicians to leverage the stored data effectively. - Routine Data Processing and Analysis - Data Sharing and Collaboration - Disaster Recovery (DR) NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=142544. (WA Ref:142544)