§ Sir John CopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will seek a second and independent opinion on the advice that no United Kingdom-designed and sourced super-computer could perform the task required for nuclear weapons simulation at atomic weapons research establishment, Aldermaston. [11617]
§ Mr. Arbuthnot[holding answer 24 January 1996]: The technical assessment of the responses to the statement of requirement was made on purely technical grounds by AWE assisted by an independent firm of technical consultants. The SOR had been issued to all known massively parallel processor suppliers and placed in the MOD contracts bulletin. The SOR made it clear that the mini-proposal was not a tender, nor would it guarantee suppliers the right to tender.
Only one bid came from a United Kingdom company. It was based on a design not in manufacture and which did not reach the required specification; it was; therefore, rejected. The tenderer was de-briefed to this effect in May 1995.