The OCRE Cloud Framework
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The OCRE Cloud Framework, established by the GÉANT project consortium, aims to enhance cloud adoption in European education and research, encompassing IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS services from various providers until November 2024. With €3.7 million available for adoption funding, the framework offers significant cost benefits, a simplified procurement process, and a portfolio of essential cloud services for higher and further education institutions. Jisc is primarily acting as a referrer, facilitating purchases and providing administrative support for users of the framework.
The OCRE Cloud Framework
- 1. The OCRE Cloud Framework A more efficient way to buy cloud for education and research
- 2. Background Set up by the GÉANT Open Clouds for Research Environments (OCRE) project consortium to accelerate cloud adoption in the European education and research community Based on the previous GÉANT IaaS framework, but with an expanded scope covering IaaS, PaaS and associated SaaS services Runs for 4 years, 1 Dec 2020 until 31 Nov 2024, with maximum Call-off contract length of four years €3.7 million (Euro) adoption funds available to researchers in 2020 and 2021 for services included in the OCRE Cloud Framework
- 3. Platforms and Suppliers Platform Supplier 100 Percent IT cloud platform 100 Percent IT Amazon Web Services Jisc Blue Safespring cloud platform Blue Safespring City Network cloud platform City Network CloudFerro cloud platform CloudFerro CloudSigma cloud platform CloudSigma Exoscale To be confirmed Google Cloud Platform Sparkle IBM SoftwareONE Ionos Bechtle Layershift cloud platform Layershift Microsoft Azure Phoenix Software Oracle Cloud Quistor Enterprises Orange cloud platform Orange Proact cloud platform Proact Setcor cloud platform Setcor T-Systems cloud platform T-Systems
- 4. Benefits • Easy, safe and cost-effective access to a portfolio of IaaS providers • Preferential pricing through aggregated demand, providing significant discounts for the leading cloud platforms • Procurement under EU rules with call-off process governed by Irish/UK law • Direct peering, high capacity and low-latency connectivity • Support for the UK Access Management Federation • Invoice billing, no credit card needed
- 5. Available services • Full range of cloud provider IaaS, PaaS and related SaaS services available, covering: Services available Data analytics Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence Migration & Transfer Blockchain Networking & Content Delivery Compute Quantum Technologies Containers Security, Identity & Compliance Databases Serverless Developer Tools Storage Internet of Things Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality
- 6. Who can use the framework? Higher Education Institutions Further Education Colleges Research Council establishments Other organisations (Local Authorities and other bodies who are members of higher and further education purchasing consortia)
- 7. Procurement options • The customer enters into a Call-off Agreement, without reopening competition • Used where the customer’s full requirements are met by any one of the framework suppliers listed Direct Award • The customer uses information contained in the suppliers' tenders, GÉANT’s scoring and information from the supplier’s online cost calculator • Suppliers are not contacted for further input Desktop Mini-Competition • The customer organises a mini-competition, requesting further input from suppliers • Call-off T&Cs maybe be refined if necessary Regular Mini-Competition
- 8. Research adoption funding Open funding calls • €3.7 million adoption funds available in 2021 • Focused on consumable commercial cloud and digital services for researchers • For projects which can become clear showcases for the benefits of using cloud services to positively impact research outcomes Timetable • November 2020 – 1st funding call closed • January 2021 – €1.175 million awarded to 15 projects across 12 countries, including 3 from the UK • TBC – dates for second funding call
- 9. NREN delivery options NREN options • Referrer ▪ NREN acts as intermediary ▪ Facilitates purchase by customers directly from suppliers/resellers • Underwriter ▪ NREN makes purchases from suppliers/resellers ▪ Customers then purchase from NREN Jisc’s role • In the first instance, Jisc is taking a Referrer role and will levy a 3.5% administration fee when customers use the framework • We may take the Underwriter role later if appropriate
- 10. Contacts For more information please contact cloudframework@jisc.ac.uk Alec Wright – primary contact – 07552 364231 Jessica Wu – secondary contact – 01235 822381