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Artificial Intelligence as a Service Delivery Partner - Early Engagement Notice

Home Office

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

03 Sep 2026 at 15:23

Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Home Office is considering appointing an artificial intelligence delivery partner to maintain, enhance and develop its AI as a Service platform. The platform provides reusable AI services, multi-cloud infrastructure and an assured delivery model for business areas across the Home Office. The work covers programming, information technology planning and delivery, and strategic technology reviews. Potential applications include virtual assistants and chatbots, computer vision, natural language processing, machine learning, deep learning, generative AI, speech recognition, expert systems, data visualisation, reporting, data governance, predictive AI and enhanced decision support. Delivery is associated with the Home Office in London, with the stated delivery area also extending across the United Kingdom and internationally. The procurement is identified as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises.

This process is at the planning and early market engagement stage; it is not an invitation to tender. The Home Office expects to use the Government Commercial Agency’s Artificial Intelligence Dynamic Purchasing System, RM6200, as its route to market. It expects to issue a request for information on 8 September 2026, with engagement due to end on 23 September 2026. Suppliers are expected to register on the AI DPS by close of business on 5 November 2026, ahead of an anticipated shortlist on 6 November 2026. Only shortlisted suppliers are expected to be invited to the later ITT stage. The proposed contract period is three years, with an option to extend by one further year. No contract value is stated.

This will suit AI and digital technology businesses able to provide an end-to-end delivery partnership rather than a single software product. Relevant preparation includes capability in AI service design and build, implementation, maintenance, research and development, use-case pilots, multi-cloud infrastructure and assured delivery into central government environments. Specialist strengths that align with the proposed market filters include machine learning, deep learning, artificial neural networks, generative AI, frontier large language models, natural language processing, computer vision, speech recognition, federated learning, fuzzy logic, expert systems, virtual assistants and chatbots. Suppliers with experience in data governance and management, predictive AI, enhanced decision support, data visualisation, reporting, applicability and value analysis, and strategic technology planning should also consider preparing for the later competition.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Artificial Intelligence as a Service Delivery Partner - Early Engagement Notice

Notice Description

The Home Office will be adopting the Government Commercial Agency (GCA) Dynamic Purchasing System (RM6200) for Artificial Intelligence as the route to market. This market engagement notice is to notify the AI supplier community of the potential opportunity and to enable suppliers to register or align themselves via the GCA Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS). Therefore, to be able to submit a tender and participate, you must be registered as a supplier on the Dynamic Purchasing System ASAP. Please note that this can take up to 15 days; Be registered on the DPS by following the below link by COP 5th November 2026 https://supplierregistration.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/organisation/register The Home Office will pull a shortlist on 6th November 2026 based on the available suppliers being registered and available on the AI Dynamic Purchasing System. Please note that it is the Suppliers responsibility to ensure they are registered on the DPS and showing live prior to this date. Please note only suppliers who get shortlisted will be added and invited to the ITT tender stage and be able to view & submit a bid via the GCA Public Procurement Gateway portal. If you do not hear from the Home Office this means your company has not been successful with the shortlisting process. The Home Office is looking to award a 3-year contract with the option to extend for a further 1 year. The Home Office requires an AI delivery partner to maintain, enhance and develop it's AI as a Service platform capability which provides reusable AI services, multi-cloud infrastructure and an assured delivery model to business areas across Home Office. If you have any queries concerning this Market Engagement Notice, these should be sent to HODigitalCentralContracts@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please include "Project_21011" in the email subject for any correspondence. Disclaimer: 1. This early market engagement notice does not indicate that any procurement activity has started, will start, nor that your organisation has been granted any special status. 2. The Home Office is not bound to any course of action (including concluding a contract with any supplier) as a result of early market engagement. 3. The Home Office reserves the right to issue anonymised outputs from early procurement market engagement to all potential providers. 4. The Home Office reserves the right to amend the scope or timing of early procurement market engagement at any time. 5. During the ITT stage suppliers are to communicate only via the GCA Public Procurement Gateway portal Crown Commercial Service C&SM and not to contact any Home Office individuals. 6. Participation in early procurement market engagement activity is undertaken at the participants' own cost and expense. Additional information: The Home Office intends to use the following filters in the DPS to shortlist suppliers. It is the responsibility of suppliers to manage and maintain up to date filters to ensure they are included in upcoming opportunities. Filters are subject to change based on business need and requirements. Applicability & Value Analyses, Use Case Pilots, Research & Development (R&D), Design & Build, Implementation, Product and Service Maintenance, Virtual Assistants and Chatbots, Federated Learning, Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning, Artificial Neural Networks, Generative AI, Speech Recognition, Frontier LLM's, Expert Systems, Neural Networks / Deep Learning, Fuzzy Logic, Data Visualisation and Reporting, Data Governance and Management, Enhanced Decision Support, Predictive AI, Central Government. The Home Office intends to issue a Request for Information (RFI) to the suppliers registered on the AI DPS with the above filters on 8th September 2026. If you are not currently registered on the DPS and/or have not selected these filters as part of your application, you will not receive the RFI. If you have not received the RFI and wish to be included in this process, please email HODigitalCentralContracts@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please include "Project_21011" in the email subject for any correspondence.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-40f28b44-8a6e-4372-9ab2-b1c40c524149
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/59e303fc-b728-4783-9e34-119e6b473705
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Dynamic
Procurement Category
Not specified
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

72211000 - Programming services of systems and user software

72222100 - Information systems or technology strategic review services

72222200 - Information systems or technology planning services

72222300 - Information technology services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Home Office
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLI London
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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