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PS26218 - Market assessment to identify tools which are preventing businesses from securely adopting AI

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

14 Oct 2026 at 12:34

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) commissioned research to assess the market and identify tools that are preventing businesses from adopting artificial intelligence securely. The work is a market assessment and research service focused on barriers to secure business adoption of AI. Delivery covers the United Kingdom, Europe, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, British Overseas Territories and the rest of the world. The requirement is relevant to research consultancies with experience investigating business technology adoption and identifying tools or barriers affecting secure AI use. The procurement was conducted for DSIT, whose address is in Swindon.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded to Blue Bow Research & Consultancy Ltd. The award was made on 5 October 2026 for £78,000. The contract period runs from 2 October 2026 to 15 January 2027. The original estimated procurement value was £90,000. The requirement was competed through a selective call-off from the Government Commercial Agency’s Research and Insights Dynamic Purchasing System. The tender submission deadline was 28 August 2026 at 11:00. This was a single research-services requirement, with no lots identified. Small and medium-sized enterprises were considered suitable to participate; voluntary, community and social enterprises were not. No evaluation criteria are stated in the published process information.

The award demonstrates demand from DSIT for focused research into the practical barriers businesses face when adopting AI securely, including the tools that may impede adoption. A credible competitor for a future requirement of this kind would need to design and deliver a market assessment spanning businesses and markets across the UK and international locations. Research capability should include understanding business technology adoption and analysing how tools affect secure AI use. The contract was awarded to a small and medium-sized research and consultancy supplier, showing that this requirement was deliverable by an SME rather than being reserved to large suppliers. The procurement route was a call-off from a research and insights dynamic purchasing system, so suppliers seeking comparable work should be able to compete through that route.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

PS26218 - Market assessment to identify tools which are preventing businesses from securely adopting AI

Notice Description

***** THIS IS AN AWARD NOTICE, NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION ***** This procurement is being concluded following a competitive procurement exercise via Government Commercial Agency RM6126 Research and Insights DPS for the provision of PS26218 - Market assessment to identify tools which are preventing businesses from securely adopting AI

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-8e1dc489-738b-4d4a-919b-edca7ec397ce
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/927cdc51-b771-4877-bb17-f527f9cac892
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Dynamic
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Call-off from a dynamic purchasing system
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73110000 - Research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£90,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£78,000 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
5 Oct 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
2 Oct 2026 - 15 Jan 2027 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON
Postcode
SN2 1FF
Postcode Area
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

BLUE BOW RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCY LTD

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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