Award

Nexus AI

DEPARTMENT FOR WORK & PENSIONS

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

29 Sep 2025 at 12:42

Planning

24 Feb 2025 at 09:55

Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) has engaged in the "Nexus AI" procurement process, which focuses on IT services including consulting, software development, and AI systems. The conclusion of the award stage saw IBM UK Ltd awarded a substantial contract valued at £9,000,000. As a national agency, DWP's initiative concentrates on AI services aimed at tackling key business challenges and aligning with governmental ambitions. This procurement, conducted through a restricted procedure, covered the region of London, UK, and involved the foundational planning and award stages, with the final contract signed on 12th September 2025.

This initiative provides a significant opportunity for businesses adept in AI solutions, particularly those with expertise in AI deployment, development of Proofs of Concept, and software trials. Companies specialising in consulting, AI system implementation, and support stand to gain from the strategic partnership opportunities such services promise. Given the AI sector's rapid growth, small to large enterprises working within the innovation and IT services sector could leverage these contracts to expand their work with central government sectors, particularly as part of a dynamic purchasing system (DPS) leveraging technologies like natural language processing and machine learning.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Notice Title

Nexus AI

Notice Description

The Authority requires a strategic Supplier capable of meeting requirements related to the exploration, deployment, and ongoing support of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems and services. These include, but are not limited to: Tech Spikes, Horizon Scans, Proofs of Concept (PoCs), Software Trial Teams, working with colleagues to identify business problems, supply expertise to build Beta MVP products and maintain / support products that have gone Live.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Authority is seeking support from subject matter experts in AI to build a deep and continually updated understanding of AI capabilities mapped against DWP's key business challenges and opportunities. The Authority requires the development and implementation of these services to be able to meet governmental ambitions.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04e789
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060504-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Restricted procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

72200000 - Software programming and consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£10,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£9,000,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Sep 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
11 May 2025Expired
Award Date
11 Sep 20255 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR WORK & PENSIONS
Additional Buyers

DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS

Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
ai.commercial@dwp.gov.uk, hugo.lealdasilva@dwp.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
MANCHESTER
Postcode
M2 3AA
Post Town
Manchester
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

IBM

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-04e789-2025-09-29T13:42:53+01:00",
    "date": "2025-09-29T13:42:53+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-04e789",
    "description": "The contract includes two (2) optional extension periods, each of up to one (1) year in duration. The maximum contract value for each extension period shall not exceed PS9,000,000 (ex VAT).",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "tender": {
        "id": "Project_26634 / C7927",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "32014L0024",
            "scheme": "CELEX"
        },
        "title": "Nexus AI",
        "status": "complete",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "72000000",
            "description": "IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "description": "The Authority requires a strategic Supplier capable of meeting requirements related to the exploration, deployment, and ongoing support of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems and services. These include, but are not limited to: Tech Spikes, Horizon Scans, Proofs of Concept (PoCs), Software Trial Teams, working with colleagues to identify business problems, supply expertise to build Beta MVP products and maintain / support products that have gone Live.",
        "value": {
            "amount": 10000000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "The Authority is seeking support from subject matter experts in AI to build a deep and continually updated understanding of AI capabilities mapped against DWP's key business challenges and opportunities. The Authority requires the development and implementation of these services to be able to meet governmental ambitions.",
                "status": "cancelled",
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "name": "Technical",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "65%"
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "price",
                            "description": "35%"
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "hasOptions": false
            }
        ],
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "72200000",
                        "description": "Software programming and consultancy services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKI"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2025-05-12T00:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "coveredBy": [
            "GPA"
        ],
        "procurementMethod": "selective",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Restricted procedure"
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-138642",
            "name": "Department for Work and Pensions",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Department for Work and Pensions"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Manchester Corporate Hub",
                "locality": "Manchester",
                "region": "UK",
                "postalCode": "M2 3AA",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "hugo.lealdasilva@dwp.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer",
                "centralPurchasingBody"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "MINISTRY",
                        "description": "Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "COFOG",
                        "id": "10",
                        "description": "Social protection"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-160262",
            "name": "Department for Work & Pensions",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Department for Work & Pensions"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Caxton House, 6-12 Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9NA",
                "locality": "London",
                "region": "UK",
                "postalCode": "SW1H 9NA",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "ai.commercial@dwp.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer",
                "reviewBody"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions",
                "buyerProfile": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "NATIONAL_AGENCY",
                        "description": "National or federal agency/office"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "COFOG",
                        "id": "01",
                        "description": "General public services"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-162261",
            "name": "IBM UK Ltd",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "IBM UK Ltd",
                "id": "741598"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Building C IBM Hursley Office Hursley Park Road Winchester Hampshire",
                "locality": "Winchester",
                "region": "UKJ2",
                "postalCode": "SO21 2JN",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "large"
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-FTS-160262",
        "name": "Department for Work & Pensions"
    },
    "language": "en",
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "060504-2025-1",
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "status": "active",
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-FTS-162261",
                    "name": "IBM UK Ltd"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "060504-2025-1",
            "awardID": "060504-2025-1",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amount": 9000000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "dateSigned": "2025-09-12T00:00:00+01:00"
        }
    ],
    "bids": {
        "statistics": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "measure": "bids",
                "relatedLot": "1",
                "value": 15
            },
            {
                "id": "2",
                "measure": "electronicBids",
                "relatedLot": "1",
                "value": 15
            }
        ]
    }
}