Notice Information
Notice Title
AI platform for use by Staff and Students at The University Of Kent
Notice Description
The University of Kent has procured an enterprise-grade Generative AI platform to support teaching, learning, research, accessibility, and operational efficiency. The platform must provide a secure, institutionally governed AI environment; support student learning and staff productivity; reduce institutional risk; and enable scalable, compliant AI use across the university. Full details are available in the documentation. Due to the academic timetable, there are limited opportunities in the year to implement with a target date of approximately April 2026.
Lot Information
Lot 1
Options: nature of the solution is likely to evolve and change over the contract length and therefore the specification and deliverables are likely to change.
Renewal: 3 x 12 month extension options to be exercised at the Authority's discretion.
Planning Information
The University Of Kent has held a number of meetings and discussions in respect to exploring the current market conditions, technological position and advancements, potential future developments in the AI market, potential interested suppliers, potential contract models, likely outcomes and how this would impact upon staff, student, and other operational experiences, with the aim to creating a market ready, and practical description of the current and future situation, the requirements of the institution, and not to over- or under-specify the solution so that it is achievable, practical, scalable, affordable, and technically deliverable. Given the speed of development, innovation, and novel nature of the supply sector, this dialogue has occurred with two major providers in the market to ensure that the package taken to market is successful in meeting our requirements. Dialogue commenced in approximately October 2025 and concluded December 2025 before publication of an intended Request For Proposal using the Competitive Flexible Procedure given the nature and speed of change in the AI Sector.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-05fa54
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012152-2026
- Current Stage
- Award
- All Stages
- Planning, Tender, Award
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK6 - Contract Award Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Selective
- Procurement Method Details
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Tender Suitability
- Not specified
- Awardee Scale
- Large
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
48 - Software package and information systems
72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
-
- CPV Codes
48000000 - Software package and information systems
72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £2,000,000 £1M-£10M
- Lots Value
- £2,000,000 £1M-£10M
- Awards Value
- £3,257,010 £1M-£10M
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 10 Feb 20261 weeks ago
- Submission Deadline
- 16 Jan 2026Expired
- Future Notice Date
- 20 Dec 2025Expired
- Award Date
- 10 Feb 20261 weeks ago
- Contract Period
- 20 Feb 2026 - 30 Apr 2028 2-3 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Complete
- Lots Status
- Complete
- Awards Status
- Pending
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT
- Additional Buyers
- Contact Name
- Mark Reed, Procurement
- Contact Email
- m.reed@kent.ac.uk, procurement@kent.ac.uk
- Contact Phone
- 07921487627
Buyer Location
- Locality
- CANTERBURY
- Postcode
- CT2 7NZ
- Post Town
- Canterbury
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLJ South East (England)
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLJ4 Kent
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLJ44 East Kent
- Delivery Location
- TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLJ4 Kent, TLK South West (England)
-
- Local Authority
- Canterbury
- Electoral Ward
- Blean Forest
- Westminster Constituency
- Canterbury
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012152-2026
10th February 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085406-2025
22nd December 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084889-2025
19th December 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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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