Award

Centre for AI Measurement

DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

07 Jan 2026 at 11:10

Award

07 Jan 2026 at 10:39

Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology is leading a procurement process titled "Centre for AI Measurement" under the classification of research and development services and related consultancy services. Located in London, this direct award contract, valued at £12.6 million, was finalised on 7th January 2026, with the contract period beginning on 1st April 2026 and ending on 31st March 2030. The procurement method was a direct award due to technical reasons, as outlined in Procurement Regulations, and is currently in the award stage, with a standstill period ending on 16th January 2026. The tender aims to establish a centre of excellence and support for AI systems, focusing on developing new testing tools and coordinating knowledge sharing within the sector.

This procurement presents significant business growth opportunities, especially for large-scale organisations capable of providing advanced research and development services in AI systems assurance. Companies that specialise in creating evaluation tools and services for AI, and those that have the capability to engage in industry support and coordination with international partners, will find this tender especially suited to their expertise. The project will not only bolster the technical capabilities within the United Kingdom's AI sector but also enable companies to contribute to setting global standards in AI measurement and assurance.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Centre for AI Measurement

Notice Description

Establishing a new Centre for AI Measurement. The Centre will host a programme of work to: a) Establish a centre of excellence focussed on enabling and accelerating the creation of new testing and evaluation tools for AI systems (the Centre for AI Measurement). b) Create a programme of research and development on good practice, evaluation and performance measures for AI systems, with a focus on highly capable AI systems. c) Support industry in developing, validating and verifying new products and services for AI assurance. d) Coordinate knowledge sharing and communication within the AI assurance sector, those furthering the science of measurement with regard to AI, and international partners.

Procurement Information

Direct award is justified under Procurement Regulations 24, Schedule 5, point 6, due to the absence of competition for technical reasons and the lack of reasonable alternatives.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0600b1
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000972-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services


CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£10,500,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Jan 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
7 Jan 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2030 4-5 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
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
aiocommercial@dsit.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2EG
Post Town
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
Not specified

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

NPL MANAGEMENT

Further Information

Notice Documents

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-0600b1-2026-01-07T11:10:32Z",
    "date": "2026-01-07T11:10:32Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0600b1",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PVWZ-3216-PVQL",
            "name": "Department for Science, Innovation & Technology",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PVWZ-3216-PVQL"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "22 Whitehall",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "SW1A 2EG",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI32"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "aiocommercial@dsit.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PYDB-8862-JBYM",
            "name": "NPL MANAGEMENT LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PYDB-8862-JBYM"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, Middlesex",
                "locality": "Teddington",
                "postalCode": "TW11 0LW",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI75"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "enquiry@npl.co.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "large",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PVWZ-3216-PVQL",
        "name": "Department for Science, Innovation & Technology"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-0600b1",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Centre for AI Measurement",
        "description": "Establishing a new Centre for AI Measurement. The Centre will host a programme of work to: a) Establish a centre of excellence focussed on enabling and accelerating the creation of new testing and evaluation tools for AI systems (the Centre for AI Measurement). b) Create a programme of research and development on good practice, evaluation and performance measures for AI systems, with a focus on highly capable AI systems. c) Support industry in developing, validating and verifying new products and services for AI assurance. d) Coordinate knowledge sharing and communication within the AI assurance sector, those furthering the science of measurement with regard to AI, and international partners.",
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "Direct award is justified under Procurement Regulations 24, Schedule 5, point 6, due to the absence of competition for technical reasons and the lack of reasonable alternatives.",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "title": "Centre for AI Measurement",
            "status": "pending",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 12600000,
                "amount": 10500000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-PPON-PYDB-8862-JBYM",
                    "name": "NPL MANAGEMENT LIMITED"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "73000000",
                            "description": "Research and development services and related consultancy services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1",
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ]
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2030-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "000951-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK5",
                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000951-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-01-07T10:39:37Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                },
                {
                    "id": "000972-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000972-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-01-07T11:10:32Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2026-01-19T23:59:59+00:00",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ],
            "date": "2026-01-07T00:00:00+00:00",
            "standstillPeriod": {
                "endDate": "2026-01-16T23:59:59+00:00"
            }
        }
    ],
    "language": "en"
}