Award

AI automation for legal docs and sanction paper drafting

DEVELOPMENT BANK OF WALES

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

19 Mar 2026 at 12:02

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Development Bank of Wales has concluded an award for specialist AI consultancy services to automate legal document generation and sanction paper drafting. The procurement pertains to the service industry and is settled via a direct award due to the contract's niche nature and the supplier's prior involvement in prototype development. The award notice was published on 19th March 2026, with the contract beginning on 30th March 2026 and slated to end by 30th March 2027. Located in Cardiff, Wales, the buyer underscores adherence to Welsh devolved regulations. The procurement method chosen was a direct award under the Procurement Act 2023, reflecting the buyer’s preference for a streamlined process due to the supplier's unique technical expertise, resulting in a contract worth £150,000.

This procurement presents substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in AI and legal consultancy services. SMEs, particularly those within the AI and legal process automation sectors, may find expansion prospects through similar initiatives, leveraging niche knowledge and expertise in transformative AI workflows. Businesses adept in designing modular AI workflows, improving operational efficiencies, or those experienced in legal compliance and document automation can identify growth avenues by aligning with projects that improve quality and auditability across organisational teams. The direct award approach necessitates a demonstrated track record, making it instrumental for businesses to establish themselves as providers of unique solutions in specialised domains.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

AI automation for legal docs and sanction paper drafting

Notice Description

The Development Bank of Wales intends to award a contract for the provision of specialist AI consultancy services to support the automation of legal document generation and sanction paper drafting. The supplier will deliver an end-to-end AI-enabled workflow covering design, prototyping, testing and operational rollout. This includes creating structured and repeatable AI-augmented processes, establishing controls and guardrails, enabling modular "agent-based" workflow steps, and refining outputs through real-user testing. The work also includes a targeted half-day readiness session to ensure users and governance stakeholders understand safe and responsible use, limitations, validation requirements, and escalation procedures. The solution will expand on prototypes developed previously and will transform two must-win internal workflows (legal work and sanction papers) into functional operational processes, enabling improved efficiency, quality, auditability and consistency across DBW teams.

Procurement Information

The Development Bank of Wales will proceed with a Direct Award under the Procurement Act 2023 due to the highly specialist and niche nature of the AI automation work, the absence of any suitable framework route, and the supplier's successful delivery of the initial pilot phase. The supplier (VisVira) developed the original prototypes and holds unique technical and operational knowledge required to scale these workflows into fully operational, controlled, auditable AI-enabled processes. Re-tendering would cause delays exceeding the required start date (<12 weeks), introduce unnecessary duplication of work, and increase risk to DBW's legal and sanctioning functions. A Direct Award represents the most efficient, compliant, and value-for-money route.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-066ec7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025119-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£150,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Mar 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
19 Mar 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
29 Mar 2026 - 30 Mar 2027 1-2 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
DEVELOPMENT BANK OF WALES
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CARDIFF
Postcode
CF10 4BZ
Post Town
Cardiff
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Cardiff
Electoral Ward
Butetown
Westminster Constituency
Cardiff South and Penarth

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

VISVIRA

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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