Planning

Request for Information: Sovereign AI R&D Procurement

DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

17 Apr 2026 at 10:10

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology is initiating a Request for Information regarding Sovereign AI R&D Procurement aimed at leveraging AI startups' capabilities. Based in London, the procurement programme falls under the IT services category and seeks to engage industry participants in market engagement. The current stage is Planning, and the department encourages responses by 16th May 2026. The scheme is expected to commence on 3rd July 2026, lasting until 31st March 2030, with a future notice planned for 1st July 2026. The procurement process is thorough and above threshold, aiming to award contracts worth up to £5 million per project over a 12 to 24-month period.

This tender offers an exciting prospect for businesses, particularly startups focused on developing sovereign AI capabilities in areas like scientific discovery, health, cybersecurity, transport, and energy & net zero. By participating, companies can secure government contracts that provide revenue, validate innovative AI solutions, and establish vital relationships with public sector entities such as MOD, DHSC, DSIT, and NCSC. Moreover, businesses retain intellectual property rights, enabling further commercial exploitation while allowing the UK government usage rights. SMEs are encouraged to participate, potentially benefiting from the high-profile opportunities to enhance growth and credibility in the AI sector.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Request for Information: Sovereign AI R&D Procurement

Notice Description

We want to build government procurement into our offer to support AI startups. By acting as an early customer, government can help to validate novel AI capabilities and de-risk investment for the wider market. We know the difference government contracts can make for startups by providing revenue, credibility, and leveraging private investment. The benefits for applicants could include: Government contracts to develop prototype AI capabilities, providing revenue and validation. The opportunity to establish close relationships with government departments and understanding of market demand (such as MOD, DHSC, DSIT, NCSC and others). We want to design our procurement in a way that supports high-potential AI startups that are developing sovereign AI capabilities. If you are developing something which aligns with our Sovereign AI Focus Areas below, then we want to hear from you. The information gathered will help to design the scheme and ensure it works well for companies. We are considering a competitive scheme where companies can apply to win government contracts to develop sovereign AI capabilities and address public-interest challenges. We are considering awarding contracts up to PS5 million per project, with a duration of 12 to 24 months, flexible depending on the scope of the project. To be eligible, projects would have to align with one of the five Sovereign AI focus areas. There will also be further challenges set by government departments to develop specific capabilities which address government priorities in areas such as (but not limited to): advancing scientific discovery, health and social care, national security and defence, cybersecurity, transport, energy & net zero, public service delivery. The output of the contracts will be a demonstrator stage AI capability which proves proof-of-concept (not a final commercial solution), with a clear route to commercialisation with public or private sector customers. Companies would retain ownership of all background IP and foreground IP created during the project. Companies are free to exploit the IP commercially or sell it to other customers. HMG would retain usage rights to the foreground IP developed during the project. This is to ensure adherence to procurement law and knowledge retention. Government is not intended to capture any economic value from the IP. This is a time limited market engagement exercise: please submit your response by 16th May 2026.

Planning Information

Full details of the engagement process can be found here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=BXCsy8EC60O0l-ZJLRst2ArY0rfiyIlKmmyXHvJKqzxUNkIyVk83S1g2RUFOSTBEUVVSRzI0M0M5VC4u&route=shorturl https://www.sovereignai.gov.uk/ This is a time limited market engagement exercise: please submit your response by 16th May 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-068509
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035079-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£80,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Apr 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Jul 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Jul 2026 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
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
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

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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