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AI Foundation and Digital Front Door Services

Torfaen County Borough Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

23 Jun 2026 at 10:08

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

19 Jun 2026 at 08:42

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The AI Foundation and Digital Front Door Services contract, overseen by Torfaen County Borough Council along with Monmouthshire County Council, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, Newport City Council, and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Gwent, has been awarded to Amazon Web Services. This procurement process falls under the category of IT services, with a focus on consultancy, software development, and internet support, applicable in the UKL21 region, covering parts of Wales. The contract was awarded through a direct procurement method, with the contract period set from 3rd July 2026 to 2nd July 2027. The process was governed by Welsh devolved regulations, ensuring compliance with public sector standards. Notable dates include the award announcement on 23rd June 2026, following the completion of the tender phase, with a standstill period ending on 2nd July 2026.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in AI integration and IT services, particularly those with capabilities in managing digital transformation within public sector frameworks. The project aims to establish a shared AI Management Hub to streamline workflows across various regional authorities, thereby enhancing service delivery and operational efficiency. Businesses that possess expertise in cloud solutions, AI governance, and digital front-door systems stand to benefit greatly from this initiative, as it underscores the growing demand for integrated, technology-driven solutions in the public sector. The alignment with Amazon Web Services reflects an inclination towards large-scale, commercially robust partners capable of delivering secure and efficient digital infrastructures.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

AI Foundation and Digital Front Door Services

Notice Description

SRS partner services face sustained pressure from rising demand, increasing complexity, workforce constraints and growing expectations for digital access. Many core processes remain manual, fragmented, or duplicated, reducing productivity, increasing risk and limiting staff capacity for higher-value work.Partners are currently responding independently, trialling small-scale automation or using free AI tools without integration or consistent oversight. This creates duplication, uneven progress and avoidable risk.The proposed investment provides a shared AI Management Hub as a common foundation, enabling AI to be integrated safely into systems, data and workflows across all partners. It supports governance, service resilience and value for money through a single coordinated approach.Year one will deliver the shared AI Foundation, including a secure AI Management Hub integrated with existing systems and data, core AI tools for staff, a controlled replacement for ungoverned free AI tools, and the initial Digital Front Door capability for AI-assisted handling of citizen enquiries.

Procurement Information

The SRS and its partner authorities operate a shared cloud environment based on AWS, which underpins critical services, cross-partner integration, and existing digital programmes. This environment includes established architecture, security design, network connectivity (including direct cloud connections), and interdependent systems across multiple organisations. Due to this existing architecture, the requirement cannot be met by an alternative supplier without fundamental redesign of the platform and associated services. Transition to an alternative provider would introduce disproportionate technical and operational difficulties, including: * Re-engineering of existing applications, integrations, and automation pipelines * Reconfiguration of network connectivity and security controls * Risk to live service continuity across multiple authorities * Disruption to shared data and interoperability arrangements * Duplication of infrastructure during migration, increasing cost and cyber risk These impacts go beyond normal commercial switching considerations and represent a material technical barrier to competition, meaning there is no reasonable alternative capable of delivering the requirement without unacceptable disruption.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06b897
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058798-2026
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

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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,272,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Jun 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
19 Jun 20262 months ago
Contract Period
3 Jul 2026 - 2 Jul 2027 6-12 months
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
Torfaen County Borough Council
Additional Buyers

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council

Monmouthshire County Council

Newport City Council

the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Gwent

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EBBW VALE
Postcode
NP4 0LS
Postcode Area
Newport
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL53 Gwent Valleys
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Torfaen
Electoral Ward
Panteg
Westminster Constituency
Torfaen

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Amazon Web Services

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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