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105017 - What works in AI Adoption within DCMS Sectors

DEPARTMENT FOR CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

27 Jul 2026 at 16:20

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

27 Jul 2026 at 15:18

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is engaging in a procurement process titled "105017 - What works in AI Adoption within DCMS Sectors". This initiative falls under the services category, specifically focusing on research and development and social research services. Located in London, UK, the project is in the planning stage with the procurement process set to be executed via a Competitive Flexible Procedure or through the RM6126 Research and Insights framework, as per the Procurement Act 2023. A virtual engagement seminar is scheduled for 8th September 2026, providing potential bidders an opportunity to understand the project scope better before the notice date of 21st September 2026. The project will commence on 8th March 2027 and conclude by 7th March 2030.

This tender provides a substantial business opportunity, valued at £1.5 million (gross £1.8 million), and is above the threshold level, signalling significant engagement for interested parties. It is particularly suited for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), as these entities can bring innovative methodologies to evidence-based research on AI adoption. Companies specializing in emerging technologies, data analysis, and social research will find this an unrivaled opportunity to influence AI policy and contribute to the development within DCMS sectors. The project, part of the wider DCMS Science and Analysis R&D Programme, promises to bolster R&D capability within the department, aligning with UK's strategic interest in technology advancements and policy efficacy.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

105017 - What works in AI Adoption within DCMS Sectors

Notice Description

DCMS are seeking to commission "what works" research into the impact and effectiveness of AI adoption interventions within DCMS sectors. We are interested in two broad sets of questions. The first is analysis of how businesses within DCMS sectors that are in the process of adopting AI achieve this, the challenges they face and the opportunities and benefits realised. We anticipate this will be explored through an ethnographic study that observes how individuals and teams actually use AI tools in their jobs. The second set of questions is what policy interventions work best to support businesses that wish to adopt AI, which we anticipate will be answered by testing hypothetical interventions through randomised control trials (RCTs). Bidders will be able to propose alternative methodologies if they think they suit these questions better; the core need for this project is to produce direct, robust evidence of what works, as opposed to what is self-reported (e.g. through interviews, focus groups, surveys, and similar) to work. This project will be commissioned either through a Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, or through the RM6126 Research and Insights framework. This is part of the DCMS Science and Analysis R&D Programme, which supports R&D capability within the department. This project will run concurrently aside three other large projects across 2027-2030, these include; mapping the specific "user pathways" audiences take to find, consume, and value information; a continuation of previous research to develop data-intensive approaches for capturing engagement at unticketed cultural, heritage, and sporting events/activities/locations, e.g. using mobile app data to model how people participate in our events; and a continuation of previous research to design and improve methods for holistically tracking the long-term impact of major events, tested on a major event.

Planning Information

One Virtual Engagement Seminar (Tuesday 8th September 12:00 - 13:00) Please copy paste the below link into a browser to register. There will be an introduction to the research, allowing for time at the end for a Q&A on the prospective research. Please ensure you have registered to receive a Microsoft Teams meeting link to the seminar. https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=bplOgonFVkCVszLEnIpEx4FxwFXJMJlOkexCFt6L-ihUOFRQMTVIVFBHSUdOTEdMVFlJQ01WQllVUi4u&route=shorturl

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d489
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070954-2026
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, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

79315000 - Social research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Jul 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
21 Sep 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
8 Mar 2027 - 7 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 CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
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 2BQ
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

JSON Markdown

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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