This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

06 Aug 2026 at 12:19

Summary of the contracting process

The Office for Students commissioned a Sector AI Report in collaboration with Advance HE. This is a professional services requirement centred on survey work and the production of a report about artificial intelligence across the higher education sector. The work is delivered in the United Kingdom. The buyer is the Office for Students, a public authority based in Bristol. The requirement was structured as a single service lot and concerns collaboration between the buyer and the selected supplier. It may be relevant to organisations providing research, survey design, data gathering, analysis and sector reporting, particularly where they understand higher education and can work closely with a public-sector client and sector body.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a direct, below-threshold procedure without competition. Advance HE was selected as the supplier. The contract was signed on 29 July 2026 and runs from 10 August 2026 to 31 December 2026. Its value is £1.00 excluding VAT and £1.20 including VAT. The contract is active. The procurement used one lot, which is complete, and the award covers survey services. This outcome shows that the Office for Students used a low-value, non-competitive route for a defined Sector AI Report collaboration with Advance HE, rather than inviting competing tenders. The contract is intended for delivery across the United Kingdom.

For a competitor, this procurement provides a clear example of the Office for Students buying survey services to support a sector-focused artificial intelligence report. Relevant suppliers would need the ability to design or deliver survey work, gather and interpret evidence, and turn findings into a concise report for a public-sector audience. Experience working with higher education stakeholders would be commercially relevant, as would the ability to collaborate directly with the Office for Students and a sector organisation such as Advance HE. Organisations that combine research, analysis, reporting and stakeholder engagement are the closest fit. The small and specialist nature of the selected supplier indicates that this type of requirement can suit an SME with focused sector expertise.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Sector AI Report

Notice Description

Sector AI Report collaboration between Office for Students and Advance HE

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06dd8f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074669-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

79311000 - Survey services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£1

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
29 Jul 20264 weeks ago
Contract Period
10 Aug 2026 - 31 Dec 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Office for Students
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 8SR
Postcode Area
Bristol
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Stoke Gifford
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Advance HE

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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