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Conversational Search - Agentic A.I.

LONDON SOUTH BANK UNIVERSITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

14 Oct 2026 at 12:04

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

London South Bank University commissioned conversational search using agentic artificial intelligence to improve student services and enable students to find answers and serve themselves outside normal service hours. The requirement is for professional services and use of tokens to support this AI-based service. It is software programming and consultancy work for a university, intended to make student support more accessible beyond staffed hours. The work is for London South Bank University in London, with delivery recorded in the United Kingdom. The selected provider is Intercom R&D Unlimited Company, based in Dublin. The requirement centres on implementing and supporting conversational search rather than a general-purpose AI project; suppliers specialising in conversational AI, search and student-facing digital support are the closest fit.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded to Intercom R&D Unlimited Company. London South Bank University made a direct award below the applicable threshold, without competition. The award date was 29 July 2026. The awarded value is US$67,284 excluding VAT (US$80,740.80 including VAT). The contract period runs from 14 October 2026 to 18 August 2027. The requirement was arranged as one lot. The stated purpose and evaluation basis were to explore agentic AI technology to improve student services and enable out-of-hours self-service; no separate scoring criteria are recorded. The token quantity is an estimate, and the award allows for further token purchases if the allocation is used up.

This award demonstrates a university requirement for conversational search that can handle student enquiries and provide self-service outside staffed hours. A credible competitor for a comparable future requirement would need to combine conversational AI and search expertise with professional services to implement and adapt the service for a university student-support context. The solution must be able to operate reliably beyond normal service hours, with an approach to token consumption that can accommodate usage beyond an initial estimate. The incumbent is a large technology supplier, indicating that the buyer selected an established provider for this engagement. Suppliers with relevant deployments, experience integrating AI into student-facing services and the capacity to support ongoing usage would be best placed to compete when this specific requirement next reaches the market.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Conversational Search - Agentic A.I.

Notice Description

Explore AI technology to improve our service to students and to allow them to self serve out of hours using Agentic A.I. This will be professional services and the use of Tokens. One year contract value is $67284.00 (excl VAT)

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078765
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096941-2026
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
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

72200000 - Software programming and consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£67,284 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
29 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
14 Oct 2026 - 18 Aug 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
LONDON SOUTH BANK UNIVERSITY
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
SE1 0AA
Postcode Area
South East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI44 Lewisham and Southwark
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Southwark
Electoral Ward
St George's
Westminster Constituency
Bermondsey and Old Southwark

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Intercom R&D Unlimited Company

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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