--- title: "AI Safety Institute Commercial Framework - Early Market Engagement Opportunity" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04d030" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04d030" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04d030.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04d030.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "DESNZ & DSIT GROUP COMMERCIAL" published: "2025-01-15" --- # AI Safety Institute Commercial Framework - Early Market Engagement Opportunity Buyer: DESNZ & DSIT GROUP COMMERCIAL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04d030 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04d030) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04d030.json) ## Summary The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) intends to establish a multi-supplier Commercial Agreement for Frontier AI Research Services under the AI Safety Institute Commercial Framework. This process, still in the planning stage, aims to invite suppliers to an early market engagement session on 6th February 2025 at 15:00 (UK Time). The framework falls under the Research and Development services category, with a total estimated value of £19.5 million GBP. Services will primarily be delivered within the United Kingdom. This session offers suppliers a chance to provide feedback and help shape the future procurement strategy in line with the new Procurement Act 2023 regulations, with a potential future tender process to follow from May 2025. This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for suppliers specialising in frontier AI model evaluations, research, and testing across domains including Chemistry, Biology, Cybersecurity, and AI's societal impacts. It encourages participation from businesses capable of providing advanced AI research services, thus creating potential for long-term partnerships with DSIT. Suppliers will need Cyber Essentials certification to demonstrate compliance with necessary security standards. This engagement offers businesses a close look at governmental procurement processes and the chance to influence the formation of a major research framework. ## Notice The Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (AISI), a directorate of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) intends to create a new multi-supplier Commercial Agreement for the provision of Frontier AI Research Services framework under the new Procurement Act 2023 regulations. The purpose of this PIN is to provide advance notice to the market that DSIT is considering undertaking a tender exercise to set up this commercial agreement and would like to invite Suppliers to a virtual early market engagement session on this proposed procurement. ### Lot Information Lot 1 We are keen to hear from Suppliers who provide Frontier AI model evaluations, research, testing, code creation, human studies across the following domains: Science (Chemistry and Biology) Cyber Misuse Red-Teaming and Safeguards Criminal Misuse and Criminology Persuasion and Deception Wider Societal Impacts of AI Autonomous Systems Survey Participant Provision Multi-Modal AI Research (visual, audio) We are currently not looking for Suppliers in the following areas due to the number of other routes to market available: AI Digital Services AI Deployment AI Integration AI Licencing We intend to hold a first meeting with interested suppliers on 6th February 2025 at 15:00 (UK Time) (subject to change). DSIT invites suggestions and feedback from this session, as these activities will help inform thinking and shape a future procurement strategy. The provisional agenda is below: Welcome and introduction to AISI Overview on how to sell to AISI (+ Government Procurement Reform) AISI's proposal for the 'Frontier AI Research Services' new commercial agreement Supplier feedback and suggestions General Q&A If you are interested in this potential opportunity, DSIT would like to engage with you. Please contact us by emailing dsit.dttgcbp@dsit.gov.uk with your company details. Following confirmation of company details and contact information, an 'MS Teams' invite will be circulated for the market engagement event. We would ask that you have a maximum of 2 attendees from each organisation. Presentation slides will be made available after the session(s). Useful resources: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-act-2023-short-guides/the-procurement-act-2023-a-short-guide-for-suppliers-html https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/procurement-act-2023-guidance-documents https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-act-2023-guidance-documents-define-phase/guidance-frameworks-html *** This is early market engagement for a potential opportunity. The Department is not obligated to run a procurement following this activity and is not liable for any costs associated with participating in this early engagement. *** Additional Information: The Department for Science Innovation and Technology uses the Jaggaer eSourcing Portal as its eSourcing tool. Jaggaer will be used for this competition should it come to tender. To register as a supplier, please visit https://beisgroup.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/ and follow the instructions to register as a supplier. Services will be delivered primarily to the United Kingdom, with some limited requirements overseas. The estimated total value is an indicative value over the lifetime of the framework (3 years), including any options to extend. The Cyber Essentials scheme is mandatory for Central Government Contracts which involve handling personal information and providing certain ICT products and services. The Government is taking steps to further reduce the levels of cyber risk in its supply chain through the Cyber Essentials scheme https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberessentials/overview. The scheme defines a set of control which, when properly implemented, will provide organisations with basic protection from the most prevalent forms of threat coming from the internet. To participate in this potential procurement, bidders will be required to demonstrate that they are Cyber Essentials compliant for the services under and in connection with the procurement. The services that arise from this from this framework will involve the supplier holding material that has been assigned a protective marking under the Government Security Classifications scheme (April 2014) of OFFICIAL/SENSITIVE. Bidders will be required to implement their solution in accordance with the Framework Agreement Schedule, "Security Requirement and Plan", to meet Framework Agreement requirements. This documentation will be released at the ITT stage. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001340-2025 | | Notice type | Planning Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 15 Jan 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 30 Apr 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £19,500,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DESNZ & DSIT GROUP COMMERCIAL | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | Not specified | | Postcode | N/A | | Country | Not specified | | ITL 1 | Not specified | | ITL 2 | Not specified | | ITL 3 | Not specified | | Local authority | Not specified | | Electoral ward | Not specified | | Westminster constituency | Not specified | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ## Release History - 15 Jan 2025 at 12:15 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001340-2025 ## Notice URLs - https://beisgroup.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/ - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/procurement-act-2023-guidance-documents - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-act-2023-guidance-documents-define-phase/guidance-frameworks-html - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-act-2023-short-guides/the-procurement-act-2023-a-short-guide-for-suppliers-html - https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberessentials/overview ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04d030. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04d030.json.