---
title: "Project_9906 AI Tools for Education Phase 2"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-056707"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-056707"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-056707.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-056707.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION"
published: "2025-10-13"
---

# Project_9906 AI Tools for Education Phase 2

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-056707

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## Summary

The Department for Education, located in London, UK, has concluded a procurement process under the title "Project_9906 AI Tools for Education Phase 2", focusing on the integration and development of generative AI tools designed to enhance formative assessment in education. This initiative is part of a Contracts for Innovation competition funded by Innovate UK. The procurement involves the piloting, testing, and validation of AI-based educational tools in alignment with current educational standards such as the National Curriculum and EYFS. The award phase of this process was completed on the 13th of October, 2025, with contracts scheduled to run until 30th June 2026. A direct award procurement method was utilised, allocating a total of up to £1 million, with multiple contracts awarded following a mini competition.

This procurement creates significant opportunities for SMEs, particularly those involved in IT services, consulting, software development, and research and development. With contracts awarded to a diverse range of small and medium-sized enterprises including Learncycle Ltd, Openkit Ltd, Lettingsowl Ltd, Kita Education Ltd, and Corduroy Dinosaur Ltd, companies specialising in innovative educational technology solutions stand to benefit. The emphasis on technical readiness and evidence-based teaching approaches presents a platform for businesses to not only showcase their developmental capabilities but also to potentially influence educational methodologies through innovative AI applications. Such opportunities can drive business growth by positioning firms as leaders in the emergent ed-tech market.

## Notice

This is a Contracts for Innovation competition funded by Innovate UK and delivered by the Department for Education. The aim of this phase is to develop tools which use generative AI to support teachers with assessing progress and providing feedback, known as formative assessment. These tools must support high quality education through evidence based teaching and learning approaches. These must align with relevant standards such as the National Curriculum or Early Years Foundation Stages (EYFS). The Department will be procuring contracts to support Phase 2 for AI Tools for Education which will include piloting, testing and demonstration or validation of prototype genAI tools for use in operating conditions in education up to Technical Readiness Levels 7 and 8 and this will build upon the work completed in Phase 1. The suppliers will be required to develop tools which use generative AI to support teachers with assessing progress and providing feedback, known as formative assessment. This competition does not include the adoption, implementation, or commercial production or supply of any tools. This competition does not cover the purchase of any solution. A total of up to PS1 million inclusive of VAT is allocated to Phase 2 with up to 10 contracts awarded to successful organisations which will be selected following a mini competition. Contracts will commence in October 2025 and must end by 30th June 2026.

### Procurement Information

The Department has procured contracts to support Phase 2 for AI Tools for Education which will include piloting, testing and demonstration or validation of prototype genAI tools for use in operating conditions in education up to Technical Readiness Levels 7 and 8 and this will build upon the work completed in Phase 1. The suppliers will be required to develop tools which use generative AI to support teachers with assessing progress and providing feedback, known as formative assessment. This competition does not include the adoption, implementation, or commercial production or supply of any tools. This competition does not cover the purchase of any solution The DfE relies on the justification at para. 2 (Prototypes & Development) of Schedule 5 to the Procurement Act 2023 for the direct award of these contracts. This mini competition is being undertaken in accordance with section 41(3) of the Procurement Act 2023 which permits contracting authorities to carry out a selection process before awarding one or more contracts in a range of special cases including contracts for prototypes and other novel goods or services. A total of up to PS1 million inclusive of VAT was allocated to Phase 2 with 6 contracts awarded to successful organisations which have been selected following a mini competition. Contracts will commence 9th October 2025 and must end by 30th June 2026. This is a Contracts for Innovation competition funded by Innovate UK and delivered by the Department for Education.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064795-2025 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large, SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 13 Oct 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 28 Jul 2025 |
| Contract period | 12 Oct 2025 - 30 Jun 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £995,935 |
| Contracts value | £673,729 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active, Pending |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION |
| Additional buyers | INNOVATE UK PART OF UK RESEARCH AND INNOVATION UKRI |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 3BT |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire |
| ITL 3 | TLK71 Swindon |
| Local authority | Swindon |
| Electoral ward | Rodbourne Cheney |
| Westminster constituency | Swindon North |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 6 |
| Supplier names | CORDUROY DINOSAUR; KINGS COLLEGE LONDON; KITA EDUCATION; LEARNCYCLE; LETTINGSOWL; OPENKIT |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 13 Oct 2025 at 13:09 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064795-2025
- 26 Sep 2025 at 10:12 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060047-2025
- 25 Sep 2025 at 12:22 - AwardUpdate - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059691-2025
- 28 Jul 2025 at 11:53 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043443-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064795-2025
  13th October 2025 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060047-2025
  26th September 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059691-2025
  25th September 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043443-2025
  28th July 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-056707. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-056707.json.