---
title: "AI platform for use by Staff and Students at The University Of Kent"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05fa54"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05fa54"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05fa54.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05fa54.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT"
published: "2026-02-10"
---

# AI platform for use by Staff and Students at The University Of Kent

Buyer: THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05fa54

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## Summary

The University of Kent is advancing its procurement process by acquiring an enterprise-grade Generative AI platform, aimed at enhancing teaching, learning, research, and operational efficiency. This procurement, which falls under the "Software package and information systems" and "IT services" industry categories, is located in Canterbury, United Kingdom. The procurement has reached the award stage as of 10th February 2026, with the contract set to commence on 20th February 2026 and running until 30th April 2028, with potential extensions up to 2031. The University has adopted a selective procedure with a competitive flexible strategy to ensure compliance and scalability within the fast-evolving AI sector. The initial procurement planning started with market engagement, concluding in December 2025, and culminated in an award to OPENAI UK LTD, valued at £3,908,412 gross.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses in the AI and IT services sectors, especially those offering innovative, secure, and efficient solutions. Companies specialising in software development, consultancy, and support services can leverage this procurement to expand their market presence and showcase their capabilities in delivering cutting-edge AI technology within higher education. Large enterprises, as demonstrated by OPENAI UK LTD, can thrive in this competitive environment, meeting the university's stringent requirements for scalability, compliance, and operational effectiveness. Small and medium-sized enterprises also demonstrated strong participation, indicating opportunities for smaller firms to engage and grow through collaboration and strategic partnerships in the AI landscape.

## Notice

The University of Kent has procured an enterprise-grade Generative AI platform to support teaching, learning, research, accessibility, and operational efficiency. The platform must provide a secure, institutionally governed AI environment; support student learning and staff productivity; reduce institutional risk; and enable scalable, compliant AI use across the university. Full details are available in the documentation. Due to the academic timetable, there are limited opportunities in the year to implement with a target date of approximately April 2026.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: nature of the solution is likely to evolve and change over the contract length and therefore the specification and deliverables are likely to change.

Renewal: 3 x 12 month extension options to be exercised at the Authority's discretion.

### Planning Information

The University Of Kent has held a number of meetings and discussions in respect to exploring the current market conditions, technological position and advancements, potential future developments in the AI market, potential interested suppliers, potential contract models, likely outcomes and how this would impact upon staff, student, and other operational experiences, with the aim to creating a market ready, and practical description of the current and future situation, the requirements of the institution, and not to over- or under-specify the solution so that it is achievable, practical, scalable, affordable, and technically deliverable. Given the speed of development, innovation, and novel nature of the supply sector, this dialogue has occurred with two major providers in the market to ensure that the package taken to market is successful in meeting our requirements. Dialogue commenced in approximately October 2025 and concluded December 2025 before publication of an intended Request For Proposal using the Competitive Flexible Procedure given the nature and speed of change in the AI Sector.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012152-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 10 Feb 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 16 Jan 2026 |
| Future notice date | 20 Dec 2025 |
| Award date | 10 Feb 2026 |
| Contract period | 20 Feb 2026 - 30 Apr 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £2,000,000 |
| Lots value | £2,000,000 |
| Awards value | £3,257,010 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT |
| Additional buyers | UNIVERSITY OF KENT |
| Locality | CANTERBURY |
| Post town | Canterbury |
| Postcode | CT2 7NZ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ4 Kent |
| ITL 3 | TLJ44 East Kent |
| Local authority | Canterbury |
| Electoral ward | Blean Forest |
| Westminster constituency | Canterbury |
| Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLJ4 Kent, TLK South West (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | OPENAI |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 48 - Software package and information systems
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

## Release History

- 10 Feb 2026 at 18:44 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012152-2026
- 22 Dec 2025 at 13:30 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085406-2025
- 19 Dec 2025 at 12:42 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084889-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012152-2026
  10th February 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085406-2025
  22nd December 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084889-2025
  19th December 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.kent.ac.uk/
- http://www.openai.com
- https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=101072&TID100106317&B=
- https://uk.eu-supply.com/login.asp?B=UniversityKent
- https://www.kent.ac.uk/finance/procurement.html
- 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-05fa54. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05fa54.json.