---
title: "Request for Information: Sovereign AI R&D Procurement"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-068509"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-068509"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068509.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068509.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY"
published: "2026-04-17"
---

# Request for Information: Sovereign AI R&D Procurement

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-068509

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-068509)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068509.json)

## Summary

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology is initiating a Request for Information regarding Sovereign AI R&D Procurement aimed at leveraging AI startups' capabilities. Based in London, the procurement programme falls under the IT services category and seeks to engage industry participants in market engagement. The current stage is Planning, and the department encourages responses by 16th May 2026. The scheme is expected to commence on 3rd July 2026, lasting until 31st March 2030, with a future notice planned for 1st July 2026. The procurement process is thorough and above threshold, aiming to award contracts worth up to £5 million per project over a 12 to 24-month period.

This tender offers an exciting prospect for businesses, particularly startups focused on developing sovereign AI capabilities in areas like scientific discovery, health, cybersecurity, transport, and energy & net zero. By participating, companies can secure government contracts that provide revenue, validate innovative AI solutions, and establish vital relationships with public sector entities such as MOD, DHSC, DSIT, and NCSC. Moreover, businesses retain intellectual property rights, enabling further commercial exploitation while allowing the UK government usage rights. SMEs are encouraged to participate, potentially benefiting from the high-profile opportunities to enhance growth and credibility in the AI sector.

## Notice

We want to build government procurement into our offer to support AI startups. By acting as an early customer, government can help to validate novel AI capabilities and de-risk investment for the wider market. We know the difference government contracts can make for startups by providing revenue, credibility, and leveraging private investment. The benefits for applicants could include: Government contracts to develop prototype AI capabilities, providing revenue and validation. The opportunity to establish close relationships with government departments and understanding of market demand (such as MOD, DHSC, DSIT, NCSC and others). We want to design our procurement in a way that supports high-potential AI startups that are developing sovereign AI capabilities. If you are developing something which aligns with our Sovereign AI Focus Areas below, then we want to hear from you. The information gathered will help to design the scheme and ensure it works well for companies. We are considering a competitive scheme where companies can apply to win government contracts to develop sovereign AI capabilities and address public-interest challenges. We are considering awarding contracts up to PS5 million per project, with a duration of 12 to 24 months, flexible depending on the scope of the project. To be eligible, projects would have to align with one of the five Sovereign AI focus areas. There will also be further challenges set by government departments to develop specific capabilities which address government priorities in areas such as (but not limited to): advancing scientific discovery, health and social care, national security and defence, cybersecurity, transport, energy & net zero, public service delivery. The output of the contracts will be a demonstrator stage AI capability which proves proof-of-concept (not a final commercial solution), with a clear route to commercialisation with public or private sector customers. Companies would retain ownership of all background IP and foreground IP created during the project. Companies are free to exploit the IP commercially or sell it to other customers. HMG would retain usage rights to the foreground IP developed during the project. This is to ensure adherence to procurement law and knowledge retention. Government is not intended to capture any economic value from the IP. This is a time limited market engagement exercise: please submit your response by 16th May 2026.

### Planning Information

Full details of the engagement process can be found here: 
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=BXCsy8EC60O0l-ZJLRst2ArY0rfiyIlKmmyXHvJKqzxUNkIyVk83S1g2RUFOSTBEUVVSRzI0M0M5VC4u&route=shorturl
https://www.sovereignai.gov.uk/
This is a time limited market engagement exercise: please submit your response by 16th May 2026.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035079-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 17 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 Jul 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 2 Jul 2026 - 31 Mar 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £80,000,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1A 2EG |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

## Release History

- 17 Apr 2026 at 10:10 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035079-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035079-2026
  17th April 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=BXCsy8EC60O0l-ZJLRst2ArY0rfiyIlKmmyXHvJKqzxUNkIyVk83S1g2RUFOSTBEUVVSRzI0M0M5VC4u&route=shorturl
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.sovereignai.gov.uk/

## 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-068509. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068509.json.