---
title: "PS26256 - AI-Enabled SIF Portfolio Intelligence Prototype"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06e965"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e965"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e965.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e965.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK Research and Innovation"
published: "2026-08-21"
---

# PS26256 - AI-Enabled SIF Portfolio Intelligence Prototype

Buyer: UK Research and Innovation  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06e965

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e965)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e965.json)

## Summary

UK Research and Innovation commissioned an AI-enabled portfolio intelligence tool for Strategic Innovation Fund project information. The requirement covers development and delivery of a working Version 1 solution that can ingest and structure publicly available project data and related documentation. It is intended to support portfolio exploration, natural-language querying, evidence mapping, thematic analysis and the production of decision-support outputs. The services also include testing and refinement with stakeholders, demonstration sessions, handover documentation, and recommendations for future enhancement. This is a research and development consultancy requirement, classified under CPV 73200000. The buying organisation is UK Research and Innovation, with UK Shared Business Services Ltd managing the procurement. Delivery is across the United Kingdom.

The procurement has been awarded and is complete. It used a below-threshold direct award without competition because the buyer stated that technical reasons meant only one supplier could provide the required services. PA Consulting Services Limited was selected for the single lot. The contract was signed on 21 July 2026 and runs from 18 August 2026 to 15 September 2026. Its value is £25,000 excluding VAT, or £30,000 including VAT. The resulting contract is active. The recorded route was direct procurement, rather than an open or competitive tender. The outcome therefore reflects a supplier selected on the stated technical-availability rationale, with no competitive evaluation process recorded for this requirement.

This award indicates demand for specialist consultancy capable of combining artificial intelligence, data engineering and portfolio analysis for a public-sector innovation fund. A credible future supplier would need to design and deliver a usable intelligence tool, ingest and structure project records and supporting documents, and make the resulting evidence searchable and analysable. Relevant capability includes natural-language query functions, evidence mapping, thematic analysis and clear decision-support outputs, alongside practical testing and refinement with stakeholders. Suppliers would also need to demonstrate the ability to run product demonstrations, produce robust handover documentation and translate lessons from a prototype into recommendations for later development. The buyer’s use of a direct award for technical reasons suggests that distinctive technical capability and evidence of delivering comparable tools would be important when this type of requirement returns.

## Notice

***** THIS IS A CONTRACT DETAILS NOTICE, NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION ***** This procurement is being concluded without competition due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required. Brief Description of Requirement Development and delivery of an AI-enabled portfolio intelligence tool to support analysis and synthesis of publicly available Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) project information. The supplier will develop a working Version 1 solution capable of ingesting and structuring data from SIF projects and related documentation, providing portfolio exploration, natural language querying, evidence mapping, thematic analysis, and generation of decision-support outputs. The contract includes tool development, testing and refinement with stakeholders, demonstration sessions, handover documentation, and recommendations for future enhancement.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079821-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - without competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 21 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 21 Jul 2026 |
| Contract period | 18 Aug 2026 - 15 Sep 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £25,000 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UK Research and Innovation |
| Locality | SWINDON |
| Postcode area | Swindon |
| Postcode | SN2 1FL |
| 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 | 1 |
| Supplier names | PA CONSULTING SERVICES LIMITED |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

## Release History

- 21 Aug 2026 at 11:27 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079821-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079821-2026
  21st August 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.paconsulting.com
- 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-06e965. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e965.json.