---
title: "003918 - Contract for AI Enabled Reaction Software to support the effective delivery of Subject Access Requests (SARs)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f146"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f146"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f146.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f146.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "Durham County Council"
published: "2026-09-03"
---

# 003918 - Contract for AI Enabled Reaction Software to support the effective delivery of Subject Access Requests (SARs)

Buyer: Durham County Council  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f146

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f146)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f146.json)

## Summary

Durham County Council intends to procure an AI-enabled redaction solution for handling Subject Access Requests (SARs). The service will support the redaction of information in response to SARs, with the aim of improving efficiency, consistency, auditability and resilience while reducing manual effort. It should help staff manage complex file types and operate alongside human oversight, quality assurance and governance controls. The requirement covers software and associated information-technology services, including software development, support or consultancy. Delivery is for Durham County Council in Durham. The council expects the market to contain a range of viable solutions and plans to refine the requirement through supplier engagement before developing a detailed specification.

This procurement is at the planning stage: Durham County Council has announced its intention to buy but has not invited tenders. The council plans market engagement to refine requirements, assess supplier capability, develop the specification and confirm costs, governance and implementation arrangements. It expects supplier participation through the Open E-tendering system, using reference OPEN20261929, with engagement scheduled by 18 September 2026. The anticipated contract is for one lot, with a core period from 1 December 2026 to 30 November 2028 and a possible extension to 30 November 2029. The estimated value is £100,000 excluding VAT, or £120,000 including VAT. The requirement is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

This will suit software suppliers with proven artificial-intelligence or machine-learning capability in document redaction, information governance, records management or Subject Access Request workflows. Strong candidates are likely to provide reliable processing across complex file types, consistent identification and removal of sensitive information, clear audit trails and resilient operation. Suppliers should be prepared to explain how their solution works with human review, quality assurance and governance controls rather than replacing professional oversight. Relevant experience of deploying and supporting software in a public-sector, legal, information-rights or regulated environment would help demonstrate capability. The council is still shaping the specification, so suppliers able to discuss implementation, assurance, operational risks and cost models should prepare to contribute to the planned market engagement.

## Notice

Procurement of an AI-enabled redaction solution to support Subject Access Request (SAR) handling. The solution is intended to improve the efficiency, consistency, auditability and resilience of the redaction process, reducing manual effort and supporting the management of complex file types. Any implementation would operate alongside appropriate human oversight, quality assurance and governance controls. Market research indicates that a developing supplier market exists, providing the opportunity for a range of viable solutions. The next stage will involve market engagement to refine requirements, assess supplier capability, develop a detailed specification, and confirm costs, governance arrangements and implementation considerations.

### Planning Information

Participation for this opportunity is via Open E-tendering system which is free to register as a supplier via www.open-uk.org
Reference - OPEN20261929
003918 - AI Enabled Redaction Software to Support the Effective Delivery of Subject Access Requests (SARs)

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083466-2026 |
| 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 | 3 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Dec 2026 - 30 Nov 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £100,000 |
| 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 | Durham County Council |
| Locality | DURHAM |
| Postcode area | Durham |
| Postcode | DH1 5WB |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear |
| ITL 3 | TLC41 Durham |
| Local authority | County Durham |
| Electoral ward | Framwellgate & Newton Hall |
| Westminster constituency | City of Durham |
| Delivery location | TLC14 Durham |

## 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

- 3 Sep 2026 at 13:23 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083466-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083466-2026
  3rd September 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.durham.gov.uk/
- 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-06f146. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f146.json.