---
title: "Conversational Search - Agentic A.I."
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078765"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078765"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078765.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078765.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "LONDON SOUTH BANK UNIVERSITY"
published: "2026-10-14"
---

# Conversational Search - Agentic A.I.

Buyer: LONDON SOUTH BANK UNIVERSITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078765

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078765.json)

## Summary

London South Bank University commissioned conversational search using agentic artificial intelligence to improve student services and enable students to find answers and serve themselves outside normal service hours. The requirement is for professional services and use of tokens to support this AI-based service. It is software programming and consultancy work for a university, intended to make student support more accessible beyond staffed hours. The work is for London South Bank University in London, with delivery recorded in the United Kingdom. The selected provider is Intercom R&D Unlimited Company, based in Dublin. The requirement centres on implementing and supporting conversational search rather than a general-purpose AI project; suppliers specialising in conversational AI, search and student-facing digital support are the closest fit.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded to Intercom R&D Unlimited Company. London South Bank University made a direct award below the applicable threshold, without competition. The award date was 29 July 2026. The awarded value is US$67,284 excluding VAT (US$80,740.80 including VAT). The contract period runs from 14 October 2026 to 18 August 2027. The requirement was arranged as one lot. The stated purpose and evaluation basis were to explore agentic AI technology to improve student services and enable out-of-hours self-service; no separate scoring criteria are recorded. The token quantity is an estimate, and the award allows for further token purchases if the allocation is used up.

This award demonstrates a university requirement for conversational search that can handle student enquiries and provide self-service outside staffed hours. A credible competitor for a comparable future requirement would need to combine conversational AI and search expertise with professional services to implement and adapt the service for a university student-support context. The solution must be able to operate reliably beyond normal service hours, with an approach to token consumption that can accommodate usage beyond an initial estimate. The incumbent is a large technology supplier, indicating that the buyer selected an established provider for this engagement. Suppliers with relevant deployments, experience integrating AI into student-facing services and the capacity to support ongoing usage would be best placed to compete when this specific requirement next reaches the market.

## Notice

Explore AI technology to improve our service to students and to allow them to self serve out of hours using Agentic A.I. This will be professional services and the use of Tokens. One year contract value is $67284.00 (excl VAT)

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096941-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award 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 | 14 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 29 Jul 2026 |
| Contract period | 14 Oct 2026 - 18 Aug 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £67,284 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | LONDON SOUTH BANK UNIVERSITY |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Postcode area | South East London |
| Postcode | SE1 0AA |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East |
| ITL 3 | TLI44 Lewisham and Southwark |
| Local authority | Southwark |
| Electoral ward | St George's |
| Westminster constituency | Bermondsey and Old Southwark |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Intercom R&D Unlimited Company |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 72200000 - Software programming and consultancy services

## Release History

- 14 Oct 2026 at 12:04 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096941-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096941-2026
  14th October 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.lsbu.ac.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-078765. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078765.json.