--- title: "AI Growth Zone Programme Delivery for Ecosystem Profile and Coordination" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078c80" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078c80" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078c80.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078c80.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "North East Combined Authority" published: "2026-10-21" --- # AI Growth Zone Programme Delivery for Ecosystem Profile and Coordination Buyer: North East Combined Authority Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078c80 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078c80) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078c80.json) ## Summary North East Combined Authority intends to procure services to strengthen the profile and coordination of the North East’s artificial intelligence ecosystem. The work is one of three planned work packages supporting the wider AI Growth Zone programme. This package is focused on making regional AI assets, businesses, institutions and partners more visible and better coordinated, developing a clearer regional identity, and creating an accessible digital presence. The programme aims to establish the North East as a hub for AI capability and innovation, and to help ensure AI opportunities benefit businesses, communities and the regional economy. The services are intended for delivery in the North East of England. This procurement is at the planning stage: the buyer has set out its intention to procure, but has not yet invited tenders. The buyer expects the contract to run from 16 November 2026 to 15 November 2030. Its stated total estimated value is £5 million. The procurement is planned as a single lot, with the buyer indicating that small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises are suitable. A supplier and stakeholder questionnaire and an engagement event are planned to gather market insight and help refine the approach before formal procurement. The engagement event is scheduled for 29 October 2026. No evaluation basis or procurement method is set out at this planning stage. This work is likely to suit organisations able to combine ecosystem development, coordination and communications expertise. Relevant strengths include understanding regional AI businesses, institutions and other partners; bringing stakeholders together; improving the visibility and identity of a regional innovation ecosystem; and creating an accessible digital presence. The buyer is looking for market insight to shape its approach, so suppliers with knowledge of the North East’s AI landscape and a practical understanding of how to connect ecosystem assets may be well placed to contribute. The wider programme also covers AI adoption in growth sectors and support for high-potential digital and AI companies, offering context for suppliers whose experience spans these areas. Organisations of different sizes and specialisms are welcomed to engage. ## Notice The North East AI Growth Zone brings together the region's AI-related assets, businesses, institutions and partners with an ambition to establish the North East as a hub for AI capability and innovation. The programme is moving into its delivery phase, with a focus on ensuring the opportunities created by AI translate into benefits for businesses, communities and the wider regional economy. As part of this next phase, the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority will be bringing forward a number of procurement opportunities to support delivery of the programme. This webinar will provide prospective suppliers with an early overview of three forthcoming work packages: AI Adoption in Key Growth Sectors - supporting businesses in key sectors of the North East economy to move from early experimentation towards the operational adoption of AI technologies. Support for High-Potential Digital and AI Companies - supporting high-potential digital, AI-native and AI-enabled businesses to commercialise, grow and scale in the North East. Ecosystem Profile and Coordination - strengthening the visibility and coordination of the North East AI ecosystem, including the development of a clearer regional identity and accessible digital presence. We will also introduce a supplier + stakeholder questionnaire designed to gather market insight and help inform and refine our approach ahead of the formal procurement process. The session is aimed at organisations with relevant expertise and an interest in the forthcoming opportunities. We welcome engagement from organisations of different sizes and specialisms. ### Planning Information Please see below link to register for the Engagement Event: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ne-ai-growth-zone-market-engagement-event-tickets-2003609683499 ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099331-2026 | | 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, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 21 Oct 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 16 Nov 2026 - 15 Nov 2030 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £5,000,000 | | 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 | North East Combined Authority | | Locality | NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE | | Postcode area | Newcastle upon Tyne | | Postcode | NE4 5BZ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear | | ITL 3 | TLC43 Tyneside | | Local authority | Newcastle upon Tyne | | Electoral ward | Arthur's Hill | | Westminster constituency | Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West | | Delivery location | TLC14 Durham, TLC2 Northumberland, and Tyne and Wear | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 72220000 - Systems and technical consultancy services - 79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services ## Release History - 21 Oct 2026 at 10:47 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099331-2026 - 21 Oct 2026 at 10:31 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099312-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099331-2026 21st October 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099312-2026 21st October 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ne-ai-growth-zone-market-engagement-event-tickets-2003609683499 - 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-078c80. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078c80.json.