Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
DESNZ & DSIT Group Commercial
London
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
AI Safety Institute Commercial Framework - Early Market Engagement Opportunity
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (AISI), a directorate of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) intends to create a new multi-supplier Commercial Agreement for the provision of Frontier AI Research Services framework under the new Procurement Act 2023 regulations.
The purpose of this PIN is to provide advance notice to the market that DSIT is considering undertaking a tender exercise to set up this commercial agreement and would like to invite Suppliers to a virtual early market engagement session on this proposed procurement.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £19,500,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
We are keen to hear from Suppliers who provide Frontier AI model evaluations, research, testing, code creation, human studies across the following domains:
Science (Chemistry and Biology)
Cyber Misuse
Red-Teaming and Safeguards
Criminal Misuse and Criminology
Persuasion and Deception
Wider Societal Impacts of AI
Autonomous Systems
Survey Participant Provision
Multi-Modal AI Research (visual, audio)
We are currently not looking for Suppliers in the following areas due to the number of other routes to market available:
AI Digital Services
AI Deployment
AI Integration
AI Licencing
We intend to hold a first meeting with interested suppliers on 6th February 2025 at 15:00 (UK Time) (subject to change).
DSIT invites suggestions and feedback from this session, as these activities will help inform thinking and shape a future procurement strategy. The provisional agenda is below:
Welcome and introduction to AISI
Overview on how to sell to AISI (+ Government Procurement Reform)
AISI’s proposal for the ‘Frontier AI Research Services’ new commercial agreement
Supplier feedback and suggestions
General Q&A
If you are interested in this potential opportunity, DSIT would like to engage with you. Please contact us by emailing dsit.dttgcbp@dsit.gov.uk with your company details. Following confirmation of company details and contact information, an ‘MS Teams’ invite will be circulated for the market engagement event. We would ask that you have a maximum of 2 attendees from each organisation.
Presentation slides will be made available after the session(s).
Useful resources:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/procurement-act-2023-guidance-documents
*** This is early market engagement for a potential opportunity. The Department is not obligated to run a procurement following this activity and is not liable for any costs associated with participating in this early engagement. ***
Additional Information:
The Department for Science Innovation and Technology uses the Jaggaer eSourcing Portal as its eSourcing tool. Jaggaer will be used for this competition should it come to tender. To register as a supplier, please visit https://beisgroup.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/ and follow the instructions to register as a supplier.
Services will be delivered primarily to the United Kingdom, with some limited requirements overseas.
The estimated total value is an indicative value over the lifetime of the framework (3 years), including any options to extend.
The Cyber Essentials scheme is mandatory for Central Government Contracts which involve handling personal information and providing certain ICT products and services. The Government is taking steps to further reduce the levels of cyber risk in its supply chain through the Cyber Essentials scheme https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberessentials/overview. The scheme defines a set of control which, when properly implemented, will provide organisations with basic protection from the most prevalent forms of threat coming from the internet.
To participate in this potential procurement, bidders will be required to demonstrate that they are Cyber Essentials compliant for the services under and in connection with the procurement.
The services that arise from this from this framework will involve the supplier holding material that has been assigned a protective marking under the Government Security Classifications scheme (April 2014) of OFFICIAL/SENSITIVE. Bidders will be required to implement their solution in accordance with the Framework Agreement Schedule, “Security Requirement and Plan”, to meet Framework Agreement requirements. This documentation will be released at the ITT stage.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
1 May 2025
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes