AI Contracts and Tenders

AI procurement covers machine learning and generative AI tools, computer vision, language model services, ambient voice and transcription, AI-assisted diagnostics such as radiology image analysis, and the advisory and implementation work that helps a buyer adopt them. Buyers also commission AI discovery projects, research and AI skills and training.

Stotles brings together AI tenders and contracts from 100+ portals into one search, so you do not have to check each portal separately, and you can set alerts for new opportunities across the UK and Ireland.

If you want to search the government portals directly, Find a Tender carries higher-value contracts across the UK and Contracts Finder carries lower-value contracts in England. Public Contracts Scotland, Sell2Wales and eTendersNI cover Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Ireland's eTenders covers Irish public bodies, and many councils, NHS bodies and housing associations publish on their own e-tendering portals such as ProContract. Much AI work is bought as part of wider digital, data and software contracts, so look for it inside those notices as well as under an AI title. Some buyers publish early engagement as preliminary market engagement notices.

AI tenders are scored on whether the solution solves the stated problem, how it handles data quality and bias, how its outputs are tested and explained, and the supplier's security and support. Many buyers start with a discovery or proof-of-concept contract, so a small funded trial that shows measurable results is often how larger contracts are won.

AI that processes personal data must comply with UK data protection law, including the Data Protection Act 2018, and buyers ask for a data protection impact assessment and clear information security arrangements. Clinical AI used in health settings must also meet medical device and clinical safety requirements. Tenders usually set minimum insurance cover, check financial standing and ask for evidence of similar contracts at selection stage. Under the Procurement Act 2023, suppliers can be excluded for certain criminal convictions, insolvency or failure to pay tax.

Often through discovery contracts, preliminary market engagement and call-offs from technology frameworks, with open tenders for larger platforms. NHS bodies have let AI adoption and implementation services as a contract, and some buyers set up dynamic purchasing systems with lots for AI capability and adoption services.

The Government Commercial Agency artificial intelligence dynamic purchasing system is a route built for AI work. Central government and local buyers such as the Home Office, the Health Research Authority and Kingston upon Hull City Council have used it for AI strategy, delivery partner and digital product work, with suppliers registering on the system before they can compete.

The G-Cloud framework is another common route, used for ready-made cloud AI services such as computer vision for road surveys, machine learning case management and agentic AI proofs of concept. Lancashire County Council, Rooftop Housing Group and the Pension Protection Fund have bought this way, sometimes by direct award.

Central government departments, regulators, research and scientific bodies, NHS trusts and integrated care boards, councils, colleges and universities all buy AI. Health bodies tend to buy imaging and voice tools, while government departments buy data analysis, modelling and adoption support.

Watch preliminary market engagement notices, requests for information and digital strategies, which show AI work coming due ahead of a tender. On Stotles you can track those signals and the buyers behind them, then follow a notice from pre-tender through to award.

There is no dedicated AI code, so buyers use IT codes. The most common are 72000000 (IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support), 48000000 (Software package and information systems) and 72200000 (Software programming and consultancy services). Others seen include 72600000 (Computer support and consultancy services) and 72500000 (Computer-related services).