GOV.UK Agentic AI Companion Procurement
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has just published the UK’s first National AI Tender for developing a GOV.UK Agentic AI Companion.
This tender represents the UK government’s most ambitious AI transformation project to date. It is an opportunity to demonstrate frontier AI capabilities at national scale, transforming the connection between Government and 15+ million citizens, while building the template for AI-powered public services globally.
What’s being built
An AI companion that provides personalised, proactive guidance through major life events - starting with employment transitions but scaling to comprehensive government services. This isn't just a chatbot - it's a sophisticated agentic system that takes action, maintains context, and genuinely helps citizens navigate complex government processes.
Two-Tier Opportunity Structure
While the primary tender is pro-bono, substantial paid opportunities will follow:
Primary Partnership (Current Tender):
- Lead engagement with frontier AI experts to develop core agentic AI capabilities
- 12-month pro-bono pilot with clear pathway to production deployment
- Focus on highest technical risk areas - advanced AI reasoning and integration
- Deadline: Friday 12 September 2025, 12:00 noon
Supplementary Procurements (Upcoming - Paid Contracts): As the pilot is developed, they will likely be running targeted paid procurements, for example:
- Specialist AI capabilities and tools
- Integration services and platforms
- Security and compliance solutions
- User experience and accessibility expertise
- Data engineering and infrastructure
- Evaluation and testing frameworks
DSIT would also like to encourage even companies not bidding for the primary tender to register interest for supplementary procurements.
If you’re a large tech/frontier AI company: The primary tender offers a chance to lead the UK's AI government transformation and establish the template for AI-powered public services globally.
If you’re an SME and/or Specialist Provider: While the primary tender is pro-bono (limiting participation), the supplementary procurements will offer substantial paid opportunities for companies with specialist capabilities. This staged approach ensures that innovation from across the UK tech ecosystem can contribute to the program's success.
If you’re a Platform/Infrastructure Provider: Both partnership opportunities and infrastructure requirements create multiple entry points depending on company capabilities and capacity.
Helpful links
These are subject to future governance and commercial approvals, and not confirmed, but DSIT would encourage interested parties to register on the following arrangements. They have stated these are not necessary but helpful.
- https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6200
- https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6094
Please send any procurement queries through the Jaggaer portal.
techUK - Seizing the AI Opportunity
The UK is a global leader in AI innovation, development and adoption.
AI has the potential to boost UK GDP by £550 billion by 2035, making adoption an urgent economic priority. techUK and our members are committed to working with the Government to turn the AI Opportunities Action Plan into reality. Together we can ensure the UK seizes the opportunities presented by AI technology and continues to be a world leader in AI development.
Get involved: techUK runs a busy calendar of activities including events, reports, and insights to demonstrate some of the most significant AI opportunities for the UK. Our AI Hub is where you will find details of all upcoming activity. We also send a monthly AI newsletter which you can subscribe to here.
Upcoming AI Events
Latest news and insights
Subscribe to our AI newsletter
AI and Data Analytics updates
Sign-up to our monthly newsletter to get the latest updates and opportunities from our AI and Data Analytics Programme straight to your inbox.
Contact the team
Kir Nuthi
Kir Nuthi
Kir Nuthi is the Head of AI and Data at techUK.
She holds over seven years of Government Affairs and Tech Policy experience in the US and UK. Kir previously headed up the regulatory portfolio at a UK advocacy group for tech startups and held various public affairs in US tech policy. All involved policy research and campaigns on competition, artificial intelligence, access to data, and pro-innovation regulation.
Kir has an MSc in International Public Policy from University College London and a BA in both Political Science (International Relations) and Economics from the University of California San Diego.
Outside of techUK, you are likely to find her attempting studies at art galleries, attempting an elusive headstand at yoga, mending and binding books, or chasing her dog Maya around South London's many parks.
- Email:
- [email protected]
Usman Ikhlaq
Usman Ikhlaq
Usman joined techUK in January 2024 as Programme Manager for Artificial Intelligence.
He leads techUK’s AI Adoption programme, supporting members of all sizes and sectors in adopting AI at scale. His work involves identifying barriers to adoption, exploring solutions, and helping to unlock AI’s transformative potential, particularly its benefits for people, the economy, society, and the planet. He is also committed to advancing the UK’s AI sector and ensuring the UK remains a global leader in AI by working closely with techUK members, the UK Government, regulators, and devolved and local authorities.
Since joining techUK, Usman has delivered a regular drumbeat of activity to engage members and advance techUK's AI programme. This has included two campaign weeks, the creation of the AI Adoption Hub (now the AI Hub), the AI Leader's Event Series, the Putting AI into Action webinar series and the Industrial AI sprint campaign.
Before joining techUK, Usman worked as a policy, regulatory and government/public affairs professional in the advertising sector. He has also worked in sales, marketing, and FinTech.
Usman holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), a GDL and LLB from BPP Law School, and a BA from Queen Mary University of London.
When he isn’t working, Usman enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also has a keen interest in running, reading and travelling.
Sue Daley OBE
Sue Daley OBE
Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work.
This includes work programmes on cloud, data protection, data analytics, AI, digital ethics, Digital Identity and Internet of Things as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy.
In 2025, Sue was honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Technology Industry in the New Year Honours List.
She has been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and in 2021 was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame.
A key influencer in driving forward the data agenda in the UK, Sue was co-chair of the UK government's National Data Strategy Forum until July 2024. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries for 2020 Sue has also been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and was a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI. In addition to being a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security, Sue was recently a judge for the UK Tech 50 and is a regular judge of the annual UK Cloud Awards.
Prior to joining techUK in January 2015 Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. She has spoken at events including the UK-China Internet Forum in Beijing, UN IGF and European RSA on issues ranging from data usage and privacy, cloud computing and online child safety. Before joining Symantec, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Masters Degree on International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2055
- Twitter:
- @ChannelSwimSue,@ChannelSwimSue
Visit our AI Hub - the home of all our AI content:
Enquire about membership: