Official UK procurement notice
MHCLG Augmented Planning Decisions
Authority: Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (Central government)·On behalf of: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Contracting Authority (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) seeks to develop a planning tool that enables Augmented decision making for planning applications.
The initial focus will be on householder developments (as defined in Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015) with a view to expand into further application types within
the ‘other*’ category (those not classified as Major or Minor) which represent 69% of all planning applications.
The objective is to dramatically reduce planning application processing times initially targeting a reduction from upwards of 8 weeks to circa 4 weeks, with a long-term vision of near-instant decisions for straightforward applications. All reduction targets do not include elements that solutions cannot be expected to affect i.e. statutory 21-day consultation periods, site visits, neighbour notifications, external consultee responses, and committee scheduling.
Proposals will need to demonstrate understanding of the relevant parts of the planning process including administrative processes (e.g. policy research, citation generation, report generation) as well as analytical processes (e.g. material considerations identification, policy compliance assessment, planning balance evaluation, decision reasoning). Solutions should be designed to assist planning officers with the above processes and provide reasoned, verifiable recommendations for decisions. Solutions must be integrated with existing planning systems.
As part of the Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage, bidders will be required to participate in a two-week demo build (unpaid) to each develop a working prototype which will be evaluated at "Demo Day". This will take the form of a presentation of the prototype, and this will be evaluated in accordance with the process and award criteria set out in the ITT.
During the contract, the service recipients (i.e. those that will use the solution) may include:
DSIT MHCLG
Local Planning Authorities (317 LPAs)
Planning Inspectorate
Devolved Administrations
Combined Authorities (mayoral authorities with planning powers)
National Parks Authorities (separate planning authorities)
Broads Authority (special planning authority)
The procurement has been carried out by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology for and on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
- How the procedure runs: This procurement is a competitive flexible procedure under Section 20 of the Procurement Act 2023. The process has been specifically designed to be carried out on an accelerated basis, and consists of two stages. The two stages are set out below. How It Works: Stage 1: Participation & Selection Bidders will be issued with a PSQ including instructions and a set of questions which are to demonstrate bidders': - Compliance - Supply chain approach - Financial capacity - Legal capacity - Security and Data Protection compliance -Conflicts of Interest -Technical ability Responses to all questions will be evaluated against the evaluation criteria. The evaluation criteria are also provided within the PSQ document. A maximum of 5 bidders will be taken forward to Stage 2 (Invitation to Tender). If there are more than 5 bidders who pass the PSQ, bidders will be ranked in order of PSQ score (highest to lowest) and the five highest-scoring bidders will be short-listed, and admitted to Stage 2. In the event of a tie for 5th place, where two or more bidders, in addition to passing all pass/fail questions, have an identical score for those questions assigned a numerical score, the following ranking will be applied, wherein the first question will be used to select the 5th placed bidder from the tied bidders. If the scores for that question are also tied, the question ranked second will be used to select the 5th placed bidder, and so on: 1st Response : Frontier AI & Technical Capability Question (40% weighting) 2nd Response: Software Development & Integration Capability Questions (25% weighting) 3rd Response: Team Capability Question (20% weighting) 4th Response: Social Value Question (15% weighting) Stage 2: Invitation to Tender Stage 2 will commence after the issuing of letters inviting bidders that have been successfully shortlisted at Stage 1 to participate in Stage 2, which is the submission of final tenders. Final tenders must be submitted in accordance with the timetable and instructions set out in the Invitation to Tender document, which will be released shortly after publication of this Tender Notice. This stage will involve evaluating bidders based on a comprehensive assessment of both cost and non-cost factors. The evaluation criteria and weightings associated with the quality and price elements will be included in the Invitation to Tender document. As part of Stage 2, bidders will be required to complete a Demo Build, followed by a presentation (as set out above). The presentation will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria which will be set out in the ITT, along with the bidders' tender responses.
- No preliminary market engagement: No notice issued as no detailed input required from market. High level market engagement conducted to verify potential for solution. No material information disclosed that has not or will not be provided to all other bidders. Authority satisfied no unfair advantage conferred on any potential supplier.
CPV: IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£8,333,333
- Condition of participationshortlisting
A maximum of 5 bidders will be taken forward to Stage 2 (Invitation to Tender). If there are more than 5 bidders who pass the PSQ, bidders will be ranked in order of PSQ score (highest to lowest) and the five highest-scoring bidders will be short-listed, and admitted to Stage 2. In the event of a tie for 5th place, where two or more bidders, in addition to passing all pass/fail questions, have an identical score for those questions assigned a numerical score, the following ranking will be applied, wherein the first question will be used to select the 5th placed bidder from the tied bidders. If the scores for that question are also tied, the question ranked second will be used to select the 5th placed bidder, and so on:
1st Response : Frontier AI & Technical Capability Question (40% weighting)
2nd Response: Software Development & Integration Capability Questions (25% weighting)
3rd Response: Team Capability Question (20% weighting)
4th Response: Social Value Question (15% weighting)
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (3)
- Demo Build Presentation: 40%
- Questionnaire: 40%
- Commercial: 20%
Published award criteria (3)
- Demo Build Presentation: Bidders will be required to complete a Demo Build (a working prototype), followed by a live demonstration lasting 60 minutes. The presentation will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria which will be set out in the ITT.
- Questionnaire: This will comprise a set of Technical Questions based on the requirements in order to test various aspects of the bidders’ approach. These will be evaluated in accordance with the scoring matrices set out in the ITT. Social Value Question will be associated in this this criteria.
- Commercial: Bidders will be required to complete as part of their tender a Financial Response Template, which will be evaluated by the Authority in accordance with the process set out in the ITT. Costs will be required to be provided for: Alpha Phase Development Beta & Scale Phase Development (if proceed) Further Development & Implementation (Phasing Post Live) (costed option) Level 3 Support and Maintenance (Post Live) (costed option) Level 2 Support and Maintenance (Post Live) (costed option) Day Rates Full Award Criteria Details: To be set out in the ITT.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
A maximum of 5 bidders will be taken forward to Stage 2 (Invitation to Tender). If there are more than 5 bidders who pass the PSQ, bidders will be ranked in order of PSQ score (highest to lowest) and the five highest-scoring bidders will be short-listed, and admitted to Stage 2. In the event of a tie for 5th place, where two or more bidders, in addition to passing all pass/fail questions, have an identical score for those questions assigned a numerical score, the following ranking will be applied, wherein the first question will be used to select the 5th placed bidder from the tied bidders. If the scores for that question are also tied, the question ranked second will be used to select the 5th placed bidder, and so on:
1st Response : Frontier AI & Technical Capability Question (40% weighting)
2nd Response: Software Development & Integration Capability Questions (25% weighting)
3rd Response: Team Capability Question (20% weighting)
4th Response: Social Value Question (15% weighting)
- Price carries 20 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 2 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 27 Oct 2025, 17:59 GMT
- Last source update
- 6 Aug 2026, 11:00 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 13 Jan 2026
- Authority reference
Linked to notice: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076775-2025- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-068741- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Not published
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d4aaFind a Tender
- How it runs
This procurement is a competitive flexible procedure under Section 20 of the Procurement Act 2023. The process has been specifically designed to be carried out on an accelerated basis, and consists of two stages. The two stages are set out below.
How It Works:
Stage 1: Participation & Selection
Bidders will be issued with a PSQ including instructions and a set of questions which are to demonstrate bidders':
- Compliance
- Supply chain approach
- Financial capacity
- Legal capacity
- Security and Data Protection compliance
-Conflicts of Interest
-Technical ability
Responses to all questions will be evaluated against the evaluation criteria. The evaluation criteria are also provided within the PSQ document.
A maximum of 5 bidders will be taken forward to Stage 2 (Invitation to Tender). If there are more than 5 bidders who pass the PSQ, bidders will be ranked in order of PSQ score (highest to lowest) and the five highest-scoring bidders will be short-listed, and admitted to Stage 2. In the event of a tie for 5th place, where two or more bidders, in addition to passing all pass/fail questions, have an identical score for those questions assigned a numerical score, the following ranking will be applied, wherein the first question will be used to select the 5th placed bidder from the tied bidders. If the scores for that question are also tied, the question ranked second will be used to select the 5th placed bidder, and so on:
1st Response : Frontier AI & Technical Capability Question (40% weighting)
2nd Response: Software Development & Integration Capability Questions (25% weighting)
3rd Response: Team Capability Question (20% weighting)
4th Response: Social Value Question (15% weighting)
Stage 2: Invitation to Tender
Stage 2 will commence after the issuing of letters inviting bidders that have been successfully shortlisted at Stage 1 to participate in Stage 2, which is the submission of final tenders.
Final tenders must be submitted in accordance with the timetable and instructions set out in the Invitation to Tender document, which will be released shortly after publication of this Tender Notice. This stage will involve evaluating bidders based on a comprehensive assessment of both cost and non-cost factors. The evaluation criteria and weightings associated with the quality and price elements will be included in the Invitation to Tender document.
As part of Stage 2, bidders will be required to complete a Demo Build, followed by a presentation (as set out above). The presentation will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria which will be set out in the ITT, along with the bidders' tender responses.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 28 Nov 2025, 17:00 GMT
- Submission deadline
- 28 Nov 2025, 17:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 5 Nov 2025, 17:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
27 Oct 2025 → 6 Aug 2026 · 8 dates- Tender notice published360 days ago27 Oct 2025, 17:59 GMT
- Clarification questions by351 days ago5 Nov 2025, 17:00 GMT
- Submission deadline328 days ago28 Nov 2025, 17:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by282 days ago13 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract starts274 days ago22 Jan 2026
- Assessment summaries sent260 days ago5 Feb 2026
- Standstill ends248 days ago16 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Latest notice published77 days ago6 Aug 2026, 11:00 BST
Notice history
10 events · 8 releases on Find a Tender · since 27 Oct 2025- Tender notice published27 Oct 2025, 17:59 GMTUK4
- Tender notice published27 Oct 2025, 18:13 GMTUK4
- Tender notice published27 Oct 2025, 19:05 GMTUK4
- Tender notice published21 Nov 2025, 14:03 GMTUK4
- Tender notice published25 Nov 2025, 11:13 GMTUK4
- Contract award notice published5 Feb 2026, 22:06 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete5 Feb 2026, 22:06 GMT
- Contract award notice published6 Feb 2026, 14:18 GMTUK6
- Contract signature expected17 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
- Contract details notice published6 Aug 2026, 11:00 BSTUK7
Routine re-releases (8)
- 2025-11: 2 releases · 21 Nov 2025, 25 Nov 2025
- 2025-10: 3 releases · 27 Oct 2025, 27 Oct 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| GOOGLE UK LIMITED17 Feb 2026 – 17 May 2028 · up to 17 May 2029Extensions: 12 months following initial Support and Grow Phase · Amended: Under Scope added reiteration: "The procurement has been carried out by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology for and on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government." Added connected people/organisations and associated people/organisations. Added the proposed contract title "MHCLG Augmented Planning Decisions" to the Contract section. | £6,906,513same award published again · counted once | 5 Feb 2026standstill to 16 Feb 2026 | Standstill |
| GOOGLE UK LIMITED | £6,906,513 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 2 · GOOGLE UK LIMITED
- Signed
- 21 Apr 2026
- Value
- £6,906,513
- Period
- 5 May 2026 – 4 Aug 2028 · up to 4 Aug 2029 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- 12 months following initial Support and Grow Phase
3 agreed KPIs: Response Times · Incident Resolution Times · Root Cause Analysis Completion
- Response Times
- Incident Resolution Times
- Root Cause Analysis Completion
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- did not winAtkinsRéalis UK Limited · South East England
- did not winCognizant Worldwide Limited · Greater London
- did not winEndava (UK) Limited · Greater London
- did not winPA CONSULTING SERVICES LIMITED · Greater London
- wonGoogle Cloud EMEA Limited
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeOther public bodies
- Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local GovernmentProcuring entityMHCLG is the contracting authority for this procurement. In accordance with section 1(3)(a) of the Procurement Act 2023, MHCLG is carrying out this procurement through the Commercial Innovation Hub part of Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), which is acting as its agent.
Bidders & participating suppliers
5 commercial parties on the notice · 1 awarded- AtkinsRéalis UK LimitedBidder / tenderer
- Cognizant Worldwide LimitedBidder / tenderer
- Endava (UK) LimitedBidder / tenderer
- Google Cloud EMEA LimitedAwarded supplier
- PA CONSULTING SERVICES LIMITEDBidder / tenderer
Official documents & specifications (13)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications Procurement Specific Questionnaire for AI-Augmented Planning Decisions Tender
- Signed contract Redacted Contract
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: PSQ submissions will be open on Jagger from 27th October 2025, this will include templates to provide responses to the questions in the PSQ.
- Bidding documents and specifications Procurement Specific Questionnaire for AI-Augmented Planning Decisions Tender
- Bidding documents and specifications Procurement Specific Questionnaire for AI-Augmented Planning Decisions Tender
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender