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Published 16 Dec 2025, 17:03 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

MHCLG Augmented Planning Decisions

Official notice

Authority: Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (Central government)·On behalf of: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

ServicesCompetitive flexible procedureAbove threshold
Sectors: IT Services & Software (72) Delivery: Delivery location not published
Published estimate£8,333,333≈ £3.6m / year · £10,000,000 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 15 Jan 2026
Contract term 2 yrs 4 moends 22 May 2028 · up to 22 May 2029 with extensions · starts 22 Jan 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The Authority seeks to develop a planning tool that enables AI-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.

*“Other applications” are: advertisements, change of use, householder developments, listed building consents and relevant demolition in a conservation area. Also available at “View PS2 data” and the drop down ”Other” available at: app.powerbi.com/view ↗

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)

  • 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. Stage 1 of the competitive flexible procedure was completed on the 15th December 2025, with five suppliers being invited to part-take in Stage 2 (ITT). 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 have been taken forward to Stage 2 (Invitation to Tender). Stage 2: Invitation to Tender Stage 2 will commence on the 16th December 2025 following 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. 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 have been 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 published
Lot #1Renewal 2 yrs 4 moPublished value£8,333,333
Contract period: 22 Jan 2026 – 22 May 2028 (2 yrs 4 mo) · up to 22 May 2029 with extensionsValue: £8,333,333 exc. VAT · £10,000,000 inc. VAT
Extensions: Beta Phase & Scale Phase activation is at the Authority's sole discretion, depending on success of minimum viable product. Support & Grow Phase at Authority’s sole discretion, dependent on the success of Beta Phase Extension to Support, Maintenance & Grow Phase at Authority’s sole discretion No automatic renewal provisions · Alpha Phase (Pilot) Duration: Estimated 3 months from contract signature Beta & Scale Phase Duration (if activated): Estimated 12 months following successful Alpha Phase completion Support & Grow Phase Duration: Estimated 12 months following Beta & Scale Phase Optional Extension: Estimated 12 months following initial Support & Grow Phase Total Potential Duration: Up to 39 months (including all phases)
72000000 IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

What it takes to win
i

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 more
How bids were scored
Quality: 80%Price: 20%
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 have been 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: Are set out in the ITT.
What this means for your bid
  • 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
Closed
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
16 Dec 2025, 17:03 GMT
Last source update
24 Dec 2025, 09:31 GMT
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 19 Jan 2026
Authority reference
Linked to notice: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076775-2025
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-083564
Latest notice
Tender notice (UK4)
Classification (CPV)
IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
Delivery area
Not published
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f732 Find 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.

Stage 1 of the competitive flexible procedure was completed on the 15th December 2025, with five suppliers being invited to part-take in Stage 2 (ITT).

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 have been taken forward to Stage 2 (Invitation to Tender).

Stage 2: Invitation to Tender

Stage 2 will commence on the 16th December 2025 following 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. 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 have been 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
Run through: Jaggaer · Who buys & how to bid on JAGGAER
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free; latest Chrome/Edge/Firefox only — corporate browsers fail
Requests to participate (first stage)
15 Jan 2026, 17:00 GMT
Submission deadline
15 Jan 2026, 17:00 GMT
Clarification deadline
15 Jan 2026, 09:00 GMT
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

beisgroup.ukp.app.jaggaer.com ↗

Timeline

16 Dec 2025 → 22 Jan 2026 · 6 dates
  1. Tender notice published316 days ago
    16 Dec 2025, 17:03 GMT
  2. Latest notice published309 days ago
    24 Dec 2025, 09:31 GMT
  3. Clarification questions by287 days ago
    15 Jan 2026, 09:00 GMT
  4. Submission deadline286 days ago
    15 Jan 2026, 17:00 GMT
  5. Award decision expected by282 days ago
    19 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
  6. Contract starts280 days ago
    22 Jan 2026

Notice history

5 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 16 Dec 2025
  1. Tender notice published
    16 Dec 2025, 17:03 GMT
    UK4
  2. Tender notice published
    17 Dec 2025, 15:09 GMT
    UK4
  3. Procurement method changed
    17 Dec 2025, 15:09 GMT
  4. Deadline published: 15 Jan 2026, 17:00 GMT
    17 Dec 2025, 15:09 GMT
  5. Tender notice published
    24 Dec 2025, 09:31 GMT
    UK4

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

2 public bodies on the notice

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PVWZ-3216-PVQL 22 Whitehall, London, London, SW1A 2EGContact email

Other 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.GB-PPON: PWCX-8281-CLPR London, LondonContact email

Official documents & specifications (5)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

Notices published for this procedure

  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender