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Intellectual Property Office · Central government

In brief

Intellectual Property Office has announced plans to buy IT and software and legal work. This is an early notice: there is nothing to bid on yet, but it tells you a tender may follow.

The notice does not state a value.

The contract runs for 4 years, starting 2 November 2026.

The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Competition

Typical: a median of 5 bids per contract for IT and software contracts in this region (from 93 awards in the last 12 months).

What the notice says

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is undertaking preliminary market engagement in relation to a potential future procurement for an AI-assisted patent search solution. The IPO is seeking to understand the capabilities available within the market to support patent examiners in identifying potentially relevant prior art documents from publicly available patent and technical information sources. The requirement is intended to explore solutions capable of using semantic, conceptual, AI-assisted or other advanced search techniques to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of patent searching, whilst maintaining examiner oversight and decision-making. The engagement will seek supplier feedback on available technologies, service models, security approaches, commercial models, routes to market and procurement considerations. Particular emphasis will be placed on the handling of confidential patent application information and the protection of customer data within AI-enabled solutions. This engagement is for information-gathering purposes only and does not form part of any formal procurement process. Any future procurement opportunity will be advertised separately. Please respond here - https://atamis-2198.my.salesforce-sites.com/ProSpend__CS_ContractPage?SearchType=projects&uid=a07Sq00001RiA0iIAF&searchStr=&sortStr=Recently+Published&page=1&filters=&County=.

How to bid

  1. Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
  2. Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
  3. Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.

Timeline

  1. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 062739-2026
  2. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 062744-2026
  3. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 063478-2026

About the buyer

Procurements

36

Awards

26

Suppliers it has used most for IT and software

  1. Climate Vulnerability Intelligence Dashboard Feasibility Project

    South East Wales Corporate Joint CommitteeWalesResearch and development, IT services and software

    Closing soon11 hours leftSuitable for SMEsSmall contract

    £120kestimated
  2. World Model for SCAT

    NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust)WalesIT services and software, Management consultancy

    Closing soon6 days leftSuitable for SMEsSmall contract

    £50kestimated
  3. BU452026- Digital Reconstruction of Former Hospital in North Wales

    Prifysgol Bangor / Bangor UniversityWalesArchitecture and engineering, IT services and software

    Open7 days leftSuitable for SMEs

    £305kestimated
  4. Penetration Testing

    Senedd Cymru / Welsh ParliamentWalesIT services and software

    Open11 days leftSuitable for SMEsSmall contract

    £80kestimated
  5. Provision of Digital Customer Engagement Platform

    Pobl Group LtdWalesIT services and software

    Open12 days leftSuitable for SMEsSmall contract

    £200kestimated

From notice 062739-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 3 July 2026, last updated 7 July 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.