TenderOppsIndependent tender search
Upcoming

AI Patent Search Tool

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

Usually high: a median of 7 bids per contract for IT and software contracts in this region (from 59 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

Intellectual Property OfficeLast 12 months

Procurements

23

Awards

13

Suppliers it has used most for IT and software

All tenders and awards from Intellectual Property Office

Similar open tenders

All open IT and software tenders
  1. Google Products & Services Reseller Framework Agreement

    Digital Health & Care WalesWalesIT services and software, Telecoms and networks

    Closing soon23 hours leftSuitable for SMEsFramework

    £15mframework ceiling
  2. EPOS system for Carmarthenshire County Council's leisure service

    Carmarthenshire County CouncilWalesCatering, IT services and software

    Closing soon2 days leftSuitable for SMEsSmall contract

    £75kestimated
  3. Provision of an E Bulk Solution for the Administration of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

    Caerphilly County Borough CouncilWalesRecruitment and staffing, IT services and software

    Closing soon6 days leftSuitable for SMEsSmall contract

    £100kestimated
  4. SCAPE Construction Works and Services Framework

    Scape Procure LimitedNorth East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West, Wales, Northern IrelandEnergy and utilities, Construction

    Open11 days leftExpress interest5 lotsSuitable for SMEsFramework

    £8bnframework ceiling
  5. Media Monitoring Software

    Senedd Cymru / Welsh ParliamentWalesIT services and software

    Open13 days left4 lotsSuitable for SMEsSmall contract

    £93kestimated

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.