TenderOppsIndependent tender search
Open24 days left · express interest by 5pm, Friday 23 October 2026

What works in AI Adoption within DCMS Sectors

Department for Culture, Media and Sport · Central government

In brief

Department for Culture, Media and Sport is looking for suppliers for research and marketing work (UK-wide).

The estimated value is £1,500,000 excluding VAT.

The contract runs for 3 years, starting 12 February 2027.

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

This is the first stage: register your interest by 5pm, Friday 23 October 2026, and shortlisted suppliers are invited to bid.

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

Can I win this?

Key dates

Questions by
5pm, Wednesday 14 October 2026
Express interest by
5pm, Friday 23 October 2026

This is the first stage. You register interest now, and shortlisted suppliers are invited to bid later.

How bids are scored

Quality 80% · Price 20%

Quality matters most. You can win without being the cheapest.

Competition

Usually high: a median of 11 bids per contract for this buyer (from 7 awards in the last 12 months).

What the notice says

Full information is provided within the specification. DCMS are seeking to commission "what works" research into the impact and effectiveness of AI adoption interventions within DCMS sectors. We are interested in two broad sets of questions. The first is analysis of how businesses within DCMS sectors that are in the process of adopting AI achieve this, the challenges they face and the opportunities and benefits realised. We anticipate this will be explored through an ethnographic study that observes how individuals and teams actually use AI tools in their jobs. The second set of questions is what policy interventions work best to support businesses that wish to adopt AI, which we anticipate will be answered by testing hypothetical interventions through randomised control trials (RCTs). Bidders will be able to propose alternative methodologies if they think they suit these questions better; the core need for this project is to produce direct, robust evidence of what works, as opposed to what is self-reported (e.g. through interviews, focus groups, surveys, and similar) to work.

Should I bid?

Tick what applies to you. Nothing is saved.

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.
  4. Send clarification questions before 5pm, Wednesday 14 October 2026.
  5. Register your interest before 5pm, Friday 23 October 2026. Shortlisted suppliers are then invited to bid.

Timeline

  1. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 070910-2026
  2. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 070954-2026
  3. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 086715-2026
  4. Tender notice · UK4, notice 090755-2026

About the buyer

Department for Culture, Media and SportLast 12 months

Procurements

51

Awards

45

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From notice 070910-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 27 July 2026, last updated 24 September 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.