AI Tutoring Tools Pioneer Programme – Subject-Matter Exemption - Research and Development

SOURCING PROCEDURE: The AI Tutoring Tools Pioneer Programme contracts (a maximum of eight (8) identical contracts) will be awarded under a Procurement Act 2023 Section 3) (6) and Schedule 2, Part 2, paragraph 22, 2) (b), (c) subject-matter exemption for research and development services. The contracts to be awarded are exempt contracts and for that reason the procurement is not subject to the Procurement Act 2023. The outputs of the proposed contracts are intended for the benefit of the public and do not include the provision of AI Tutoring Tools. The latter would be procured via other sourcing procedures separate from this Pioneers Programme procurement. These contracts answer the need for research and development of a high-quality standard for AI Tutoring Tools. Although there is a wide range of Tutoring Tools available on the market, there is no established offer that meets the complete specification to a high-quality standard, encompassing all the necessary elements of an exceptional AI Tutoring Tool. Elements being for instance the digital curriculum (to be published) and multiple sources of data which require review. AI driven Tutoring Tools currently on the market are limited in quantity, scope and evidence base with few providing full tutoring capacity and with limited public access to the research and development that underpins them. The proposed contracts seek to research and co-design a high-quality, all-encompassing standard for AI Tutoring Tools and to initiate the development of innovative, effective and safe AI Tutoring Tools to that high-quality, all-encompassing standard thereby being the most transformative for educational outcomes. The aim of the Programme is to research, trial, develop and enable the future scalability and commercialisation of AI Tutoring Tools of the highest calibre which, alongside teachers, will improve the academic attainment of pupils across England, particularly the most disadvantaged. INSTRUCTIONS TO PARTICIPATE: This informal procurement process, which includes a pre-qualification and technical capability moderated evaluation, is carried upon invitation to selected suppliers, however if a supplier believes they meet the pre-qualification criteria detailed in this notice, they may express interest in participating via the eProcurement platform (Jaggaer) “AI Tutoring Tools Reading Room – DfE Content Store” by the 5th of May 2026 12pm GMT via link below: https://beisgroup.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=60989 On the 5th of May 2026, all suppliers invited and which have expressed interest in participating will receive a link to access the pre-qualification and technical capability questionnaire on the eProcurement platform (Jaggaer) “AI Tutoring Tools Pioneer Programme – Subject-Matter Exemption - Research and Development” project. PRE-QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: This is an ambitious programme of work for which I.AI are looking for exceptional suppliers across EdTech and AI development, who have a proven track record of building high-calibre products and delivering them at scale (see below the note on products capability). Suppliers wishing to participate in this Pioneers Programme informal procurement process must meet the following pre-qualification conditions on: 1) AI and/or EdTech expertise and scale; and 2) Existing product expertise. The pre-qualification assessment will require that suppliers participating in this informal procurement (alone or together with any consortium they may choose to form), apply in partnership with three to four partner schools in England, with above-average rates of disadvantage (25.7% FSM). To ensure that suppliers are best placed to develop truly innovative AI Tutoring Tools, DSIT/I.AI are looking for suppliers (or consortia) that combine AI innovation with strong Edtech experience and the ability to deliver successful products at scale in England. This proven scalability experience requirement is vital to inform and assist the research and development of a common standard that enables by default the scalability-readiness sought. Suppliers / consortia should either: 1. Have exceptional expertise delivering Edtech products at scale in England, and have access to (internally, or via a partnership or subcontracting) strong expertise for AI development; or 2. Have exceptional expertise delivering innovative AI products at scale, and have access to (internally, or via partnership) strong expertise for delivering Edtech within England. While scale must be evidenced for one of these capabilities, it is not a requirement for the other. We welcome proposals that include SMEs and more bespoke, smaller scale product experience, where they demonstrate the expertise needed. In addition to the above, you must be able to demonstrate strong expertise for the other capability (EdTech / AI). Where not covered by your ‘exceptional’ capability, this must include: • Experience delivering in schools in England • Strong pedagogical expertise, consistent with pedagogical approaches in England • Experience delivering products with substantive generative AI components at scale To be considered as ‘exceptional expertise’, suppliers / consortia should: · Demonstrate significant scale as an AI lab, or be an Edtech company with significant scale in secondary schools in England. · Have deep in-house expertise and talent required to lead cutting-edge, sector wide innovation. · Have a track record of delivering high quality products. Applications must include 3-4 partner schools that suppliers will work with for co-design activity. These school and multi-academy trust (MAT) partners must meet the following criteria: * Must be state-funded schools based in England * Have a minimum of 500 students across their Year 9 & Year 10 cohorts (total across all partner schools) * At least three partner schools must have above the national average (25.7%) of students that qualify for FSM * Must have an adequate Ofsted rating: ** If last inspected by Ofsted under the previous arrangement before September 2024, partner schools must have a single headline grade of Good or Outstanding ** If last inspected by Ofsted under the previous arrangement between September 2024 and November 2025, partner schools must be graded Good or Outstanding for the Leadership and Management sub-judgment ** If inspected by Ofsted under the new arrangements from November 2025, partner schools must be graded as expected standard or higher for Leadership and Governance * Must not be in a ‘category of concern’ * Must not be part of an academy trust that is subject to a notice to improve * Must have no unresolved safeguarding or compliance issues that the DfE is involved with. * A maximum of one partner school may be selective. Schools must confirm their eligibility status as part of the application. From September 2026, suppliers may be partnered with additional schools (supported by DfE) or participate in wider activity with additional schools to explore the use of their tools across wider contexts, which will include schools in areas of higher deprivation and/or schools with lower technology maturity on an ‘as needed’ basis. While there is no requirement on regional diversity for individual applications, we will be looking to ensure regional diversity across the portfolio of grants made. NOTE ON PRODUCTS CAPABILITY: Through this programme, suppliers will be rapidly iterating on existing products, to test opportunities for advanced functionality and curriculum integration. DSIT/I.AI will therefore be working with suppliers that already have a relevant base product at a good level of maturity. This product must be deployed in a relevant environment (e.g., a school or tutoring context, with secondary school age pupils), not just in a laboratory or test environment. Examples of eligible products include (but are not limited to): • An AI feedback tool that analyses pupil work and provides formative feedback, already piloted with pupils or teachers • A chatbot that can answer curriculum-aligned questions and has been used by pupils for tutoring support • A question-generation engine that produces curriculum-aligned practice questions, validated through use in a school or tutoring setting • Adaptive tutoring systems • A system for tracking and synthesising student progress • Curriculum-aligned pupil-facing edtech tools NOTE ON INFORMATION TO THE WIDER MARKET AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: The high-quality, all-encompassing standard co-designed during these contracts and the information shared by the participants (including the schools) with the Pioneer Programme suppliers, will be owned by DSIT/I.AI and will be shared with the wider market via a dedicated Pioneers Programme Reading Room. More information on how to request access to this Reading Room is below. The foreground intellectual property (IP) created for the purposes of any possible prototype AI Tutoring Tool will be the property of the individual Pioneer Programme suppliers, and will not be widely shared. Early market engagement notice (UK2): https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015370-2026?origin=SearchResults&p=1