AI Procurement Clauses in Government Technology Contracts

Abstract

Background: Effective governance of AI procurement depends on more than formal authorization, especially where government contracts and institutional coordination are uneven.

Objective: The investigation focused on whether formal arrangements concerning AI procurement translated into consistent practice and how this intersected with government contracts.

Methods: Evidence from 6 jurisdictions and 8 institutions was assessed in a mixed-method observational design. Standardized coding of documentary and administrative material was supplemented where appropriate by stakeholder or practitioner data, followed by descriptive and multivariable analysis.

Results: Across the institutions studied, 50% satisfied the predefined procedural-consistency benchmark for AI procurement. Stronger coordination was associated with a 17% gain in the main performance measure, whereas limited capacity and unclear lines of responsibility were the most frequent implementation problems.

Conclusion: Across the settings examined, stronger outcomes relating to AI procurement were tied to the institutional arrangements supporting day-to-day implementation. Accordingly, procurement reform should prioritize traceable processes, coordinated oversight, and implementation capacity.

Study design: contract-text analysis.

Publication history: Originally published in print on 15 June 2024, Volume 4, Article 5. Online abstract record added on 16 September 2026. Full-text PDF will be added when the digital galley is ready.