What to Look Out for When Acquiring AI Systems
Summary
The IEEE Standards Association has been working on refining the IEEE 3119-2025 standard for more than three years. This standard aims to guide procurement teams in managing risks associated with artificial intelligence and automated decision systems in high-risk domains like education, health, and employment. Initially composed of five processes—problem definition, vendor evaluation, solution evaluation, contract negotiation, and contract monitoring—the standard has now been updated to include a sixth process: solicitation preparation. The inclusion of this additional process addresses the challenges in preparing AI-specific solicitations by incorporating data requirements and inquiries about vendor AI governance. This adjustment was made in response to feedback from a European Union agency, which emphasized the importance of accommodating evolving technical and regulatory needs. The standard aims to complement existing international frameworks on AI management, ethics, and software acquisition.
Astraea’s Insight
The introduction of the IEEE 3119-2025 standard marks a significant step towards making AI procurement processes more comprehensive and adaptable to the complexities of high-risk domains. By adding solicitation preparation, the standard not only addresses immediate challenges but also accommodates future regulatory and technical changes. This proactive approach ensures that procurement teams can effectively manage AI risks while promoting responsible AI usage. Integrating this standard with other international guidelines on AI management and ethics will likely pave the way for more robust and ethical AI deployment in public sector domains. This aligns with a broader trend towards transparency and accountability in AI systems, which is crucial for gaining public trust and achieving sustainable AI integration.