diff --git a/apps/web/src/lib/types.ts b/apps/web/src/lib/types.ts
index 0f46823b..7b48176e 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/lib/types.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/lib/types.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,42 @@
+import type {
+  HarnessAuthState,
+  HarnessModelAvailability,
+  HarnessSelection,
+} from '@mosaicstack/types';
+
+// The exact harness/provider/model tuple and its closed enum companions are the
+// shared domain types — re-exported here so web consumers (and the runtime
+// guards) import one shape, never a divergent local redefinition.
+export type { HarnessSelection, HarnessAuthState, HarnessModelAvailability };
+
+/** Harness summary row from `GET /api/harnesses` (the `HarnessSummaryDto`). The
+ * harness id is kept distinct from any provider id — they are never merged. */
+export interface HarnessSummary {
+  id: string;
+  displayName: string;
+  capabilities: string[];
+}
+
+/** One selectable model in a harness catalog. Extends the `{harnessId,
+ * providerId, modelId}` tuple with the display/availability metadata the UI
+ * needs; `inputTypes` is kept as a plain `string[]` on the client boundary
+ * because it arrives from untrusted JSON and is only ever displayed. */
+export interface HarnessCatalogEntry extends HarnessSelection {
+  displayName: string;
+  reasoningCapability: boolean;
+  inputTypes: string[];
+  authState: HarnessAuthState;
+  availability: HarnessModelAvailability;
+}
+
+/** Harness-scoped catalog from `GET /api/harnesses/:harnessId/catalog`. */
+export interface HarnessCatalog {
+  harnessId: string;
+  version: string;
+  fingerprint: string;
+  models: HarnessCatalogEntry[];
+}
+
 /** Conversation returned by the gateway API. */
 export interface Conversation {
   id: string;
diff --git a/apps/web/src/spa/chat/chat-api.spec.ts b/apps/web/src/spa/chat/chat-api.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3d02c01a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/web/src/spa/chat/chat-api.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,195 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+import {
+  fetchCatalog,
+  fetchHarnesses,
+  fetchPersistedSelection,
+  persistSelection,
+} from './chat-api';
+
+function json(body: unknown, status = 200): Response {
+  return new Response(JSON.stringify(body), {
+    status,
+    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+  });
+}
+
+function stubFetch(): ReturnType<typeof vi.fn> {
+  const fetchMock = vi.fn();
+  vi.stubGlobal('fetch', fetchMock);
+  return fetchMock;
+}
+
+/** Every URL the client actually requested, across all calls. */
+function requestedUrls(fetchMock: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>): string[] {
+  return fetchMock.mock.calls.map((call) => String(call[0]));
+}
+
+describe('chat-api', () => {
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.unstubAllGlobals();
+  });
+
+  it('fetchHarnesses GETs /api/harnesses and returns typed summaries (harness id separate from provider)', async () => {
+    const fetchMock = stubFetch();
+    fetchMock.mockResolvedValue(
+      json([
+        { id: 'pi', displayName: 'Pi', capabilities: ['chat', 'tools'] },
+        { id: 'openai', displayName: 'OpenAI', capabilities: ['chat'] },
+      ]),
+    );
+
+    const harnesses = await fetchHarnesses();
+
+    expect(fetchMock).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    expect(String(fetchMock.mock.calls[0]?.[0])).toBe('/api/harnesses');
+    expect(harnesses).toEqual([
+      { id: 'pi', displayName: 'Pi', capabilities: ['chat', 'tools'] },
+      { id: 'openai', displayName: 'OpenAI', capabilities: ['chat'] },
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it('fetchCatalog GETs the harness-scoped catalog and returns only its model entries', async () => {
+    const fetchMock = stubFetch();
+    fetchMock.mockResolvedValue(
+      json({
+        harnessId: 'pi',
+        version: '2026-08-11',
+        fingerprint: 'abc123',
+        models: [
+          {
+            harnessId: 'pi',
+            providerId: 'openai',
+            modelId: 'gpt-5',
+            displayName: 'GPT-5',
+            reasoningCapability: true,
+            inputTypes: ['text'],
+            authState: 'ready',
+            availability: 'available',
+          },
+        ],
+      }),
+    );
+
+    const result = await fetchCatalog('pi');
+
+    expect(String(fetchMock.mock.calls[0]?.[0])).toBe('/api/harnesses/pi/catalog');
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!result.ok) throw new Error('expected ok catalog');
+    expect(result.catalog.harnessId).toBe('pi');
+    expect(result.catalog.models).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(result.catalog.models[0]).toMatchObject({
+      harnessId: 'pi',
+      providerId: 'openai',
+      modelId: 'gpt-5',
+      availability: 'available',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('normalizes a catalog 404 into a typed catalog_unavailable result without surfacing the raw body', async () => {
+    const fetchMock = stubFetch();
+    fetchMock.mockResolvedValue(
+      json(
+        {
+          code: 'adapter_unavailable',
+          message: 'raw gateway detail that must not leak verbatim',
+          harnessId: 'attacker-echo',
+          extra: { hostile: 'blob' },
+        },
+        404,
+      ),
+    );
+
+    const result = await fetchCatalog('ghost');
+
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (result.ok) throw new Error('expected unavailable result');
+    expect(result.code).toBe('catalog_unavailable');
+    // harnessId comes from the request, never the (untrusted) response body.
+    expect(result.harnessId).toBe('ghost');
+    expect(typeof result.message).toBe('string');
+    // The raw response body is never rendered/returned verbatim.
+    expect(JSON.stringify(result)).not.toContain('hostile');
+    expect(JSON.stringify(result)).not.toContain('attacker-echo');
+  });
+
+  it('fetchPersistedSelection returns the stored tuple, or null when unset', async () => {
+    const fetchMock = stubFetch();
+    fetchMock.mockResolvedValueOnce(
+      json({ selection: { harnessId: 'pi', providerId: 'openai', modelId: 'gpt-5' } }),
+    );
+    await expect(fetchPersistedSelection()).resolves.toEqual({
+      harnessId: 'pi',
+      providerId: 'openai',
+      modelId: 'gpt-5',
+    });
+    expect(String(fetchMock.mock.calls[0]?.[0])).toBe('/api/chat/preferences/selection');
+
+    fetchMock.mockResolvedValueOnce(json({ selection: null }));
+    await expect(fetchPersistedSelection()).resolves.toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('persistSelection PUTs the structured tuple (not free text) and returns the confirmed selection', async () => {
+    const fetchMock = stubFetch();
+    fetchMock.mockResolvedValue(
+      json({ selection: { harnessId: 'pi', providerId: 'openai', modelId: 'gpt-5' } }),
+    );
+
+    const result = await persistSelection({
+      harnessId: 'pi',
+      providerId: 'openai',
+      modelId: 'gpt-5',
+    });
+
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
+    const call = fetchMock.mock.calls[0];
+    expect(String(call?.[0])).toBe('/api/chat/preferences/selection');
+    const init = call?.[1] as RequestInit;
+    expect(String(init.method).toUpperCase()).toBe('PUT');
+    // The body is exactly the structured tuple — harness/provider/model kept distinct.
+    expect(JSON.parse(String(init.body))).toEqual({
+      harnessId: 'pi',
+      providerId: 'openai',
+      modelId: 'gpt-5',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('normalizes a selection 422 into a typed error preserving the requested tuple exactly', async () => {
+    const fetchMock = stubFetch();
+    fetchMock.mockResolvedValue(
+      json(
+        {
+          code: 'model_unavailable',
+          message: 'raw detail that must not leak',
+          selection: { harnessId: 'x', providerId: 'y', modelId: 'z' },
+        },
+        422,
+      ),
+    );
+
+    const requested = { harnessId: 'pi', providerId: 'openai', modelId: 'gpt-5' };
+    const result = await persistSelection(requested);
+
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (result.ok) throw new Error('expected failed persist');
+    expect(['selection_invalid', 'model_unavailable']).toContain(result.code);
+    // The requested tuple is preserved unchanged — not replaced by the body's echo.
+    expect(result.requested).toEqual(requested);
+    expect(JSON.stringify(result)).not.toContain('raw detail');
+  });
+
+  it('never requests any /api/providers* endpoint', async () => {
+    const fetchMock = stubFetch();
+    fetchMock.mockResolvedValue(json([]));
+    await fetchHarnesses();
+    fetchMock.mockResolvedValue(
+      json({ harnessId: 'pi', version: '1', fingerprint: 'f', models: [] }),
+    );
+    await fetchCatalog('pi');
+    fetchMock.mockResolvedValue(json({ selection: null }));
+    await fetchPersistedSelection();
+
+    for (const url of requestedUrls(fetchMock)) {
+      expect(url).not.toContain('/api/providers');
+    }
+  });
+});
diff --git a/apps/web/src/spa/chat/chat-api.ts b/apps/web/src/spa/chat/chat-api.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ba8e20fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/web/src/spa/chat/chat-api.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+/**
+ * Typed fetch wrappers for the Task-3 harness HTTP contract the chat selection
+ * UI depends on. Every response body is untrusted and is normalized through the
+ * runtime guards before it reaches state — a 404 (catalog) and a 422 (selection)
+ * are mapped to typed, body-free error results so a raw gateway body is never
+ * rendered, and the caller's requested tuple is preserved verbatim on failure.
+ *
+ * This module talks ONLY to the harness/chat-preferences endpoints. It never
+ * calls `/api/providers*` — provider identity lives inside the harness catalog.
+ */
+import { asHarnessCatalog, asHarnessSelection, asHarnessSummaries } from './runtime-guards';
+import type { HarnessCatalog, HarnessSelection, HarnessSummary } from '@/lib/types';
+
+/** A catalog fetch either yields the typed catalog or a typed unavailability —
+ * never a thrown raw body. */
+export type CatalogResult =
+  | { ok: true; catalog: HarnessCatalog }
+  | { ok: false; code: 'catalog_unavailable'; harnessId: string; message: string };
+
+export type SelectionErrorCode = 'selection_invalid' | 'model_unavailable';
+
+/** A persist either confirms the stored tuple or reports a typed domain failure
+ * that echoes back the exact tuple the caller requested. */
+export type SelectionPersistResult =
+  | { ok: true; selection: HarnessSelection }
+  | { ok: false; code: SelectionErrorCode; message: string; requested: HarnessSelection };
+
+/** A safe, generic message for an unavailable catalog — the raw 404 body is
+ * never surfaced. */
+const CATALOG_UNAVAILABLE_MESSAGE = 'This harness catalog is currently unavailable.';
+
+/** A safe, generic message for a rejected selection. The untrusted 422 body's
+ * own `message` is deliberately NEVER surfaced — only this fixed copy — so a
+ * raw gateway detail can never leak into the UI. Only the closed `code` enum is
+ * read from the body. */
+const SELECTION_REJECTED_MESSAGE = 'This selection was rejected.';
+
+async function readJson(response: Response): Promise<unknown> {
+  return response.json().catch(() => null);
+}
+
+function safeSelectionCode(body: unknown): SelectionErrorCode {
+  if (typeof body === 'object' && body !== null && 'code' in body) {
+    const code = (body as { code: unknown }).code;
+    if (code === 'selection_invalid' || code === 'model_unavailable') return code;
+  }
+  // Default to the more conservative "invalid" classification for anything
+  // unrecognized rather than guessing "model_unavailable".
+  return 'selection_invalid';
+}
+
+/** `GET /api/harnesses` → the list of harness summaries. A non-OK response
+ * normalizes to an empty list (the UI then has no harness to select). */
+export async function fetchHarnesses(): Promise<HarnessSummary[]> {
+  const response = await fetch('/api/harnesses', {
+    credentials: 'include',
+    headers: { Accept: 'application/json' },
+  });
+  if (!response.ok) return [];
+  return asHarnessSummaries(await readJson(response));
+}
+
+/** `GET /api/harnesses/:harnessId/catalog` → the harness-scoped catalog. A 404
+ * (or any non-OK) becomes a typed `catalog_unavailable` result rather than a
+ * fallback catalog or a rendered raw body. */
+export async function fetchCatalog(harnessId: string): Promise<CatalogResult> {
+  const response = await fetch(`/api/harnesses/${encodeURIComponent(harnessId)}/catalog`, {
+    credentials: 'include',
+    headers: { Accept: 'application/json' },
+  });
+  if (!response.ok) {
+    return {
+      ok: false,
+      code: 'catalog_unavailable',
+      // Scoped to the requested harness id, never the untrusted body's echo.
+      harnessId,
+      message: CATALOG_UNAVAILABLE_MESSAGE,
+    };
+  }
+  return { ok: true, catalog: asHarnessCatalog(await readJson(response), harnessId) };
+}
+
+/** `GET /api/chat/preferences/selection` → the persisted tuple, or null when
+ * unset or malformed. */
+export async function fetchPersistedSelection(): Promise<HarnessSelection | null> {
+  const response = await fetch('/api/chat/preferences/selection', {
+    credentials: 'include',
+    headers: { Accept: 'application/json' },
+  });
+  if (!response.ok) return null;
+  const body = await readJson(response);
+  if (typeof body !== 'object' || body === null) return null;
+  return asHarnessSelection((body as { selection?: unknown }).selection);
+}
+
+/** `PUT /api/chat/preferences/selection` with the structured tuple as the body.
+ * On success returns the confirmed selection; on a typed domain failure (422)
+ * or validation error, returns a typed result carrying the EXACT requested
+ * tuple — never the body's echo — and never the raw body text. */
+export async function persistSelection(
+  selection: HarnessSelection,
+): Promise<SelectionPersistResult> {
+  const requested: HarnessSelection = {
+    harnessId: selection.harnessId,
+    providerId: selection.providerId,
+    modelId: selection.modelId,
+  };
+  const response = await fetch('/api/chat/preferences/selection', {
+    method: 'PUT',
+    credentials: 'include',
+    headers: { Accept: 'application/json', 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+    body: JSON.stringify(requested),
+  });
+  if (!response.ok) {
+    const body = await readJson(response);
+    return {
+      ok: false,
+      code: safeSelectionCode(body),
+      // Fixed copy only — the untrusted body's message is never surfaced.
+      message: SELECTION_REJECTED_MESSAGE,
+      requested,
+    };
+  }
+  const body = await readJson(response);
+  const confirmed =
+    typeof body === 'object' && body !== null
+      ? asHarnessSelection((body as { selection?: unknown }).selection)
+      : null;
+  // A malformed 2xx body is treated as a confirmation of exactly what we sent —
+  // the server accepted the tuple, so the requested tuple is the source of truth.
+  return { ok: true, selection: confirmed ?? requested };
+}
diff --git a/apps/web/src/spa/chat/composer.tsx b/apps/web/src/spa/chat/composer.tsx
index 7bda88ef..696e8d1d 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/spa/chat/composer.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/spa/chat/composer.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { useState, type KeyboardEvent, type ReactElement } from 'react';
+import type { HarnessSelectionValue } from './use-harness-selection';
 
 interface ComposerProps {
   onSend: (input: { content: string; provider?: string; modelId?: string }) => void;
@@ -9,6 +10,23 @@ interface ComposerProps {
    * pre-ack window where a second send could otherwise slip through. */
   sending: boolean;
   hasConversation: boolean;
+  /** Structured harness/provider/model selection state. The composer never
+   * accepts free-text provider/model — every sendable tuple is a validated,
+   * persisted catalog entry, and the send projection is derived from it. */
+  harness: HarnessSelectionValue;
+}
+
+/** The distinct provider ids present in the current catalog, in first-seen
+ * order — the provider select is catalog-derived, never a hardcoded list. */
+function providerOptions(harness: HarnessSelectionValue): string[] {
+  const seen = new Set<string>();
+  const out: string[] = [];
+  for (const model of harness.catalog?.models ?? []) {
+    if (seen.has(model.providerId)) continue;
+    seen.add(model.providerId);
+    out.push(model.providerId);
+  }
+  return out;
 }
 
 export function Composer({
@@ -17,21 +35,19 @@ export function Composer({
   streaming,
   sending,
   hasConversation,
+  harness,
 }: ComposerProps): ReactElement {
   const [content, setContent] = useState('');
-  const [provider, setProvider] = useState('');
-  const [modelId, setModelId] = useState('');
   const busy = streaming || sending;
 
   function submit(): void {
     if (busy) return;
+    // Send is gated on a validated, persisted catalog tuple — a draft or unset
+    // selection can never emit, so provider/model never travel as free text.
+    if (!harness.canSend) return;
     const trimmed = content.trim();
     if (!trimmed) return;
-    onSend({
-      content: trimmed,
-      provider: provider.trim() || undefined,
-      modelId: modelId.trim() || undefined,
-    });
+    onSend({ content: trimmed, ...harness.projection });
     setContent('');
   }
 
@@ -42,6 +58,8 @@ export function Composer({
     }
   }
 
+  const models = harness.catalog?.models ?? [];
+
   return (
     <form
       onSubmit={(event) => {
@@ -51,21 +69,63 @@ export function Composer({
       className="flex flex-col gap-2 border-t p-4"
     >
       <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
-        <input
+        <select
+          aria-label="Harness"
+          value={harness.harnessId}
+          onChange={(event) => harness.selectHarness(event.target.value)}
+          className="rounded border px-2 py-1 text-xs"
+        >
+          <option value="">Select a harness…</option>
+          {harness.harnesses.map((item) => (
+            <option key={item.id} value={item.id}>
+              {item.displayName}
+            </option>
+          ))}
+        </select>
+        <select
           aria-label="Provider"
-          value={provider}
-          onChange={(event) => setProvider(event.target.value)}
-          placeholder="Provider (optional)"
+          value={harness.providerId}
+          onChange={(event) => harness.selectProvider(event.target.value)}
+          disabled={harness.catalogUnavailable || providerOptions(harness).length === 0}
           className="rounded border px-2 py-1 text-xs"
-        />
-        <input
+        >
+          <option value="">Select a provider…</option>
+          {providerOptions(harness).map((providerId) => (
+            <option key={providerId} value={providerId}>
+              {providerId}
+            </option>
+          ))}
+        </select>
+        <select
           aria-label="Model"
-          value={modelId}
-          onChange={(event) => setModelId(event.target.value)}
-          placeholder="Model (optional)"
+          value={harness.modelId}
+          onChange={(event) => harness.selectModel(event.target.value)}
+          disabled={harness.catalogUnavailable || models.length === 0}
           className="rounded border px-2 py-1 text-xs"
-        />
+        >
+          <option value="">Select a model…</option>
+          {models.map((model) => (
+            <option key={`${model.providerId}:${model.modelId}`} value={model.modelId}>
+              {model.displayName}
+            </option>
+          ))}
+        </select>
       </div>
+      {harness.catalogUnavailable ? (
+        <p role="status" className="text-xs opacity-70">
+          This harness catalog is currently unavailable.
+        </p>
+      ) : null}
+      {harness.isStale ? (
+        <p role="status" className="text-xs opacity-70">
+          The saved model is no longer available — pick another to continue.
+        </p>
+      ) : null}
+      {harness.persistError ? (
+        <p role="alert" className="text-xs">
+          {harness.persistError.message}
+        </p>
+      ) : null}
       <div className="flex items-end gap-2">
         <textarea
           aria-label="Message"
@@ -78,7 +138,7 @@ export function Composer({
         />
         <button
           type="submit"
-          disabled={!content.trim() || busy}
+          disabled={!content.trim() || busy || !harness.canSend}
           className="rounded px-3 py-2 text-sm font-medium"
         >
           Send
diff --git a/apps/web/src/spa/chat/runtime-guards.ts b/apps/web/src/spa/chat/runtime-guards.ts
index 2ea627bd..66efe9cd 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/spa/chat/runtime-guards.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/spa/chat/runtime-guards.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,14 @@
  * a non-array, `.toFixed` on a non-number) or render an object as a React
  * child.
  */
+import type {
+  HarnessAuthState,
+  HarnessCatalog,
+  HarnessCatalogEntry,
+  HarnessModelAvailability,
+  HarnessSelection,
+  HarnessSummary,
+} from '@/lib/types';
 
 export function asString(value: unknown, fallback = ''): string {
   return typeof value === 'string' ? value : fallback;
@@ -38,6 +46,99 @@ export function isRecord(value: unknown): value is Record<string, unknown> {
   return typeof value === 'object' && value !== null;
 }
 
+/**
+ * The HTTP harness/catalog/selection JSON bodies are as untrusted as the socket
+ * payloads above — a misbehaving or compromised gateway can send anything. The
+ * guards below normalize those bodies into the typed client shapes without ever
+ * rendering a raw body, so a 404/422/malformed response can never inject an
+ * object into React or a non-tuple into the selection state.
+ */
+
+/** Normalizes an untrusted `authState` to the closed set, defaulting to the
+ * safest value (`unavailable`) for anything unrecognized. */
+export function asHarnessAuthState(value: unknown): HarnessAuthState {
+  return value === 'ready' || value === 'auth_required' || value === 'unavailable'
+    ? value
+    : 'unavailable';
+}
+
+/** Normalizes an untrusted `availability` to the closed set, defaulting to
+ * `unavailable` so a malformed row can never present as sendable. */
+export function asHarnessAvailability(value: unknown): HarnessModelAvailability {
+  return value === 'available' ? 'available' : 'unavailable';
+}
+
+/** A tuple is valid only when all three ids are non-empty strings — a partial
+ * or malformed selection is rejected (null) rather than half-adopted. */
+export function asHarnessSelection(value: unknown): HarnessSelection | null {
+  if (!isRecord(value)) return null;
+  const harnessId = value.harnessId;
+  const providerId = value.providerId;
+  const modelId = value.modelId;
+  if (
+    typeof harnessId !== 'string' ||
+    typeof providerId !== 'string' ||
+    typeof modelId !== 'string' ||
+    harnessId.length === 0 ||
+    providerId.length === 0 ||
+    modelId.length === 0
+  ) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  return { harnessId, providerId, modelId };
+}
+
+/** Normalizes an untrusted array into typed harness summaries, dropping any row
+ * without a usable id. */
+export function asHarnessSummaries(value: unknown): HarnessSummary[] {
+  if (!Array.isArray(value)) return [];
+  const out: HarnessSummary[] = [];
+  for (const item of value) {
+    if (!isRecord(item)) continue;
+    const id = asString(item.id);
+    if (id.length === 0) continue;
+    out.push({
+      id,
+      displayName: asNonEmptyString(item.displayName, id),
+      capabilities: asStringArray(item.capabilities),
+    });
+  }
+  return out;
+}
+
+function asHarnessCatalogEntry(value: unknown): HarnessCatalogEntry | null {
+  const selection = asHarnessSelection(value);
+  if (selection === null || !isRecord(value)) return null;
+  return {
+    ...selection,
+    displayName: asNonEmptyString(value.displayName, selection.modelId),
+    reasoningCapability: value.reasoningCapability === true,
+    inputTypes: asStringArray(value.inputTypes),
+    authState: asHarnessAuthState(value.authState),
+    availability: asHarnessAvailability(value.availability),
+  };
+}
+
+/** Normalizes an untrusted catalog body into the typed client catalog. The
+ * caller supplies `harnessId` (from the request path) so the returned catalog
+ * is scoped to the harness that was actually requested, never a body-echoed id.
+ * Malformed model rows are dropped rather than invalidating the whole catalog. */
+export function asHarnessCatalog(value: unknown, harnessId: string): HarnessCatalog {
+  const record = isRecord(value) ? value : {};
+  const rawModels = Array.isArray(record.models) ? record.models : [];
+  const models: HarnessCatalogEntry[] = [];
+  for (const row of rawModels) {
+    const entry = asHarnessCatalogEntry(row);
+    if (entry !== null) models.push(entry);
+  }
+  return {
+    harnessId,
+    version: asString(record.version),
+    fingerprint: asString(record.fingerprint),
+    models,
+  };
+}
+
 /** The single point of truth for what counts as a valid conversation ID
  * anywhere a scoped server event may adopt one into state — a non-empty
  * string, nothing else. Every site that establishes or compares
diff --git a/apps/web/src/spa/chat/use-harness-selection.spec.tsx b/apps/web/src/spa/chat/use-harness-selection.spec.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c9050eb4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/web/src/spa/chat/use-harness-selection.spec.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,364 @@
+import { act, type ReactElement } from 'react';
+import { createRoot, type Root } from 'react-dom/client';
+import { afterAll, afterEach, beforeAll, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+import { useHarnessSelection, type HarnessSelectionValue } from './use-harness-selection';
+
+function json(body: unknown, status = 200): Response {
+  return new Response(JSON.stringify(body), {
+    status,
+    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+  });
+}
+
+interface Scenario {
+  harnesses?: unknown;
+  catalog?: { body: unknown; status?: number };
+  selection?: unknown;
+  /** When set, the PUT resolves only when this is called (for race tests). */
+  deferPut?: boolean;
+}
+
+interface Deferred<T> {
+  promise: Promise<T>;
+  resolve: (value: T) => void;
+}
+
+function defer<T>(): Deferred<T> {
+  let resolve!: (value: T) => void;
+  const promise = new Promise<T>((r) => {
+    resolve = r;
+  });
+  return { promise, resolve };
+}
+
+let putBodies: unknown[] = [];
+let putDeferred: Deferred<Response> | null = null;
+
+function installFetch(scenario: Scenario): ReturnType<typeof vi.fn> {
+  putBodies = [];
+  putDeferred = scenario.deferPut ? defer<Response>() : null;
+  const fetchMock = vi.fn(async (input: unknown, init?: RequestInit) => {
+    const url = String(input);
+    const method = String(init?.method ?? 'GET').toUpperCase();
+    if (url === '/api/harnesses') return json(scenario.harnesses ?? []);
+    if (url.startsWith('/api/harnesses/') && url.endsWith('/catalog')) {
+      const spec = scenario.catalog ?? {
+        body: { harnessId: 'pi', version: '1', fingerprint: 'f', models: [] },
+      };
+      return json(spec.body, spec.status ?? 200);
+    }
+    if (url === '/api/chat/preferences/selection' && method === 'GET') {
+      return json({ selection: scenario.selection ?? null });
+    }
+    if (url === '/api/chat/preferences/selection' && method === 'PUT') {
+      putBodies.push(JSON.parse(String(init?.body)));
+      const ok = json({ selection: JSON.parse(String(init?.body)) });
+      if (putDeferred) return putDeferred.promise;
+      return ok;
+    }
+    return new Response('not found', { status: 404 });
+  });
+  vi.stubGlobal('fetch', fetchMock);
+  return fetchMock;
+}
+
+let latest: HarnessSelectionValue | null = null;
+
+function Probe(): ReactElement | null {
+  latest = useHarnessSelection();
+  return null;
+}
+
+let root: Root | null;
+let container: HTMLElement;
+
+beforeAll(() => {
+  Object.defineProperty(globalThis, 'IS_REACT_ACT_ENVIRONMENT', {
+    configurable: true,
+    value: true,
+  });
+});
+
+afterAll(() => {
+  Reflect.deleteProperty(globalThis, 'IS_REACT_ACT_ENVIRONMENT');
+});
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  latest = null;
+  container = document.createElement('div');
+  document.body.append(container);
+  root = createRoot(container);
+});
+
+afterEach(async () => {
+  await act(async () => {
+    root?.unmount();
+  });
+  document.body.replaceChildren();
+  vi.unstubAllGlobals();
+});
+
+async function mount(): Promise<void> {
+  await act(async () => {
+    root?.render(<Probe />);
+  });
+  await flush();
+}
+
+async function flush(times = 5): Promise<void> {
+  for (let i = 0; i < times; i += 1) {
+    await act(async () => {
+      await Promise.resolve();
+    });
+  }
+}
+
+function value(): HarnessSelectionValue {
+  if (!latest) throw new Error('hook value not captured');
+  return latest;
+}
+
+const PI_CATALOG = {
+  harnessId: 'pi',
+  version: '2026-08-11',
+  fingerprint: 'fp',
+  models: [
+    {
+      harnessId: 'pi',
+      providerId: 'openai',
+      modelId: 'gpt-5',
+      displayName: 'GPT-5',
+      reasoningCapability: true,
+      inputTypes: ['text'],
+      authState: 'ready',
+      availability: 'available',
+    },
+    {
+      harnessId: 'pi',
+      providerId: 'anthropic',
+      modelId: 'claude',
+      displayName: 'Claude',
+      reasoningCapability: true,
+      inputTypes: ['text'],
+      authState: 'ready',
+      availability: 'available',
+    },
+  ],
+};
+
+describe('useHarnessSelection', () => {
+  it('loads harnesses and, once a harness is chosen, the model options come only from its catalog', async () => {
+    installFetch({
+      harnesses: [{ id: 'pi', displayName: 'Pi', capabilities: [] }],
+      catalog: { body: PI_CATALOG },
+      selection: null,
+    });
+    await mount();
+
+    expect(value().harnesses).toEqual([{ id: 'pi', displayName: 'Pi', capabilities: [] }]);
+    expect(value().catalog).toBeNull();
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      value().selectHarness('pi');
+    });
+    await flush();
+
+    expect(value().catalog?.harnessId).toBe('pi');
+    expect(value().catalog?.models.map((m) => m.modelId)).toEqual(['gpt-5', 'claude']);
+  });
+
+  it('does not auto-select any catalog row when there is no persisted selection (no first-row fallback)', async () => {
+    const fetchMock = installFetch({
+      harnesses: [{ id: 'pi', displayName: 'Pi', capabilities: [] }],
+      catalog: { body: PI_CATALOG },
+      selection: null,
+    });
+    await mount();
+    await act(async () => {
+      value().selectHarness('pi');
+    });
+    await flush();
+
+    expect(value().modelId).toBe('');
+    expect(value().persistedSelection).toBeNull();
+    expect(value().canSend).toBe(false);
+    // Nothing was persisted — no PUT fired for an unset selection.
+    const putCalls = fetchMock.mock.calls.filter(
+      (c) => String((c[1] as RequestInit)?.method).toUpperCase() === 'PUT',
+    );
+    expect(putCalls).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
+  it('persists the structured tuple and only enables send AFTER the PUT resolves (no race ahead of persistence)', async () => {
+    installFetch({
+      harnesses: [{ id: 'pi', displayName: 'Pi', capabilities: [] }],
+      catalog: { body: PI_CATALOG },
+      selection: null,
+      deferPut: true,
+    });
+    await mount();
+    await act(async () => {
+      value().selectHarness('pi');
+    });
+    await flush();
+    await act(async () => {
+      value().selectProvider('openai');
+    });
+    await act(async () => {
+      value().selectModel('gpt-5');
+    });
+    await flush();
+
+    // PUT is in flight (deferred) — send MUST NOT be enabled yet.
+    expect(value().canSend).toBe(false);
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      putDeferred?.resolve(
+        json({ selection: { harnessId: 'pi', providerId: 'openai', modelId: 'gpt-5' } }),
+      );
+    });
+    await flush();
+
+    expect(putBodies).toContainEqual({ harnessId: 'pi', providerId: 'openai', modelId: 'gpt-5' });
+    expect(value().persistedSelection).toEqual({
+      harnessId: 'pi',
+      providerId: 'openai',
+      modelId: 'gpt-5',
+    });
+    expect(value().canSend).toBe(true);
+    expect(value().projection).toEqual({ provider: 'openai', modelId: 'gpt-5' });
+  });
+
+  it('keeps a stale/unavailable persisted selection visibly displayed rather than silently dropping it', async () => {
+    installFetch({
+      harnesses: [{ id: 'pi', displayName: 'Pi', capabilities: [] }],
+      catalog: { body: PI_CATALOG },
+      selection: { harnessId: 'pi', providerId: 'openai', modelId: 'retired-model' },
+    });
+    await mount();
+
+    // The persisted tuple is displayed even though its model is gone from the catalog.
+    expect(value().persistedSelection).toEqual({
+      harnessId: 'pi',
+      providerId: 'openai',
+      modelId: 'retired-model',
+    });
+    expect(value().modelId).toBe('retired-model');
+    expect(value().isStale).toBe(true);
+    // A stale model is not a valid catalog option, so send stays disabled.
+    expect(value().canSend).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('disables send for an empty catalog (no viable model) and never fabricates one', async () => {
+    installFetch({
+      harnesses: [{ id: 'pi', displayName: 'Pi', capabilities: [] }],
+      catalog: { body: { harnessId: 'pi', version: '1', fingerprint: 'f', models: [] } },
+      selection: null,
+    });
+    await mount();
+    await act(async () => {
+      value().selectHarness('pi');
+    });
+    await flush();
+
+    expect(value().catalog?.models ?? []).toHaveLength(0);
+    expect(value().canSend).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('marks the catalog unavailable and disables send when the catalog request 404s', async () => {
+    installFetch({
+      harnesses: [{ id: 'pi', displayName: 'Pi', capabilities: [] }],
+      catalog: {
+        body: { code: 'adapter_unavailable', message: 'x', harnessId: 'pi' },
+        status: 404,
+      },
+      selection: null,
+    });
+    await mount();
+    await act(async () => {
+      value().selectHarness('pi');
+    });
+    await flush();
+
+    expect(value().catalogUnavailable).toBe(true);
+    expect(value().canSend).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('on a 422 persist, keeps the requested tuple visible, surfaces a typed error, and leaves send disabled', async () => {
+    installFetch({
+      harnesses: [{ id: 'pi', displayName: 'Pi', capabilities: [] }],
+      catalog: {
+        body: {
+          ...PI_CATALOG,
+          models: [{ ...PI_CATALOG.models[0], availability: 'unavailable' }],
+        },
+      },
+      selection: null,
+    });
+    // Override PUT to 422.
+    const fetchMock = vi.fn(async (input: unknown, init?: RequestInit) => {
+      const url = String(input);
+      const method = String(init?.method ?? 'GET').toUpperCase();
+      if (url === '/api/harnesses')
+        return json([{ id: 'pi', displayName: 'Pi', capabilities: [] }]);
+      if (url.endsWith('/catalog')) return json(PI_CATALOG);
+      if (url === '/api/chat/preferences/selection' && method === 'GET')
+        return json({ selection: null });
+      if (url === '/api/chat/preferences/selection' && method === 'PUT') {
+        return json(
+          {
+            code: 'model_unavailable',
+            message: 'nope',
+            selection: { harnessId: 'a', providerId: 'b', modelId: 'c' },
+          },
+          422,
+        );
+      }
+      return new Response('nf', { status: 404 });
+    });
+    vi.stubGlobal('fetch', fetchMock);
+
+    await mount();
+    await act(async () => {
+      value().selectHarness('pi');
+    });
+    await flush();
+    await act(async () => {
+      value().selectProvider('openai');
+    });
+    await act(async () => {
+      value().selectModel('gpt-5');
+    });
+    await flush();
+
+    expect(value().modelId).toBe('gpt-5');
+    expect(value().persistError?.code).toBe('model_unavailable');
+    expect(value().persistError?.requested).toEqual({
+      harnessId: 'pi',
+      providerId: 'openai',
+      modelId: 'gpt-5',
+    });
+    expect(value().persistedSelection).toBeNull();
+    expect(value().canSend).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('never requests any /api/providers* endpoint across the whole flow', async () => {
+    const fetchMock = installFetch({
+      harnesses: [{ id: 'pi', displayName: 'Pi', capabilities: [] }],
+      catalog: { body: PI_CATALOG },
+      selection: { harnessId: 'pi', providerId: 'openai', modelId: 'gpt-5' },
+    });
+    await mount();
+    await act(async () => {
+      value().selectProvider('anthropic');
+    });
+    await act(async () => {
+      value().selectModel('claude');
+    });
+    await flush();
+
+    for (const call of fetchMock.mock.calls) {
+      expect(String(call[0])).not.toContain('/api/providers');
+    }
+  });
+});
diff --git a/apps/web/src/spa/chat/use-harness-selection.ts b/apps/web/src/spa/chat/use-harness-selection.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..129726a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/web/src/spa/chat/use-harness-selection.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,206 @@
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+import {
+  fetchCatalog,
+  fetchHarnesses,
+  fetchPersistedSelection,
+  persistSelection,
+  type SelectionErrorCode,
+} from './chat-api';
+import type { HarnessCatalog, HarnessSelection, HarnessSummary } from '@/lib/types';
+
+export interface HarnessPersistError {
+  code: SelectionErrorCode;
+  message: string;
+  /** The exact tuple the user requested — preserved so the failed selection
+   * stays visible rather than being silently dropped. */
+  requested: HarnessSelection;
+}
+
+export interface HarnessSelectionValue {
+  harnesses: HarnessSummary[];
+  catalog: HarnessCatalog | null;
+  /** True when the selected harness has no usable catalog (404/error). */
+  catalogUnavailable: boolean;
+  /** The working (displayed) selection, kept as three distinct ids. Empty
+   * strings mean "not chosen yet" — there is deliberately no first-row default. */
+  harnessId: string;
+  providerId: string;
+  modelId: string;
+  /** The last tuple confirmed persisted by the server, or null. */
+  persistedSelection: HarnessSelection | null;
+  /** True when a persisted selection references a model no longer present as an
+   * available catalog entry — it stays visibly displayed rather than dropped. */
+  isStale: boolean;
+  /** True ONLY once a full tuple has been confirmed persisted AND it is a
+   * currently-available catalog entry. Send stays disabled otherwise, so a send
+   * can never race ahead of successful persistence. */
+  canSend: boolean;
+  persistError: HarnessPersistError | null;
+  selectHarness: (harnessId: string) => void;
+  selectProvider: (providerId: string) => void;
+  selectModel: (modelId: string) => void;
+  /** The compatibility `{provider, modelId}` projection for the legacy socket
+   * send path — derived ONLY from the validated persisted tuple, never from any
+   * free-text or unpersisted draft. Empty when nothing is sendable. */
+  projection: { provider?: string; modelId?: string };
+}
+
+/** A tuple is a currently-usable catalog option only when the catalog holds a
+ * matching, available entry — the single gate that keeps a stale/unavailable
+ * model from ever counting as sendable. */
+function isAvailableInCatalog(
+  selection: HarnessSelection | null,
+  catalog: HarnessCatalog | null,
+): boolean {
+  if (selection === null || catalog === null) return false;
+  return catalog.models.some(
+    (model) =>
+      model.providerId === selection.providerId &&
+      model.modelId === selection.modelId &&
+      model.availability === 'available',
+  );
+}
+
+function tuplesEqual(a: HarnessSelection | null, b: HarnessSelection | null): boolean {
+  if (a === null || b === null) return a === b;
+  return a.harnessId === b.harnessId && a.providerId === b.providerId && a.modelId === b.modelId;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Owns the harness/catalog/selection state for the chat composer: loads the
+ * harness list and any persisted tuple on mount, loads a harness's catalog when
+ * chosen, and PUT-persists the full `{harnessId, providerId, modelId}` tuple
+ * when a model is picked. It never auto-selects a catalog row, keeps a
+ * stale/unavailable persisted tuple visible, and only reports `canSend` true
+ * once a full tuple has actually persisted as an available catalog entry.
+ */
+export function useHarnessSelection(): HarnessSelectionValue {
+  const [harnesses, setHarnesses] = useState<HarnessSummary[]>([]);
+  const [catalog, setCatalog] = useState<HarnessCatalog | null>(null);
+  const [catalogUnavailable, setCatalogUnavailable] = useState(false);
+  const [harnessId, setHarnessId] = useState('');
+  const [providerId, setProviderId] = useState('');
+  const [modelId, setModelId] = useState('');
+  const [persistedSelection, setPersistedSelection] = useState<HarnessSelection | null>(null);
+  const [persistError, setPersistError] = useState<HarnessPersistError | null>(null);
+
+  // Monotonic request ids so a slow in-flight catalog/persist response can never
+  // overwrite the result of a newer request the user has since triggered.
+  const catalogRequestRef = useRef(0);
+  const persistRequestRef = useRef(0);
+
+  const loadCatalog = useCallback(async (id: string): Promise<void> => {
+    const requestId = catalogRequestRef.current + 1;
+    catalogRequestRef.current = requestId;
+    setCatalog(null);
+    setCatalogUnavailable(false);
+    const result = await fetchCatalog(id);
+    if (catalogRequestRef.current !== requestId) return;
+    if (result.ok) {
+      setCatalog(result.catalog);
+      setCatalogUnavailable(false);
+    } else {
+      setCatalog(null);
+      setCatalogUnavailable(true);
+    }
+  }, []);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let active = true;
+    void (async (): Promise<void> => {
+      const [list, persisted] = await Promise.all([fetchHarnesses(), fetchPersistedSelection()]);
+      if (!active) return;
+      setHarnesses(list);
+      if (persisted !== null) {
+        // Adopt the persisted tuple as the displayed selection and load its
+        // catalog. If the model has since been retired, it still shows (stale).
+        setHarnessId(persisted.harnessId);
+        setProviderId(persisted.providerId);
+        setModelId(persisted.modelId);
+        setPersistedSelection(persisted);
+        await loadCatalog(persisted.harnessId);
+      }
+      // No persisted selection → nothing is auto-selected; the user must choose.
+    })();
+    return () => {
+      active = false;
+    };
+  }, [loadCatalog]);
+
+  const selectHarness = useCallback(
+    (id: string): void => {
+      setHarnessId(id);
+      // Changing harness invalidates the provider/model draft — never carry a
+      // model across harnesses.
+      setProviderId('');
+      setModelId('');
+      setPersistError(null);
+      void loadCatalog(id);
+    },
+    [loadCatalog],
+  );
+
+  const selectProvider = useCallback((id: string): void => {
+    setProviderId(id);
+    // A new provider invalidates the chosen model — no cross-provider carryover.
+    setModelId('');
+    setPersistError(null);
+  }, []);
+
+  const selectModel = useCallback(
+    (id: string): void => {
+      setModelId(id);
+      setPersistError(null);
+      // Persist the FULL tuple — harness + provider come from the current draft
+      // (this callback closes over the latest ids), the model is the pick.
+      const requested: HarnessSelection = { harnessId, providerId, modelId: id };
+      const requestId = persistRequestRef.current + 1;
+      persistRequestRef.current = requestId;
+      void (async (): Promise<void> => {
+        const result = await persistSelection(requested);
+        if (persistRequestRef.current !== requestId) return;
+        if (result.ok) {
+          setPersistedSelection(result.selection);
+          setPersistError(null);
+        } else {
+          // Leave persistedSelection unchanged (send stays disabled) and surface
+          // the typed error carrying the exact requested tuple.
+          setPersistError({
+            code: result.code,
+            message: result.message,
+            requested: result.requested,
+          });
+        }
+      })();
+    },
+    [harnessId, providerId],
+  );
+
+  const draft: HarnessSelection = { harnessId, providerId, modelId };
+  const isStale = persistedSelection !== null && !isAvailableInCatalog(persistedSelection, catalog);
+  const canSend =
+    persistedSelection !== null &&
+    !catalogUnavailable &&
+    tuplesEqual(draft, persistedSelection) &&
+    isAvailableInCatalog(persistedSelection, catalog);
+  const projection: { provider?: string; modelId?: string } = canSend
+    ? { provider: persistedSelection.providerId, modelId: persistedSelection.modelId }
+    : {};
+
+  return {
+    harnesses,
+    catalog,
+    catalogUnavailable,
+    harnessId,
+    providerId,
+    modelId,
+    persistedSelection,
+    isStale,
+    canSend,
+    persistError,
+    selectHarness,
+    selectProvider,
+    selectModel,
+    projection,
+  };
+}
diff --git a/apps/web/src/spa/pages/chat.spec.tsx b/apps/web/src/spa/pages/chat.spec.tsx
index 3806564b..6279fc8f 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/spa/pages/chat.spec.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/spa/pages/chat.spec.tsx
@@ -38,6 +38,76 @@ function findButton(container: HTMLElement, text: string): HTMLButtonElement {
   return button;
 }
 
+function jsonResponse(body: unknown, status = 200): Response {
+  return new Response(JSON.stringify(body), {
+    status,
+    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+  });
+}
+
+const DEFAULT_CATALOG = {
+  harnessId: 'pi',
+  version: '2026-08-11',
+  fingerprint: 'fp',
+  models: [
+    {
+      harnessId: 'pi',
+      providerId: 'openai',
+      modelId: 'gpt-5',
+      displayName: 'GPT-5',
+      reasoningCapability: true,
+      inputTypes: ['text'],
+      authState: 'ready',
+      availability: 'available',
+    },
+    {
+      harnessId: 'pi',
+      providerId: 'anthropic',
+      modelId: 'claude',
+      displayName: 'Claude',
+      reasoningCapability: true,
+      inputTypes: ['text'],
+      authState: 'ready',
+      availability: 'available',
+    },
+  ],
+};
+
+/** A harness/catalog/selection HTTP stub for the chat-api the selection hook
+ * drives. `selection` seeds the persisted tuple returned by the GET (a valid
+ * in-catalog tuple by default, so `canSend` settles true after mount). */
+function harnessFetch(
+  selection: unknown = { harnessId: 'pi', providerId: 'openai', modelId: 'gpt-5' },
+): typeof fetch {
+  return vi.fn(async (input: unknown, init?: RequestInit) => {
+    const url = String(input);
+    const method = String(init?.method ?? 'GET').toUpperCase();
+    if (url === '/api/harnesses') {
+      return jsonResponse([{ id: 'pi', displayName: 'Pi', capabilities: [] }]);
+    }
+    if (url.startsWith('/api/harnesses/') && url.endsWith('/catalog')) {
+      return jsonResponse(DEFAULT_CATALOG);
+    }
+    if (url === '/api/chat/preferences/selection' && method === 'GET') {
+      return jsonResponse({ selection });
+    }
+    if (url === '/api/chat/preferences/selection' && method === 'PUT') {
+      return jsonResponse({ selection: JSON.parse(String(init?.body)) });
+    }
+    return new Response('not found', { status: 404 });
+  }) as unknown as typeof fetch;
+}
+
+/** Drains the selection hook's chained mount fetches (harnesses → selection →
+ * catalog) and any pending PUT so derived `canSend` settles before assertions. */
+async function flushAsync(times = 5): Promise<void> {
+  for (let i = 0; i < times; i += 1) {
+    await act(async () => {
+      await Promise.resolve();
+    });
+  }
+}
+
 let fake: ReturnType<typeof createFakeChatSocket>;
 let root: Root | null;
 let container: HTMLElement;
@@ -57,12 +127,16 @@ beforeEach(async () => {
   fake = createFakeChatSocket();
   getSocketMock.mockReset().mockReturnValue(fake.socket);
   destroySocketMock.mockReset();
+  vi.stubGlobal('fetch', harnessFetch());
   container = document.createElement('div');
   document.body.append(container);
   root = createRoot(container);
   await act(async () => {
     root?.render(<ChatPage />);
   });
+  // Settle the selection hook's mount fetches so the default in-catalog tuple
+  // persists and `canSend` is true for the existing send-path tests.
+  await flushAsync();
 });
 
 afterEach(async () => {
@@ -70,8 +144,23 @@ afterEach(async () => {
     root?.unmount();
   });
   document.body.replaceChildren();
+  vi.unstubAllGlobals();
 });
 
+/** Re-mounts ChatPage against a custom fetch stub (e.g. an unset selection) for
+ * tests that need a non-default selection scenario. */
+async function remountWithFetch(fetchImpl: typeof fetch): Promise<void> {
+  await act(async () => {
+    root?.unmount();
+  });
+  vi.stubGlobal('fetch', fetchImpl);
+  root = createRoot(container);
+  await act(async () => {
+    root?.render(<ChatPage />);
+  });
+  await flushAsync();
+}
+
 describe('ChatPage', () => {
   it('streams agent:text and agent:thinking, shows tool status, and finalizes on agent:end with usage', async () => {
     await act(async () => {
@@ -390,24 +479,57 @@ describe('ChatPage', () => {
     expect(container.querySelector('[role="alert"]')).toBeTruthy();
   });
 
-  it('sends a message with optional provider/model fields and emits abort from the Stop control', async () => {
+  it('renders harness and provider as separate selects (not merged) and no free-text provider/model inputs', async () => {
+    // The old free-text inputs are gone.
+    expect(container.querySelector('input[aria-label="Provider"]')).toBeNull();
+    expect(container.querySelector('input[aria-label="Model"]')).toBeNull();
+
+    const harnessSelect = container.querySelector(
+      'select[aria-label="Harness"]',
+    ) as HTMLSelectElement;
+    const providerSelect = container.querySelector(
+      'select[aria-label="Provider"]',
+    ) as HTMLSelectElement;
+    const modelSelect = container.querySelector('select[aria-label="Model"]') as HTMLSelectElement;
+    expect(harnessSelect).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(providerSelect).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(modelSelect).toBeTruthy();
+    // Harness and provider are distinct controls carrying distinct identifiers.
+    expect(harnessSelect).not.toBe(providerSelect);
+    expect([...harnessSelect.options].map((o) => o.value)).toContain('pi');
+    expect([...providerSelect.options].map((o) => o.value)).toContain('openai');
+    expect([...providerSelect.options].map((o) => o.value)).toContain('anthropic');
+    // The model options are catalog-derived, not hardcoded provider models.
+    expect([...modelSelect.options].map((o) => o.value)).toEqual(
+      expect.arrayContaining(['gpt-5', 'claude']),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('sends provider/model derived from the persisted catalog tuple (never free text) and emits abort from Stop', async () => {
     const textarea = container.querySelector(
       'textarea[aria-label="Message"]',
     ) as HTMLTextAreaElement;
-    const providerInput = container.querySelector(
-      'input[aria-label="Provider"]',
-    ) as HTMLInputElement;
-    const modelInput = container.querySelector('input[aria-label="Model"]') as HTMLInputElement;
 
     const stopButtonBefore = container.querySelector(
       'button[aria-label="Stop"]',
     ) as HTMLButtonElement;
     expect(stopButtonBefore.disabled).toBe(true);
 
+    // Choose a fresh tuple from the catalog and let it persist.
+    const providerSelect = container.querySelector(
+      'select[aria-label="Provider"]',
+    ) as HTMLSelectElement;
+    await act(async () => {
+      selectValue(providerSelect, 'anthropic');
+    });
+    const modelSelect = container.querySelector('select[aria-label="Model"]') as HTMLSelectElement;
+    await act(async () => {
+      selectValue(modelSelect, 'claude');
+    });
+    await flushAsync();
+
     await act(async () => {
       setValue(textarea, 'hello there');
-      setValue(providerInput, 'anthropic');
-      setValue(modelInput, 'claude');
     });
     await act(async () => {
       textarea.dispatchEvent(
@@ -415,6 +537,7 @@ describe('ChatPage', () => {
       );
     });
 
+    // The projected provider/model come from the validated persisted tuple.
     expect(fake.emitted).toContainEqual({
       event: 'message',
       payload: {
@@ -443,6 +566,28 @@ describe('ChatPage', () => {
     expect(fake.emitted).toContainEqual({ event: 'abort', payload: { conversationId: 'c1' } });
   });
 
+  it('disables send until a selection has persisted — no send with an unset selection', async () => {
+    await remountWithFetch(harnessFetch(null));
+
+    const sendButton = findButton(container, 'Send');
+    const textarea = container.querySelector(
+      'textarea[aria-label="Message"]',
+    ) as HTMLTextAreaElement;
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      setValue(textarea, 'should not send');
+    });
+    // Content present, but no selection persisted → Send stays disabled.
+    expect(sendButton.disabled).toBe(true);
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      textarea.dispatchEvent(
+        new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'Enter', bubbles: true, cancelable: true }),
+      );
+    });
+    expect(fake.emitted.filter((e) => e.event === 'message')).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
   it('renders the session panel from a pre-ack session:info and keeps it visible after the later ack', async () => {
     const textarea = container.querySelector(
       'textarea[aria-label="Message"]',
diff --git a/apps/web/src/spa/pages/chat.tsx b/apps/web/src/spa/pages/chat.tsx
index 1a26fa82..8bf09ce4 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/spa/pages/chat.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/spa/pages/chat.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { asFiniteNumberOrNull, asString } from '@/spa/chat/runtime-guards';
 import { SessionPanel } from '@/spa/chat/session-panel';
 import { ToolCallList } from '@/spa/chat/tool-call-list';
 import { useChatConnection } from '@/spa/chat/use-chat-connection';
+import { useHarnessSelection } from '@/spa/chat/use-harness-selection';
 
 /** Renders a real value normally, but an honest "unavailable" label instead
  * of a fabricated `0` for a missing/malformed count — a real `0 tokens` and
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ function formatCost(value: unknown): string {
 
 export function ChatPage(): ReactElement {
   const { state, actions } = useChatConnection();
+  const harness = useHarnessSelection();
   const hasConversation = state.conversationId !== null;
 
   return (
@@ -86,6 +88,7 @@ export function ChatPage(): ReactElement {
         streaming={state.streaming}
         sending={state.sending}
         hasConversation={hasConversation}
+        harness={harness}
       />
     </div>
   );