Tender

How can technology help people overcome barriers to accessing key online services?

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

01 Oct 2025 at 11:39

Summary of the contracting process

The Scottish Government is currently inviting tenders for a project titled "How can technology help people overcome barriers to accessing key online services?" This procurement process focuses on innovative IT services within the industry category of consulting, software development, Internet, and support. Aimed at addressing digital inclusion, it particularly seeks solutions for individuals with limited digital skills or confidence, residing within the UK. The tender is at the stage of submission, with an open procedure and the closing date for submissions set on 29th October 2025. Interested parties are encouraged to submit electronically, and the tender's total estimated value is £1,000,000.

This tender provides an excellent opportunity for businesses focused on technology solutions, particularly those specialising in user-centred design for digital services. Companies that excel in creating innovative solutions for education, financial tools, or general online service accessibility would be well suited to compete. Participating in this tender could stimulate business growth by partnering with a key government authority, potentially expanding market presence while contributing to solving societal challenges. The involvement in CivTech’s accelerator program further enhances the potential for business growth by helping develop scalable solutions that could be marketed globally.

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Notice Title

How can technology help people overcome barriers to accessing key online services?

Notice Description

Despite the success of programmes such as Connecting Scotland, many individuals still struggle to access essential services because of low digital skills, limited confidence, or a lack of access to devices and connectivity. This Challenge seeks innovative, user-centred solutions that focus on people who may have some access to devices or connectivity but face barriers in using digital services safely and effectively. Proposals should address varied user needs, helping individuals engage with services including financial tools, education and employment. Connectivity and devices matter - but skills and confidence are critical to unlocking meaningful digital inclusion.

Lot Information

Lot 1

About CivTech CivTech's mission is to drive daring and innovation in the public sector by collaboratively solving Challenges that make people's lives better - and in doing so create generations of sustainable, high growth businesses. CivTech brings together public sector expertise and private sector innovation to solve real problems, develop new products, and deliver better, faster and easier services for everyone. Central to the approach is co-production with the citizen. Part of the Scottish Government's Digital Directorate, CivTech's approach is helping transform public sector engagement with tech and innovation, delivering significant benefits to public services, producing genuine uplifts for the Scottish economy - and along the way, making lives better. Across the country there are problems public sector organisations would like to solve and in the current environment the need for smart, efficient and effective products has never been greater. The Scottish Government is aware innovation is a good way to create them and is committed to ensuring a large part of its tech spend goes to innovative businesses - whatever stage they're at, or size they are.. This is where CivTech comes in. The CivTech Innovation Flow is designed to create products as quickly and effectively as possible, and uses a true Accelerator model at the heart of its Innovation Flow model. For you - whether you're an individual, team or company - it's an opportunity to take on a Challenge, solve it, and win contracts with a blue-chip public sector organisation. You'll build a product, and a business to take it as far as possible. Because here's the kicker: the Challenges we issue aren't 'single organisation' problems - most of the problems we are solving exist worldwide. In short: Open Challenges are set. Any organisation, team or individual can respond. Applications are assessed, and shortlisted proposals go into an Exploration Stage where they're developed further together with the Challenge Sponsor and the CivTech [for which participating applicants are paid]. The best go through to the Accelerator - a period of intensive work to create the solution, and through CivTech's unique business growth workshop system, a business capable of taking the product to the world. Please visit our website for information on CivTech and how to get involved: https://www.civtech.scot/civtech-11-challenge-9-overcoming-barriers-to-accessing-key-online-services https://www.civtech.scot/how-to-apply-civtech-11

Renewal: This contract can be extended if required

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05a5df
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061301-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

30 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages

48 - Software package and information systems

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

30000000 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages

48740000 - Foreign language translation software package

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

72600000 - Computer support and consultancy services

75000000 - Administration, defence and social security services

80000000 - Education and training services

80400000 - Adult and other education services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,000,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
29 Oct 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
Contact Name
Erin Crawford
Contact Email
erin.crawford@gov.scot
Contact Phone
+44 412425466

Buyer Location

Locality
GLASGOW
Postcode
G2 8LU
Post Town
Glasgow
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM3 West Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM32 Glasgow City
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Glasgow City
Electoral Ward
Anderston/City/Yorkhill
Westminster Constituency
Glasgow North

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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