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 00:00

Summary of the contracting process

The Scottish Government has initiated an open procurement process for a tender titled "How can technology help people overcome barriers to accessing key online services?" This contract seeks innovative technological solutions to improve digital inclusivity across services such as finance, education, and employment by addressing the challenges faced by individuals with low digital skills or limited access to necessary devices. With a substantial budget of £1,000,000 GBP, this service procurement falls within the general public services category. The contracting process is currently in the tender stage, having started on 1st October 2025, with the submission deadline set for 29th October 2025 at 12:00. Proposals are to be submitted electronically, and the contract win could contribute to meaningful improvements in public sector services across the UK.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in technology and digital services, particularly those with a focus on user-centred design and innovative product development. Startups and established companies alike can benefit from engaging in this project not only through potential financial gain but also by building a portfolio demonstrating capability in providing solutions to complex socio-digital challenges. The open procedure allows for a broad range of participants, making it ideal for agile companies capable of producing high-quality technological interventions. Moreover, the success of this project could lead to further opportunities within the Scottish public sector and potentially abroad, given the universal nature of the problems being addressed through the CivTech initiative.

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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-r6ebe6-0000811725
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT540356
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F2 - Contract 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
Bob McLeod
Contact Email
bob.mcleod@gov.scot
Contact Phone
+44 1312442500

Buyer Location

Locality
ABERDEEN
Postcode
AB11 9DB
Post Town
Aberdeen
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM5 North Eastern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Aberdeen City
Electoral Ward
Torry/Ferryhill
Westminster Constituency
Aberdeen South

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT540356
    How can technology help people overcome barriers to accessing key online services? - 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.

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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