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CivTech 12.1 - How can digital technologies assist people living with substance use issues (and their families/friends) to easily connect with trusted help and substance use support when services are unavailable?

University of Strathclyde

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

08 Sep 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Strathclyde is buying digital technology services to help people living with substance-use issues, and their families and friends, connect with trusted help when support services are unavailable. The challenge addresses fragmented and uneven access to support across Scotland, including help needed outside normal office hours or away from service offices. The intended solution should help people reach appropriate support sooner, regardless of locality, while making use of trusted services, families and communities. It should support early, harm-reducing intervention, reduce avoidable escalation to emergency and NHS services, and potentially create a feedback loop that improves services through shared learning and insight. The work is delivered across Scotland and is classified as information technology services and health-related services.

The procurement has reached tender: the buyer invited offers through an open procedure, submitted electronically. The single lot has an estimated value of £650,000 excluding any stated currency conversion, with a contract period of 720 days and possible extensions where required to deliver the work. Bids had to be submitted by 20 October 2026 at 12:00 UTC; bids were opened at that time, with evaluation scheduled from 20 October 2026. Offers must remain valid for 180 days and be in English. Evaluation is based entirely on technical quality, with no price weighting. Variants are not allowed. The arrangement uses electronic ordering and electronic payment, while electronic invoicing is permitted. The contract is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement.

This opportunity suits digital product companies, start-ups, small businesses, university spin-outs, individual innovators and multidisciplinary teams able to design and test accessible support technology. Strong candidates will understand substance-use issues, harm reduction, recovery services, public or community health, and the needs of families and friends seeking help. Relevant capability includes user research, co-production with citizens, service design, digital platforms, trusted signposting, remote or out-of-hours access, data-informed improvement and links with existing support providers. The challenge is suited to suppliers that can work collaboratively with public-sector and frontline organisations, turn an early concept into a usable product, and develop a sustainable business around it. Technical quality is decisive, so evidence of practical innovation, user-centred delivery and credible implementation will be important.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

CivTech 12.1 - How can digital technologies assist people living with substance use issues (and their families/friends) to easily connect with trusted help and substance use support when services are unavailable?

Notice Description

Scotland has the highest drug and alcohol related death rates in the UK and Europe. People with substance use issues (PWSUI) often need help outside normal 'office' hours or from a distance from offices, and support is not uniformly available throughout Scotland. The support landscape in Scotland is fragmented, hard to navigate, and varies by locality. When support isn't readily available (or isn't trusted), people and their families and friends often default to emergency services or remain unsupported. As a result, those who use substances often experience avoidable crisis escalation, or remain in extremely difficult situations, and support services miss opportunities for early, harm-reducing interventions. The Preventing Harm, Promoting Recovery: Scotland's Alcohol & Drugs Strategic Plan 2026 - 2035 specifically addresses the crucial need to tackle early intervention and widen an individual's 'circle of support'. This 'circle of support' is at the heart of this Challenge, and a successful solution would enable people to access the right support sooner, regardless of locality. It should harness the power of existing trusted services, family and community to reduce avoidable demand on emergency and NHS services - and if possible, create a 'feedback loop' of learning, intelligence and insight so that the overall issue can be tackled in a continually improving manner.

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 Directorate for Digital, 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/how-to-apply-civtech-12 https://www.civtech.scot/civtech-12-challenge-1-connected-support-for-people-affected-by-substance-use

Renewal: Extensions may be required in order to deliver this work

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000842316
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP564038
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

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

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

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

33693300 - Addiction treatment

72222300 - Information technology services

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£650,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£650,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
20 Oct 20262 months to go
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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
University of Strathclyde
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
GLASGOW
Postcode
G1 1QE
Postcode Area
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
TLM Scotland
Local Authority
Glasgow City
Electoral Ward
Anderston/City/Yorkhill
Westminster Constituency
Glasgow North East

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP564038
    CivTech 12.1 - How can digital technologies assist people living with substance use issues (and their families/friends) to easily connect with trusted help and substance use support when services are unavailable? - Scotland has the highest drug and alcohol related death rates in the UK and Europe. People with substance use issues (PWSUI) often need help outside normal 'office' hours or from a distance from offices, and support is not uniformly available throughout Scotland. The support landscape in Scotland is fragmented, hard to navigate, and varies by locality. When support isn't readily available (or isn't trusted), people and their families and friends often default to emergency services or remain unsupported. As a result, those who use substances often experience avoidable crisis escalation, or remain in extremely difficult situations, and support services miss opportunities for early, harm-reducing interventions. The Preventing Harm, Promoting Recovery: Scotland's Alcohol & Drugs Strategic Plan 2026 - 2035 specifically addresses the crucial need to tackle early intervention and widen an individual's 'circle of support'. This 'circle of support' is at the heart of this Challenge, and a successful solution would enable people to access the right support sooner, regardless of locality. It should harness the power of existing trusted services, family and community to reduce avoidable demand on emergency and NHS services - and if possible, create a 'feedback loop' of learning, intelligence and insight so that the overall issue can be tackled in a continually improving manner.

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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