--- title: "CivTech 7 - Challenge 7.5 - How might technology help match British Sign Language (BSL) users and their required interpreters more easily and equitably?" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0341da" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0341da" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0341da.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0341da.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT" published: "2022-05-31" --- # CivTech 7 - Challenge 7.5 - How might technology help match British Sign Language (BSL) users and their required interpreters more easily and equitably? Buyer: SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0341da [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0341da) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0341da.json) ## Summary The Scottish Government is currently conducting a tender process titled "CivTech 7 - Challenge 7.5," which aims to improve the booking system for British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters. This active tender falls within the Research and Development Services category (CPV code: 73000000), with a total contract value of £350,000. The tender is set to close on 28 June 2022, following an exploration stage that takes place from 15 August to 2 September 2022, and an Accelerator Stage from 3 October 2022 to 28 January 2023. The procurement method is an open procedure, allowing electronic submissions via the Public Contracts Scotland platform, where bidders must prepare their documents in advance of the deadline. This tender presents a significant opportunity for innovative businesses, particularly those focused on technology solutions that enhance accessibility and communication for BSL users. Companies with expertise in IT services, consulting, software development, or interpretation services would be particularly well-suited to compete, especially if they can demonstrate an ability to create efficient systems and improve the user experience for both interpreters and the BSL community. The Scottish Government’s commitment to fostering small, innovative enterprises means that this tender not only promotes collaboration but also encourages sustainable business growth across relevant sectors. ## Notice Booking British Sign Language interpreters is of vital importance for BSL users, enabling them to be included and effectively participate in the workplace, social events and more. However, BSL users commonly cite an issue around low availability of interpreters. A review commissioned by the Scottish Government in 2019 uncovered evidence that this is often not based on interpreters being unavailable, but instead that current booking systems do not facilitate efficient or effective use of interpreter time. There is currently a fragmented community of BSL users, freelance interpreters and agencies with no market solution in place to support collaboration to address the issues faced by BSL users. Please visit our website for information on CivTech and how to get involved: https://www.civtech.scot/how-to-apply https://www.civtech.scot/selection-process ### Lot Information Lot 1 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 smaller, innovative businesses. 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 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 which runs from the 15th of August to the 2nd of September 2022, where they are then developed further [and 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 workshop system, a business capable of taking the product to the world. The Accelerator Stage will run from the 3rd of October 2022 to the 28th of January 2023. Please visit our website for information on CivTech and how to get involved: https://www.civtech.scot/how-to-apply https://www.civtech.scot/selection-process Renewal: Contract extensions may be required to complete the work ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015156-2022 | | 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 | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 31 May 2022 | | Submission deadline | 28 Jun 2022 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £350,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT | | Locality | GLASGOW | | Post town | Glasgow | | Postcode | G2 8EA | | Country | Scotland | | ITL 1 | TLM Scotland | | ITL 2 | TLM3 West Central Scotland | | ITL 3 | TLM32 Glasgow City | | Local authority | Glasgow City | | Electoral ward | Anderston/City/Yorkhill | | Westminster constituency | Glasgow North | | Delivery location | TLM Scotland | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support - 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services - 79540000 - Interpretation services ## Release History - 31 May 2022 at 09:47 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015156-2022 ## Notice URLs - http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363 - http://www.scotland.gov.uk - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000695084 - https://www.civtech.scot/how-to-apply - https://www.civtech.scot/selection-process - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=695084 - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10482 - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0341da. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0341da.json.