---
title: "Request for Information - Content thread removal service"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000588473"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000588473"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000588473.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000588473.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT"
published: "2019-06-21"
---

# Request for Information - Content thread removal service

Buyer: SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000588473

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000588473)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000588473.json)

## Summary

The Scottish Government is preparing a tender for a Content Threat Removal Service, aimed at building a technology platform capable of detecting and removing malicious content from digital data. This project is part of their Digital Services provision intended for use by Social Security Scotland. The procurement is currently in the planning stage, with a future notice expected on 30 August 2019. The service is expected to support critical functions including data transfer and content upload, with indicative contracts commencing in Summer 2019 and lasting at least one year. The procurement process follows the guidelines of the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) and is classified under the CPV code for software-related services.

This tender presents significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in digital services, cybersecurity, and IT solutions. Companies experienced in developing content management systems or threat detection technologies would be particularly well-suited to compete for this contract. The engagement in this project not only offers the chance to contribute to public sector safeguards but also to establish long-term relationships with the Scottish Government and its associated agencies, fostering ongoing collaboration in the realm of digital security.

## Notice

As part of our Digital Services provision, the SSS requires to build and support a technology platform which can detect and remove malicious content from digital content for the following use cases: (1) Upload of content by citizens or third parties during the benefit applications process (2) Transfer of data between SSS and third-parties or government departments. This Content Threat Removal Service will contribute to the design of supporting systems to facilitate The Scottish Government in delivering valued services safely. This is a Request for Information and is to attain indicative costs and learning options only, this is document does not create, obligate or guarantee a contract or framework agreement.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Following devolvement of powers over a range of disability benefits to the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Act 2016, the Scottish Government is looking to provide support to the development of Scotland's Social Security Agency. As part of our Digital Services provision, the SSS requires to build and support a technology platform which can detect and remove malicious content from digital content for the following use cases: (1) Upload of content by citizens or third parties during the benefit applications process (2) Transfer of data between SSS and third-parties or government departments. This Content Threat Removal Service will contribute to the design of supporting systems to facilitate The Scottish Government in delivering valued services safely. It is anticipated that contracts for the Content Threat Removal Service will commence in Summer 2019 and run continuously for a minimum of 1 year, with the possibility of a contract extension for a further year. (This is only indicative, Scottish Government reserves the right to change or amend the term). This is a Request for Information and is to attain indicative costs and learning options only, this is document does not create, obligate or guarantee a contract or framework agreement. Social Security Scotland (SSS) is currently reviewing options to provide a technology platform which will scan and prevent files containing malicious content from being imported to SSS Digital Platforms over various channels including public-facing web portals, file transfer traffic, web services traffic, and email. Proposed technical controls should include: 1. Enforcement of uni-directional flow control to ensure data only flows one way through our channels. 2. Enforcement of a protocol break which terminates the network connection and application protocol, with the connection being re-built at a later stage to prevent protocol based attacks. 3. Transformation engine which processes an object with a complex data format (e.g. Microsoft Office document) into a simple format, removes unwanted content such as active code (e.g. macros or scripts), rendering the malicious code ineffective, and then re-builds the object back into its original format for onward transfer to the destination. 4. Syntactic verification of content to ensure the structure and syntax of an object are correct (e.g. content is valid XML or JSON which conforms to a specified schema). Verification components should ensure all potentially active content has been removed. Digital content in scope include but are not limited to: Productivity documents (e.g. Microsoft Office or Adobe PDF documents) Image files - multiple formats Audio files - multiple formats Video files - multiple formats XML/JSON files

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN358038 |
| Notice type | PCS Notice - Website Prior Information Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 21 Jun 2019 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 30 Aug 2019 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT |
| Locality | EDINBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH6 6QQ |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM13 City of Edinburgh |
| Local authority | City of Edinburgh |
| Electoral ward | Leith |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh North and Leith |
| Delivery location | TLM Scotland |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 72222300 - Information technology services
- 72267100 - Maintenance of information technology software

## Release History

- 21 Jun 2019 at 00:00 - Planning - PCS Notice - Website Prior Information Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN358038

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=JUN358038&idx=1
  21st June 2019 - Request for information - Content threat removal services
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN358038
  Request for Information - Content thread removal service - As part of our Digital Services provision, the SSS requires to build and support a technology platform which can detect and remove malicious content from digital content for the following use cases: (1) Upload of content by citizens or third parties during the benefit applications process (2) Transfer of data between SSS and third-parties or government departments. This Content Threat Removal Service will contribute to the design of supporting systems to facilitate The Scottish Government in delivering valued services safely. This is a Request for Information and is to attain indicative costs and learning options only, this is document does not create, obligate or guarantee a contract or framework agreement.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.scotland.gov.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000588473
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=588473

## 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-r6ebe6-0000588473. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000588473.json.