---
title: "Digital Support Services for the Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000731528"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000731528"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000731528.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000731528.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT"
published: "2025-05-07"
---

# Digital Support Services for the Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate

Buyer: SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000731528

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## Summary

The Scottish Government, based in Edinburgh, has advanced to the award stage of its procurement process for "Digital Support Services for the Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate". This contract, amounting to £95 million, was awarded to Version 1 Solutions Limited on 14 April 2025. The project lies within the general public services industry category and encompasses services procurement. The focus is on supporting, maintaining, enhancing, and modernising digital services critical to the Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate, impacting locations within the UK region, specifically Edinburgh, with identified delivery to Saughton House, Edinburgh. The procurement method was a restricted procedure, and the process supports seamless integration of new digital innovations until 2027 and beyond, while ensuring continuity and improvement of existing digital services crucial for RS&P's operations.

This procurement presents significant business growth opportunities, notably for large enterprises experienced with digital service provision across government bodies. The requirement for a supplier who can provide scalable access to resources and collaborate in blended teams with Scottish Government staff offers opportunities for companies capable of agile, dynamic project delivery. Moreover, the emphasis on incorporating digital innovations aligns with businesses focused on future-proofing public services through technology. Companies recognised for quality, compliance, and the ability to deliver substantial digital integration projects, particularly those with a robust track record in managing complex IT systems in public sectors, are well-suited to thrive in bidding for associated or future related tenders. Community benefits like internships, work experiences, and digital skills training further appeal to organisations with a commitment to social value and development within Scotland.

## Notice

The primary requirement is for the Service Provider to work in partnership, primarily with the Purchaser, to ensure that reliable, secure and up to date services continue to be delivered. The Service Provider will support existing services as well as any new services that come into the production environment during the life of this contract. The contract will focus on the support, maintenance, upgrading and enhancement of current services. Any major new service designs and developments are likely to be subject to separate contractual arrangements, but this contract will have scope for some new development work should that be the practical and cost-effective approach. This contract must allow flexibility for the Purchaser to access the right resources, with the right skills, at the right time. The intention at the outset is the Service Provider will be required to provide scalable access to resources by supplementing in-house staff and other specialist services predominantly in blended teams to ensure efficient and effective system maintenance, support, enhancement and modernisation activities. Work will be led by the Purchaser joined by Service Provider staff working in blended teams. The Purchaser has found that working in blended teams in recent years has been successful and wishes to retain this practice as its underpinning model and continue to drive flexibility and efficiencies in its ways of working. The Service Provider will likely be required to deliver some end-to-end projects during the life of the contract, working to Scottish Government agreed standards and practices. The Service Provider will be required to provide resources and services that have the capability, flexibility and responsiveness required. The ability to scale up, scale down and potentially swap out based on emerging requirements and technology is vital.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate (ARE) within Scottish Government is responsible for supporting Scotland's sustainable economic growth in agriculture, the food industry and in rural areas. ARE delivers a broad range of essential payments and support services to rural customers across Scotland. There are a variety of schemes that benefit the rural sector both economically and environmentally. These are explained in significant detail on the Rural Payments and Services website. They are almost totally dependent on digital services and technologies to ensure that claims for subsidies, grants and support under several schemes are delivered in a timely, accurate and compliant way. This ensures farmers, crofters and land managers across Scotland receive the payments which they are entitled to and, overall, the Scottish Government fulfils its legal obligations and delivers its policy intentions. The main Rural Payments and Services (RP&S) Digital Platform is highly complex due to the significant level of accuracy in land measurement and associated actions that it needs to work to. It was specifically designed to apply the EU CAP regulations, often in great detail, based on a technical architecture that was first defined in 2012. Other technologies and services that predate the main Platform still form a vital part of the overall solution, and there have been some newer services introduced that are based on the latest technologies and approaches available. There is a triple imperative: 1. The Purchaser will be continuing to modernise and improve the complete technical architecture that underpins the services; 2. The Purchaser will be continuing to adapt the existing support schemes and introduce new ones that will deliver the desired outcomes for agriculture, the environment, biodiversity and the rural economy; 3. The Purchaser will be continuing to apply digital thinking and innovation to exploit technologies and provide customer-centred, reliable, secure and cost-effective services. Change cannot be allowed to negatively impact the current business. Using the Rural Payments and Services (RP&S) Digital Platform and supporting Digital systems, Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID), from 18 offices throughout Scotland, processes payments of around 600 million GBP annually to customers, to the benefit of Scotland's rural communities and the rural economy. The platform processes 36,000 types of claims per year for about 20,000 customers (representing 46,000 registered businesses) and has well over 99% availability to customers 24/7, 365 days a year. RPID is now making payments quicker than ever before. The primary focus of the Purchaser through this contract is the retiral, maintenance and enhancement of the current services, but also extending them and integrating them as appropriate in order to benefit from digital innovations. When new features are developed they will become "business as usual" and must be kept reliable and secure. The Climate Change and Environment Emergency is front and centre of the Government's policy and ARE has a leading role in setting and delivering Climate Change related targets. ARE has published its Vision for Agriculture and Scotland's Agricultural Reform Route Map which together set out how Scotland as a leader in sustainable and regenerative farming will be delivered. The Agriculture Reform Programme has been established to implement change. It is vital that services are reliable, secure and fully maintained as these now policies and approaches are implemented. Prospective Service Providers need to be aware that the changes and new services that are introduced through the ARP need to be seamlessly transitioned into current live services during the course of the Programme through to 2027 and beyond.. Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: Option to extend the contract, at the Purchaser's discretion by 4 x 12 month periods

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY529820 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Restricted procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 7 May 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 3 May 2024 |
| Future notice date | 31 Aug 2023 |
| Award date | 14 Apr 2025 |
| Contract period | 28 Mar 2025 - 29 Sep 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £95,000,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £95,000,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Active |

## 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 |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | VERSION 1 SOLUTIONS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 72267100 - Maintenance of information technology software

## Release History

- 7 May 2025 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY529820
- 1 May 2024 at 00:00 - TenderUpdate - OJEU - F14 - Corrigendum - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY504267
- 2 Apr 2024 at 00:00 - Tender - OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR502184
- 10 May 2023 at 00:00 - Planning - OJEU - F1 - Prior Information Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY478157

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=MAY478157&idx=5
  10th July 2023 - Answers to questions raised during the Supplier Engagement Day on 30th May 2023.
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=MAY478157&idx=4
  16th June 2023 - Supplier Engagement Event - 30th May 2023 - Recording Link
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=MAY478157&idx=3
  31st May 2023 - Presentation used on the day of the event.
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=MAY478157&idx=1
  10th May 2023 - Digital Support Services for Rural Payments and Support - Engagement Event - Registration Details
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=MAY478157&idx=2
  10th May 2023 - Provision of Digital Support Services for Rural Payments and Support - Further Information Links
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY478157
  Provision of Digital Support Services for Rural Payments and Support - The primary requirement of the procurement is to appoint a supplier to work in partnership and supplement in-house resources and other specialist services in blended teams to ensure efficient and effective system maintenance, support, modernisation and enhancement. There will be scope for completely new developments that will require to be integrated with existing services. Working in blended teams in recent years has been successful so ARE wishes to retain this practice and continue to drive flexibility and efficiencies in our ways of working. However, there may also be a requirement for the supplier to deliver end-to-end projects during the life of the contract, working to Scottish Government agreed standards and practices. Capability, flexibility and responsiveness are key in terms of the resources and services that are required. The ability to scale up, scale down and potentially swap out based on emerging requirements and technology is vital. Support will not only cover support for our existing services, but also the services that are under development during the lifetime of the contract.
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR502184
  Digital Support Services for the Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate - The primary requirement is to put in place a contract for a Service Provider to work in partnership, primarily with the Purchaser, to ensure that reliable, secure and up to date services continue to be delivered. The Service Provider will support existing services as well as any new services that come into the production environment during the life of this contract. The contract will focus on the support, maintenance, upgrading and enhancement of current services. Any major new service designs and developments are likely to be subject to separate contractual arrangements, but this contract will have scope for some new development work should that be the practical and cost-effective approach. This contract must allow flexibility for the Purchaser to access the right resources, with the right skills, at the right time. The intention at the outset is the Service Provider will be required to provide scalable access to resources by supplementing in-house staff and other specialist services predominantly in blended teams to ensure efficient and effective system maintenance, support, enhancement and modernisation activities. Work will be led by the Purchaser joined by Service Provider staff working in blended teams. The Purchaser has found that working in blended teams in recent years has been successful and wishes to retain this practice as its underpinning model and continue to drive flexibility and efficiencies in its ways of working. The Service Provider will likely be required to deliver some end-to-end projects during the life of the contract, working to Scottish Government agreed standards and practices. The Service Provider will be required to provide resources and services that have the capability, flexibility and responsiveness required. The ability to scale up, scale down and potentially swap out based on emerging requirements and technology is vital.
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY529820
  Digital Support Services for the Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate - The primary requirement is for the Service Provider to work in partnership, primarily with the Purchaser, to ensure that reliable, secure and up to date services continue to be delivered. The Service Provider will support existing services as well as any new services that come into the production environment during the life of this contract. The contract will focus on the support, maintenance, upgrading and enhancement of current services. Any major new service designs and developments are likely to be subject to separate contractual arrangements, but this contract will have scope for some new development work should that be the practical and cost-effective approach. This contract must allow flexibility for the Purchaser to access the right resources, with the right skills, at the right time. The intention at the outset is the Service Provider will be required to provide scalable access to resources by supplementing in-house staff and other specialist services predominantly in blended teams to ensure efficient and effective system maintenance, support, enhancement and modernisation activities. Work will be led by the Purchaser joined by Service Provider staff working in blended teams. The Purchaser has found that working in blended teams in recent years has been successful and wishes to retain this practice as its underpinning model and continue to drive flexibility and efficiencies in its ways of working. The Service Provider will likely be required to deliver some end-to-end projects during the life of the contract, working to Scottish Government agreed standards and practices. The Service Provider will be required to provide resources and services that have the capability, flexibility and responsiveness required. The ability to scale up, scale down and potentially swap out based on emerging requirements and technology is vital.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.scotland.gov.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000731528
- https://www.dnb.co.uk/about-us/our-analytics/predictors-scores-ratings/scores-ratings.html
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
- https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/court-locations/edinburgh-sheriff-court-and-justice-of-the-peace-court

## 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-r6ebe6-0000731528. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000731528.json.