---
title: "CivTech 12.5 - How can technology support multi agency processes for the protection of children in Scotland?"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000842314"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000842314"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000842314.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000842314.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "Scottish Government"
published: "2026-09-08"
---

# CivTech 12.5 - How can technology support multi agency processes for the protection of children in Scotland?

Buyer: Scottish Government  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000842314

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000842314)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000842314.json)

## Summary

The Scottish Government is procuring an innovative technology service to improve Inter-Agency Referral Discussions (IRDs), the multi-agency safeguarding process used to make timely decisions about children at risk in Scotland. The requirement is intended to replace fragmented IT systems, manual processes and local records with secure, streamlined information sharing between agencies and local authorities. It also seeks real-time local and national data to improve child protection outcomes and reduce administrative work. The challenge is sponsored by the Scottish Government, Police Scotland and the National Social Work Agency, with the latter identified as subject to confirmation. Delivery is across Scotland. This is a public-sector digital and data service opportunity, classified under CPV 73000000, with related information technology service classifications 48810000 and 72000000.

The procurement has reached tender: the buyer invited offers through an open procedure, with electronic submission in English. It comprises one lot under the CivTech innovation flow, which includes application assessment, an Exploration Stage and possible progression to an Accelerator. The submission deadline and bid opening are both 20 October 2026 at 12:00 UTC. The contract period is 720 days, with possible extensions required to deliver the work. Its estimated value is £650,000 including the single lot. Bids must remain valid for 180 days. Evaluation is based entirely on technical quality, weighted at 100%; price carries 0%. Electronic payment and ordering will be used, and electronic invoicing is allowed.

This opportunity suits technology businesses, specialist teams and individual innovators able to develop and deliver secure systems for multi-agency information sharing. Strong candidates will be able to integrate fragmented systems and local records, support timely safeguarding workflows, and provide reliable real-time reporting at local and national level. Relevant capability includes secure data architecture, interoperability, workflow design, analytics and user-centred service development, particularly where solutions can be co-produced with public-sector professionals and citizens. Experience of child protection, social care, policing or other sensitive public services would be well aligned with the challenge. CivTech is designed to work with organisations at different stages and sizes, including businesses developing a product with wider commercial potential.

## Notice

This Challenge presents an exciting opportunity to make a positive difference in protecting children in Scotland from harm, an area of the highest priority for the Scottish Cabinet and partners. Scotland's child protection system relies on Inter-Agency Referral Discussions (IRDs) to make timely safeguarding decisions for children (over 17,000 IRDs took place during 2024-25). IRDs are effective and work well as a process, however they are currently supported by fragmented IT systems, manual processes and localised records. This results in duplication, delays, and barriers to information sharing across agencies and local authorities. These inefficiencies increase administrative burden, reducing time available for direct support to children and families. The Scottish Government, Police Scotland and the National Social Work Agency (TBC) are seeking innovative solutions that will enable secure streamlined multi-agency information sharing for the existing IRD process, as well as providing real-time local and national data to improve child protection outcomes across Scotland.

### 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-5-supporting-multiagency-processes-for-the-protection-of-children-in-Scotland

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

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP564054 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 8 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 20 Oct 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £650,000 |
| Lots value | £650,000 |
| 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 | EDINBURGH |
| Postcode area | 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

- 48 - Software package and information systems
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 48810000 - Information systems
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 8 Sep 2026 at 01:00 - Tender - OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP564054

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP564054
  CivTech 12.5 - How can technology support multi agency processes for the protection of children in Scotland? - This Challenge presents an exciting opportunity to make a positive difference in protecting children in Scotland from harm, an area of the highest priority for the Scottish Cabinet and partners. Scotland's child protection system relies on Inter-Agency Referral Discussions (IRDs) to make timely safeguarding decisions for children (over 17,000 IRDs took place during 2024-25). IRDs are effective and work well as a process, however they are currently supported by fragmented IT systems, manual processes and localised records. This results in duplication, delays, and barriers to information sharing across agencies and local authorities. These inefficiencies increase administrative burden, reducing time available for direct support to children and families. The Scottish Government, Police Scotland and the National Social Work Agency (TBC) are seeking innovative solutions that will enable secure streamlined multi-agency information sharing for the existing IRD process, as well as providing real-time local and national data to improve child protection outcomes across Scotland.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=842314
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx
- http://www.scotland.gov.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000842314
- https://www.civtech.scot/civtech-12-challenge-5-supporting-multiagency-processes-for-the-protection-of-children-in-Scotland
- https://www.civtech.scot/how-to-apply-civtech-12
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/

## 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-r6ebe6-0000842314. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000842314.json.