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How can technology help people overcome barriers to accessing key online services?

Scottish Government

Buyer Contact Info

Buyer Name: Scottish Government

Buyer Address: 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, UKM, G2 8LU

Contact Name: Sarah Galloway

Contact Email: sarah.galloway2@gov.scot

Status
active
Procedure
open
Value
1000000.0 GBP
Published
01 Oct 2025, 00:00
Deadline
29 Oct 2025, 12:00
Contract Start
n/a
Contract End
n/a
Category
services
CPV
72600000
Region
n/a
Awarded To
n/a
Official Source
Open Public Contracts Scotland

Description

Despite the success of programmes such as Connecting Scotland, many individuals still struggle to access essential services because of low digital skills, limited confidence, or a lack of access to devices and connectivity. This Challenge seeks innovative, user-centred solutions that focus on people who may have some access to devices or connectivity but face barriers in using digital services safely and effectively. Proposals should address varied user needs, helping individuals engage with services including financial tools, education and employment. Connectivity and devices matter - but skills and confidence are critical to unlocking meaningful digital inclusion.

Linked Documents

Some PCS documents require login and recording interest on the source portal before download links are available.

No linked documents found for this notice.

Opportunity Context

More Information Links

External Link: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT540356

Link Title: How can technology help people overcome barriers to accessing key online services?

Link Description: Despite the success of programmes such as Connecting Scotland, many individuals still struggle to access essential services because of low digital skills, limited confidence, or a lack of access to devices and connectivity. This Challenge seeks innovative, user-centred solutions that focus on people who may have some access to devices or connectivity but face barriers in using digital services safely and effectively. Proposals should address varied user needs, helping individuals engage with services including financial tools, education and employment. Connectivity and devices matter - but skills and confidence are critical to unlocking meaningful digital inclusion.

Lots

Lot Description: 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 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 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/civtech-11-challenge-9-overcoming-barriers-to-accessing-key-online-services https://www.civtech.scot/how-to-apply-civtech-11

Lot 1 Status: active

Lot 1 Has Options: No

Lot 1 Value: GBP 1,000,000.00

Lot 1 Award Criterion (quality): Quality

Documents

Document Title: How can technology help people overcome barriers to accessing key online services?

Document Description: Despite the success of programmes such as Connecting Scotland, many individuals still struggle to access essential services because of low digital skills, limited confidence, or a lack of access to devices and connectivity. This Challenge seeks innovative, user-centred solutions that focus on people who may have some access to devices or connectivity but face barriers in using digital services safely and effectively. Proposals should address varied user needs, helping individuals engage with services including financial tools, education and employment. Connectivity and devices matter - but skills and confidence are critical to unlocking meaningful digital inclusion.

Document Title: CivTech 11 - Accelerator Terms and Conditions Template - Multiple Sponsor Version - Oct 2025

Document Title: CivTech 11 - Application Form - Oct 2025

Document Title: CivTech 11 - Application Scorecard - Oct 2025

Document Title: CivTech 11 - Exploration Terms and Conditions Template - Multiple Sponsor Version - Oct 2025

Document Title: CivTech 11 - PCS - Grounds for Mandatory Exclusion relating to Criminal Convictions - Oct 2025

Document Title: CivTech 11 - PCS - Instructions for Submitting Proposals - Oct 2025

Document Title: CivTech 11 - PCS Advert - Challenge 11.9 - Scottish Government, Connecting Scotland - Oct 2025

Document Title: Amended document-the exploration Stage duration is two weeks, not three.

Document Title: Amended document to correct Exploration Stage duration.

Document Title: CivTech 11 - PCS - Q&A Recording Information - Challenge 11.9 - 15 October 2025

Document Title: Reinstated the drafting note & admin error to Clause 8.1

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