Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Scottish Government
5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw
Glasgow
G2 8LU
Contact
Andy Scott
Telephone
+44 1412420133
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM - Scotland
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10482
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
CivTech 10 - Wildcard Challenge 10.10 - How can technology help make teachers’ workload be more manageable, enabling them to focus on the activities that add the most value to learners’ outcomes?
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Teachers play a pivotal role in not just the education of children and young people but in the wider communities they are part of. This role has become increasingly evident throughout the recovery from the Covid 19 pandemic however this has also placed significant additional pressures on teachers. This challenge is seeking to explore ways in which technology could support a reduction in workload, allowing teachers to focus their time on the activities which make the biggest contribution to outcomes for learners.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £600,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80100000 - Primary education services
- 80200000 - Secondary education services
- 79600000 - Recruitment services
- 39162000 - Educational equipment
- 39162100 - Teaching equipment
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance
Edinburgh
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
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 where they’re developed further [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.
Please visit our website for information on CivTech and how to get involved:
https://www.civtech.scot/how-to-apply-civtech-10
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 100
Price - Weighting: 0
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2024/S 000-024625
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
27 June 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 37
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 36
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 3
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 33
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 37
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
HelpFirst
41 Dordrecht Rd
London
W3 7TF
Telephone
+44 7932047197
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £600,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The contract will be Novated to a new company at the commencement of the contract - new company is Trellis Education Ltd, incorporated under the Companies Acts in England (registered number 16500654) and having its registered office at 41 Dordrecht Road, London W3 7TF
(SC Ref:803324)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
Country
United Kingdom