✓Tender information last checkedLast checked 19 Oct 2026, 18:56.
Opportunity overview
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.
Classification
CPV73000000 — Research and development services and related consultancy services
Published notice details
Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.
Scope, procedure and submissions
Id
ocds-h6vhtk-06f499
Main Procurement Category
services
Legal basis
Id
32014L0024
Scheme
CELEX
Classification
Scheme
CPV
Id
73000000
Description
Research and development services and related consultancy services
Amendments
Entry 1
Id
1
Description
Deadline for responses extended due to PCS website outage preventing access.
2 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.
2 VERSIONS
1
084917-2026tender ·
2
098694-2026tenderUpdate ·
PROCURAAXIS ANALYSIS
ProcuraAxis Analysis
Our approved analysis of the opportunity appears below the official tender information.
ANALYSIS PREVIEW
Opportunity intelligence at a glance
Scottish Government is seeking an innovative technology solution to streamline secure information sharing in existing Inter-Agency Referral Discussions (IRDs), reducing fragmented systems, manual work and delays in child-protection decision-making across Scotland. The notice is open and states a submission deadline of 20 October 2026, 12:00 BST.
Who this may suit
Potential fit for technology providers with evidenced capability in secure multi-agency information sharing and real-time data solutions. Specific technical, security, commercial and eligibility conditions are not supplied.
Key points identified
Secure information sharingSolution must enable secure, streamlined multi-agency information sharing for the existing IRD process.Evidence: “enable secure streamlined multi-agency information sharing for the existing IRD process”
Real-time dataSolution must provide real-time local and national data.Evidence: “providing real-time local and national data to improve child protection outcomes across Scotland”
IRD process focusThe solution is intended for Inter-Agency Referral Discussions used for child safeguarding decisions.Evidence: “Scotland’s child protection system relies on Inter-Agency Referral Discussions (IRDs) to make timely safeguarding decisions for children”
91% approved-analysis confidence4 supplier criteria identified3 risks or unknowns
ProcuraAxis structures information found in published procurement records, checks the result for consistency and publishes only approved analysis. Confidence describes the completeness and consistency of the available source information; it is not a guarantee of eligibility or contract award.
Scottish Government is seeking an innovative technology solution to streamline secure information sharing in existing Inter-Agency Referral Discussions (IRDs), reducing fragmented systems, manual work and delays in child-protection decision-making across Scotland. The notice is open and states a submission deadline of 20 October 2026, 12:00 BST.
Who this may suit
Potential fit for technology providers with evidenced capability in secure multi-agency information sharing and real-time data solutions. Specific technical, security, commercial and eligibility conditions are not supplied.
Key deliverables
Innovative solution supporting secure, streamlined multi-agency information sharing for the existing IRD process
Real-time local and national data to improve child-protection outcomes
SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS
4 criteria identified
Secure information sharing
98% confidence
Solution must enable secure, streamlined multi-agency information sharing for the existing IRD process.
View supporting evidence
“enable secure streamlined multi-agency information sharing for the existing IRD process”
Real-time data
98% confidence
Solution must provide real-time local and national data.
View supporting evidence
“providing real-time local and national data to improve child protection outcomes across Scotland”
IRD process focus
97% confidence
The solution is intended for Inter-Agency Referral Discussions used for child safeguarding decisions.
View supporting evidence
“Scotland’s child protection system relies on Inter-Agency Referral Discussions (IRDs) to make timely safeguarding decisions for children”
Eligibility requirements
96% confidence
Unknown; no eligibility, organisation-size, insurance or accreditation conditions are supplied.
View supporting evidence
No eligibility conditions are stated in the supplied notice content.
COMMERCIAL AND DELIVERY
Contract intelligence
Commercial
Maximum value
99% confidence
Up to £650,000.
View supporting evidence
value_max: 650000; currency: GBP
Minimum value
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
value_min is null.
Contract term
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
contract_start_at and contract_end_at are null.
Delivery
Geographic scope
96% confidence
Scotland.
View supporting evidence
“improve child protection outcomes across Scotland”
Delivery timetable
98% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No contract start, end or delivery milestones are supplied.
PROCEDURE
How to respond
Status
99% confidence
Open.
View supporting evidence
display_status: open
Procedure
99% confidence
Open procedure.
View supporting evidence
procurement_method_details: Open procedure
Submission deadline
99% confidence
20 October 2026, 12:00 BST.
View supporting evidence
submission_deadline: 2026-10-20T12:00:00+01:00
Notice type
99% confidence
Tender update.
View supporting evidence
notice_type: tenderUpdate
RISKS AND UNKNOWNS
Points requiring attention
Detailed procurement conditions unavailable
98% confidence
No tender documents, technical specification, evaluation criteria, data-protection conditions, integration requirements, contract term or eligibility requirements were supplied.
View supporting evidence
documents: []; contract_start_at and contract_end_at are null; no such conditions appear in the supplied description.
Sensitive information context
96% confidence
The requirement concerns child-protection information sharing; however, specific security standards, data-protection obligations and assurance requirements are unknown.
View supporting evidence
“protecting children in Scotland from harm” and “secure streamlined multi-agency information sharing”
Partner participation uncertainty
99% confidence
The National Social Work Agency is identified as “TBC”.
View supporting evidence
“The Scottish Government, Police Scotland and the National Social Work Agency (TBC)”
ProcuraAxis analysis supplements, but does not replace, the original notice and tender documents. Always verify eligibility, deadlines and commercial terms with the issuing authority.
Continue in your ProcuraAxis workspaceFree account · Full approved analysis