CivTech 12.1 – How can digital technologies assist people living with substance use issues (and their families/friends) to easily connect with trusted help and substance use support when services are unavailable?

The University of Strathclyde has published a £650,000 CivTech innovation opportunity seeking digital solutions that can help people living with substance use issues, alongside their families and friends, connect with trusted support when conventional services are unavailable.

The challenge forms part of CivTech 12 and focuses on improving access to substance use support across Scotland, particularly outside normal service hours or when people are located some distance from existing provision.

The procurement highlights a fragmented support landscape that can be difficult to navigate and varies between different areas of Scotland. Where appropriate support is unavailable or not trusted, people may turn to emergency services or remain without assistance, potentially allowing situations to escalate before support is accessed.

The challenge therefore seeks innovative digital approaches capable of connecting people with appropriate support sooner, regardless of their location.

The CivTech Challenge

The procurement is linked to Scotland’s Preventing Harm, Promoting Recovery: Scotland’s Alcohol & Drugs Strategic Plan 2026–2035 and its focus on early intervention and widening an individual’s “circle of support”.

A successful solution should make better use of existing trusted services, families and communities to improve access to support while reducing avoidable pressure on emergency and NHS services.

The challenge also identifies the potential for solutions to create a feedback loop capable of generating learning, intelligence and insight to support continued improvement.

CivTech uses an innovation model that brings public sector organisations together with businesses, teams and individuals to develop solutions to public service challenges.

Applications are assessed before shortlisted proposals progress into an Exploration Stage, where concepts are developed further with CivTech and the Challenge Sponsor. Participating applicants are paid during this stage.

The strongest proposals can subsequently progress to the CivTech Accelerator, where the solution is developed further alongside support intended to help participants build a sustainable business around the resulting product.

Contract Information

Buyer: University of Strathclyde

Deadline: 20 October 2026 at 12:00pm

Contract Value: £650,000 excluding VAT

Delivery Length: 24 months, with extensions potentially available where required to deliver the work

Tender Link: Click here

Evaluation Criteria

The procurement will be evaluated on:

• Technical – 100%
• Price – 0%

Variants will not be accepted.

Tenderers must also maintain their submissions for six months from the tender deadline.

Who Can Apply?

CivTech states that its Open Challenges can receive responses from organisations, teams or individuals.

The programme is designed to combine public sector expertise with private sector innovation, with co-production with citizens forming a central part of its approach.

The requirement covers research and development services and related consultancy, with additional procurement classifications covering information technology services and addiction treatment.

Specific CQC or other care-sector regulatory registration requirements are not disclosed within the procurement information provided.

The opportunity represents a significant digital health and social care innovation challenge, with the potential to improve how people affected by substance use access trusted support across Scotland, particularly at times when traditional services are unavailable.

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