Strategic review of Data Licensing

Background

Registers of Scotland (RoS) is undertaking a strategic review of its current data licensing position as part of its ambition to maximise the value of the data it holds.

RoS currently delivers a range of statutory and commercial data products to a diverse customer base, including citizens, public sector bodies, and commercial organisations. This breadth of demand has led to an increasing need to develop scalable and sustainable data products.

The development of these products is shaped by existing licensing arrangements, including the Public Sector Geospatial Agreement (PSGA) and Postal Address File (PAF) frameworks. These define the terms under which data can be used, reused, and shared, particularly where third-party data is integrated with RoS datasets.

RoS is seeking specialist support to work with existing RoS departments to define a data strategy that reflects the organisation’s current and future priorities.

Purpose of this Notice

This notice is issued to engage with the market and identify organisations with expertise in public sector data licensing, data commercialisation, and governance.

The feedback received will inform the scope, structure, and requirements of a potential future procurement exercise.

Scope of Potential Requirement

RoS is seeking a partner to provide expertise and support in the following areas covering both current and future activity.

1. Review of Current Licensing Landscape

Assess RoS’s current licensing arrangements, including PSGA, PAF, and other third party agreements

Identify constraints, risks, and opportunities in the current model

Advise on how existing frameworks can be leveraged to support data products and services while ensure statutory obligations remain paramount

1. Definition of Data Principles

Support RoS in developing clear data principles covering:

Data sharing and reuse

Commercialisation and monetisation

Transparency, fairness, and public value

Ensure alignment with public sector obligations, corporate objectives and customer expectations

1. Recommendations and Implementation Roadmap

Provide actionable, practical recommendations for:

Optimising the use of RoS data

Enabling new data products and services

Managing licensing risks and compliance

Clear options, trade-offs, and decision frameworks to support senior decision-making

Develop an implementation roadmap that RoS can deliver internally

1. Capability and Skills Development

Identify the organisational skills, roles, and capabilities required to:

Sustain data commercialisation

Govern data and licensing frameworks effectively

Recommend approaches to embed these capabilities within RoS operations

Key Context for Suppliers

RoS operates within a complex licensing environment, particularly where third party data is embedded in its products

There is a tension between legacy licensing models and ambitions for more open, scalable data products, which has been identified as a systemic issue

RoS is exploring different strategic options, including changes to licensing arrangements and potential use of external partners to support commercialisation

Market Engagement

RoS invites expressions of interest from organisations with experience in:

Public sector data licensing and governance

Data commercialisation and product development

Navigating complex multi party licensing frameworks

Supporting organisations to unlock the value of their data assets

Responses to this notice will help shape the design of any future procurement.