How to apply for the TSS (Tech-and-GO!): a step-by-step walkthrough
Most agencies we speak to don't fall at the funding hurdle because they're ineligible. They fall because the application feels like a maze — a portal they've never logged into, a list of documents written in acronyms, and no clear sense of what happens after they hit submit.
It's more navigable than it looks. This is a plain-English walkthrough of how a Singapore social service agency applies for the Transformation Sustainability Scheme (TSS) — the funding that was previously delivered through Tech-and-GO! — from the prerequisites to the documents you'll need at each stage.1
One thing first: this walkthrough is about the process. For the funding amounts — the up-to-80% co-funding rate and the caps on each of the three Parts — see our companion guide, how Singapore charities can fund digitalisation. Here, we'll assume you've decided the scheme is worth a look and you want to know how to actually apply.
Before you start: three prerequisites
You can save yourself a false start by confirming all three of these are in place before you open the portal.1
- You're eligible. The scheme is open to NCSS members and MSF-funded agencies. If you're unsure of your status, that's a question for NCSS directly.
- Your OHFSS assessment is valid. NCSS requires applicants to have a valid Organisational Health Framework for Social Services (OHFSS) assessment. If you've never done one — or yours may have lapsed — start there; we explain it in our OHFSS guide.
- You have a project in mind. A specific problem to solve, and a sense of whether it's a consultancy engagement, a bespoke build, or a pre-scoped solution like a CRM. NCSS calls these Parts A, B, and C.
The walkthrough, step by step
Confirm your eligibility and OHFSS status
Check that you're an NCSS member or MSF-funded agency, and that your OHFSS assessment is current. For non pre-scoped projects (Parts A and B), NCSS also requires agencies to complete organisational health diagnostics before they can receive funding — so build that in early rather than discovering it late.1
Decide which Part fits your project
Part A is consultancy and project implementation; Part B is a bespoke build (custom portals, AI chatbots, and the like); Part C is a pre-scoped or "Green Lane" solution such as a CRM or HR system. The Part you choose shapes which documents you'll need and whether organisational health diagnostics apply. The funding guide breaks down the caps for each.1
Scope the project and get a vendor quotation
A vendor quotation is one of the documents required at application. A strong one names the deliverables, milestones, and support terms — it gives the assessor something concrete. Ask any vendor to put outcomes in writing; if they won't, keep looking. This is also where a clear, measurable problem statement pays off.
Complete the organisational health diagnostics (Parts A & B)
For projects that aren't pre-scoped, NCSS requires agencies to complete organisational health diagnostics (the OHDS) to receive funding. This is separate from the OHFSS report itself. If you're applying under Part C for a pre-scoped solution, confirm what applies to your case on the official page.1
Submit through the OurSG Grants portal
Applications go through the OurSG Grants (OSG) portal. Like other government grant portals, organisational access is via Corppass, so make sure the right person in your agency has the access to apply on its behalf. At this stage NCSS lists the required documents as: a valid OHFSS report, a vendor quotation, and a completed OHDS (Parts A and B).12
On approval: sign and submit the vendor agreement
If your application is approved, NCSS lists a signed vendor agreement as the document required at this stage — plus proof of employment if you're claiming headcount support under Part A. Approval, and any conditions attached to it, are NCSS's decision.1
On completion: report back
When the project is done, NCSS lists an OHFSS report and a completion report among the closing documents. For Part A projects, this also includes an employee engagement survey report and a board assessment. In other words, the scheme expects you to show the project delivered the organisational improvement it promised — not just that the money was spent.1
What strong applications get right
We sit on the vendor side of these projects, and the pattern is consistent. Submissions move more smoothly when:
- The problem is specific. "Caseworkers spend four hours a week re-keying data between three spreadsheets" beats "we want to digitalise".
- The outcome is measurable. Time saved, reports produced, beneficiaries tracked. The scheme is built around organisational health improvement, so frame the project as an outcome, not a purchase.
- The quotation matches the scope. Deliverables, milestones, and support terms that line up with the problem you described.
- Your documents are current. An out-of-date OHFSS assessment, a missing diagnostic, or a quotation that doesn't match the scope are avoidable reasons a submission stalls.
Where we fit
We build Socianote, a CRM for nonprofits and social service agencies — case management, beneficiaries, donors, volunteers, and impact reporting in one place. CRM systems are a category NCSS names under pre-scoped solutions, and we also take on bespoke builds. Whether any specific application is funded is always NCSS's decision, not ours, and we don't guarantee outcomes.
What we can do is scope a project the way an application needs it — named deliverables, measurable outcomes, a paperwork-ready quotation. And if we think the scheme doesn't fit your situation, we'll tell you plainly.
For the wider funding picture — including schemes open to SMEs and companies — see our grants & funding guide.
Frequently asked
How does an agency apply for the TSS (Tech-and-GO!)?
Eligible NCSS member or MSF-funded agencies apply through the OurSG Grants (OSG) portal. NCSS lists the application-stage documents as a valid OHFSS report, a vendor quotation, and a completed organisational health diagnostic (for Parts A and B), with further documents required upon approval and completion. Eligibility and approval are decided solely by NCSS — confirm the current requirements on the official page before applying.
What documents do you need to apply?
At application, NCSS lists a valid OHFSS report, a vendor quotation, and a completed organisational health diagnostic (OHDS) for Parts A and B. Upon approval, a signed vendor agreement is required (plus proof of employment for Part A headcount support). Upon completion, an OHFSS report and completion report are required, with an employee engagement survey report and board assessment for Part A. Requirements are set by NCSS and can change.
Do you need a valid OHFSS assessment to apply?
Yes. NCSS states applicants must have a valid Organisational Health Framework for Social Services (OHFSS) assessment, and that for non pre-scoped solutions (Parts A and B) agencies must complete organisational health diagnostics to receive funding. Whether your assessment is current and valid is NCSS's determination — confirm the criteria on the official page.
How long does approval take?
NCSS doesn't publish a guaranteed processing time, and it depends on your project's complexity and how complete your submission is. Start the application weeks ahead of when you need the project to begin, with your OHFSS current and your vendor quotation finalised. Approval is always at NCSS's discretion.
Want help getting an application ready?
Tell us the problem you're trying to solve. We'll scope it the way an application needs — named deliverables, measurable outcomes, a paperwork-ready quotation — and give you an honest read on whether the TSS is worth pursuing.
[email protected]- National Council of Social Service, Transformation Sustainability Scheme — ncss.gov.sg/grants/organisation-development/transformation-sustainability-scheme
- OurSG Grants (OSG) portal — oursggrants.gov.sg