Construction Contract Leads

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1) Name and addresses

Scottish Natural Heritage

Great Glen House, Leachkin Road

Inverness

IV3 8NW

Email

flexibleprocurement [at] scotland-excel.org.uk

Telephone

+44 1463725097

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKM62 - Inverness & Nairn and Moray, Badenoch & Strathspey

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.nature.scot

Buyer's address

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00383

I.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

I.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/

I.4) Type of the contracting authority

National or federal Agency/Office

I.5) Main activity

Environment

Section II: Object

II.1) Scope of the procurement

II.1.1) Title

Peatland ACTION FW02 Field Ecologists Framework

II.1.2) Main CPV code

• 90700000 - Environmental services

II.1.3) Type of contract

Services

II.1.4) Short description

NatureScot work to improve our natural environment in Scotland and inspire everyone to care more about it. We work to ensure that all nature in Scotland - our key habitats and landscapes, all our green space and our native species - are maintained, enhanced and bring us benefits. Our priority is a nature-rich future for Scotland and an effective response to the climate emergency.

Peatland ACTION funding - from Scottish Government - primarily supports on-the-ground peatland restoration activities and is open for applications from eligible land managers who have peatlands that would benefit from restoration. There are no geographical restrictions or target areas for Peatland ACTION funding. Peatlands are an iconic part of the Scottish landscape and have many benefits for people and nature. Healthy peatlands provide important ecosystem services including storing and sequestering carbon, supporting unique and specialised biodiversity, improving downstream water quality, and regulating water flow to provide natural flood management. In contrast, damage to peatlands reduces or reverses these benefits. For example, degraded peatlands release stored carbon and are a major global source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Peatland ACTION is led and funded by Scottish Government and delivered in partnership with NatureScot, Cairngorms National Park Authority, Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority, Forestry and Land Scotland, and Scottish Water.

Since 2012, Peatland ACTION has set over 66,000 hectares of degraded peatland on the road to recovery, but this effort needs to accelerate rapidly in the coming years to help address the twin crises of the climate emergency and biodiversity loss.

The appointed Field Ecologists will work with the Peatland ACTION Technical Team and Project Officers located across Scotland to help support species and ecological survey requirements for Peatland ACTION restoration sites.

II.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £450,000

II.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

II.2) Description

II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

• 09112000 - Lignite and peat
• 09112200 - Peat
• 77000000 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services
• 90700000 - Environmental services
• 90711500 - Environmental monitoring other than for construction
• 71350000 - Engineering-related scientific and technical services
• 71354100 - Digital mapping services
• 90711000 - Environmental impact assessment other than for construction
• 90711300 - Environmental indicators analysis other than for construction
• 90711400 - Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) services other than for construction
• 45100000 - Site preparation work
• 45111240 - Ground-drainage work
• 45111230 - Ground-stabilisation work

II.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes

• UKM - Scotland

II.2.4) Description of the procurement

The primary role for the appointed Field Ecologists will be to carry out protected species surveys on request, which may include surveys for breeding birds (including Schedule 1 species), raptor roosts, mammals, freshwater pearl mussel, reptiles, or plants.

Field Ecologists must be suitably skilled and experienced in carrying out a range of species surveys of this nature. Surveys conducted prior to peatland restoration work commencing on site will be used to plan the restoration work and ensure all project personnel (agents, contractors / workers) are aware of the presence of any protected species on site and any mitigation and licensing requirements.

Surveys conducted during restoration works will also be used to provide continued ecological support to project personnel, including mitigation requirements, safe working distances/buffer zones, preparation of species protection plans and may include giving toolbox talks.

II.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Geographic Region / Weighting: Information Only

Quality criterion - Name: Key Personnel / Weighting: 25%

Quality criterion - Name: Data Management and Submission Processes / Weighting: 25%

Quality criterion - Name: Capacity and Resourcing / Weighting: 25%

Quality criterion - Name: Health, Safety and Remote Site Working / Weighting: 15%

Quality criterion - Name: Sustainability / Weighting: 5%

Quality criterion - Name: Fair Work First / Weighting: 5%

Price - Weighting: 30%

II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Start date

18 January 2027

End date

31 March 2027

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Annual extension available until 31 March 2031

II.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

II.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

II.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No

II.2.14) Additional information

Scotland Excel is acting on behalf of NatureScot in the execution of this tender but will not be party to the contract or the management of the contract throughout its lifetime.

Section III. Legal, economic, financial and technical information

III.1) Conditions for participation

III.1.2) Economic and financial standing

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents

III.1.3) Technical and professional ability

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents

Section IV. Procedure

IV.1) Description

IV.1.1) Type of procedure

Open procedure

IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system

The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement

Framework agreement with several operators

Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement: 20

IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

IV.2) Administrative information

IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date

6 November 2026

Local time

12:00pm

IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English

IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

Duration in months: 4 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)

IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

6 November 2026

Local time

12:00pm

Section VI. Complementary information

VI.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: Yes

Estimated timing for further notices to be published: Prior to the expiry of the contract including any extension periods exercised.

VI.2) Information about electronic workflows

Electronic ordering will be used

Electronic invoicing will be accepted

Electronic payment will be used

VI.3) Additional information

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=842768.

The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.

Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.

A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363

(SC Ref:842768)

Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=842768

VI.4) Procedures for review

VI.4.1) Review body

Inverness Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court

Inverness Justice Centre, Longman Road

Inverness

IV1 1AH

Country

United Kingdom

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