Notice Information
Notice Title
Engineering Support Services 2025
Notice Description
NLB requires external engineering support to provide technical expertise not available in-house. This includes inspections, feasibility studies, design work, and specialist advice across a wide range of infrastructure projects and maintenance tasks. Services will support the Asset Management and Project Delivery teams by supplementing internal resources in areas such as structural and civil engineering, inspections, load assessments, and technical documentation including specifications and bills of quantities. It is anticipated that the single supplier framework will run for four years (+ 2 optional extension years) and offer flexible, call-off support to help NLB respond to emerging needs and maintain its infrastructure effectively. Internal teams lack certain technical skills needed for complex assessments, inspections, and design. The supplier must provide access to qualified engineers with relevant experience. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at: https://nlb.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Edinburgh:-Architectural%2C-construction%2C-engineering-and-inspection-services./Q9PR6QW2PC To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://nlb.delta-esourcing.com/respond/Q9PR6QW2PC
Planning Information
MARKET ENGAGEMENT QUESTIONNAIRE Engineering Support Services Reference: ENAS/ENSS/2373 1. Introduction The Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) is conducting early market engagement ahead of a planned procurement for the provision of Engineering Support Services. This exercise is designed to identify supplier interest, inform the contracting approach, and shape the forthcoming Invitation to Tender (ITT), which is expected to be issued late 2025. It is anticipated that the framework agreement will run for four years, with an option to extend by up to two additional years. 2. Project Summary NLB is seeking access to professional engineering support services to supplement its in-house Asset Management and Project Delivery teams. This includes: •Feasibility studies and structural design •Engineering inspections and surveys •Technical reporting and recommendations •Specification writing and bill of quantities •Ad hoc consultancy across engineering disciplines Services may be required for both planned and reactive work and will support the ongoing maintenance and development of NLB’s infrastructure estate. 3. Geographical Scope Services may be required at sites across: •Mainland Scotland •The Northern and Western Isles, including Orkney and Shetland •Isle of Man Many sites are remote and exposed, requiring access by boat, helicopter, or 4x4 vehicles. Suppliers must be prepared to work in challenging environments with limited accessibility. 4. Key Challenges and Considerations •Exposure to extreme coastal conditions (wind, sea spray, corrosion) •Heritage assets over 100 years old with limited records •Logistical issues (weather, transport, daylight, tides) •Rapid mobilisation for urgent/emergency inspections •Coordinating multiple small projects concurrently •Strong collaboration with NLB’s internal staff and contractors •Work primarily coordinated from NLB’s Edinburgh HQ 5. Procurement and Commercial Strategy It is anticipated that the contract will be procured under a two-stage process, however this has not been confirmed: 1.Selection Questionnaire (SQ): compliance and capability checks 2.Invitation to Tender (ITT): technical and commercial evaluation- •The contract will be let under the NEC Professional Services Contract (PSC) •No incumbent handover is expected, so mobilisation will be key •Commercial and performance oversight will be managed jointly by NLB Procurement and Assets Teams •Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), regular reviews, and reports will ensure quality and value delivery 6. Previous Example Projects •Rattray Head Lighthouse Davit Design •Buildings Principal Inspections •Chicken Rock and Bell Rock Crane WLL Assessments •Habitats Regulations Appraisal Screening and Nations Designated Sites Screening Assessment •Shore to Ship Power Feasibility Study •Dubh Artach and Bell Rock Entrance Platform Designs •Skerryvore Structural Modelling 7. Key Dates (Indicative Timeline) Market Engagement- Oct 2025 Contract Notice & ITT Issued- Late 2025 ITT Return Date- Early 2026 Contract Start- Early 2026 8. Indicative Pipeline of Work Oban Shore to Ship Design Work Oban Electrical Upgrades Design Work Pillar Rock Entrance Level Platform Design Balcony Level Extension & Solar Arrays Design Structural Assessment of Platforms Ad Hoc Design Support (Elec/Civil/Mech) Drawings from Marked-Up Drawings Convert Hard Copy Drawings to CAD Cliff Movement Monitoring Pillar Rock Modal Analysis Environmental Impact Assessments Structural Assessment (Various) Low Carbon Heating – Feasibility & Design Detailed Design of Low Carbon System Environmental Screening Report Follow-Up Ground Investigations – New AtoN Sites Note: This pipeline is indicative only and subject to change. 9. Market Engagement Questionnaire Please respond to the questions below and submit your completed questionnaire by Friday, 31 October 2025, 16:00 to: Graham.Allan@nlb.org.uk A. Contracting and Commercial Model 1.Are you familiar with NEC contracts, and would you be comfortable operating under NEC PSC terms? 2.Would you propose call-offs via NEC Task Orders or another method? 3.What levels of Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance do you hold? 4.Would you accept a liability cap based on 10x commission value or a £10M fixed cap? 5.What indexation model would you propose (e.g. CPI, ONS AWE Index – K64–K66)? B. Delivery and Subcontracting 6.Which of the following services can you deliver in-house? – Civil Engineering – Structural Engineering – M&E Design – CAD Drawing Production – Environmental Studies – Feasibility Reports – Heritage Building Assessments 7.What services would be subcontracted? Please name likely subcontractors if known. 8.Are you able to deploy to remote locations quickly? What are typical lead times? C. Scope and Capability 9.Please provide 2–3 relevant examples of similar work or frameworks. 10.Can you support delivery across all NLB locations (incl. remote islands)? 11.How would you contribute to low-carbon and resilient infrastructure design? D. Classification and Framework Access 12.Do you classify these services as professional consultancy or technical engineering? 13.Are you listed on any frameworks or DPS (e.g. CCS RM6165)? Note: Questionnaire responses will not be scored but will inform the structure and strategy of the forthcoming procurement process. 10. Next Steps To register your interest and submit your completed questionnaire, please email: Graham Allan Procurement Specialist Graham.Allan@nlb.org.uk Deadline: Friday, 31 October 2025 at 16:00
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-05ceb7
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066267-2025
- Current Stage
- Planning
- All Stages
- Planning
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
- Procurement Type
- Framework
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Not Specified
- Procurement Method Details
- Not specified
- Tender Suitability
- Not specified
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
-
- CPV Codes
71000000 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
71300000 - Engineering services
71310000 - Consultative engineering and construction services
71311000 - Civil engineering consultancy services
71312000 - Structural engineering consultancy services
71320000 - Engineering design services
71322000 - Engineering design services for the construction of civil engineering works
71332000 - Geotechnical engineering services
71334000 - Mechanical and electrical engineering services
71336000 - Engineering support services
71631400 - Technical inspection services of engineering structures
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £1,800,000 £1M-£10M
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 17 Oct 20254 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- 1 Dec 2025Expired
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 1 Jan 2026 - 1 Jan 2030 4-5 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Planning
- Lots Status
- Planning
- Awards Status
- Not Specified
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- NORTHERN LIGHTHOUSE BOARD
- Contact Name
- Graham Allan
- Contact Email
- procurement@nlb.org.uk
- Contact Phone
- 0131 473 3130
Buyer Location
- Locality
- EDINBURGH
- Postcode
- EH2 3DA
- Post Town
- Edinburgh
- Country
- Scotland
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLM Scotland
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLM1 East Central Scotland
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLM13 City of Edinburgh
- Delivery Location
- TLM Scotland
-
- Local Authority
- City of Edinburgh
- Electoral Ward
- City Centre
- Westminster Constituency
- Edinburgh North and Leith
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066267-2025
17th October 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.
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