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Supply of One Pre-Owned Aircraft

Orkney Islands Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

31 Aug 2026 at 15:44

Award Notice
TenderUpdate

09 Jan 2026 at 11:32

Tender Notice
Tender

21 Nov 2025 at 10:13

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Orkney Islands Council bought one pre-owned Britten-Norman BN2B-26 piloted aircraft, classified as a piloted aircraft and special-purpose aircraft. The aircraft is intended to extend the Council’s existing inter-island air service network and improve scheduled services for communities in Orkney’s North Isles. The service operates under a Public Service Obligation, supporting routes considered vital to the economic development of the area through specified frequencies and pricing. The aircraft is for delivery and use in the Orkney Islands, with the Council as the buying organisation. This is a goods procurement centred on supplying an operational aircraft rather than providing the air service itself. The requirement therefore suits aircraft owners, brokers, dealers and specialist aviation suppliers able to source and sell a suitable pre-owned BN2B-26.

The procurement has reached award stage. It used an open procedure, with tenders submitted electronically in English. The original tender deadline was 9 January 2026 at 12:00, later extended to 12 January 2026 at 12:00 following a bidder’s request; tenders were opened at 14:00 the same day. The estimated lot value was £400,000 excluding VAT, with a 90-day contract period and bids valid for 90 days. Evaluation allocated 70% to quality and 30% to price. Cormack Aircraft Services Ltd was awarded the contract on 29 August 2026, for £550,000. The resulting contract is active and was signed on 29 August 2026. Four bids were received, all from SMEs and all submitted electronically.

This procurement demonstrates a defined requirement for a pre-owned Britten-Norman BN2B-26 to support a remote-island public transport network. Suppliers well placed for a future requirement would need credible access to this aircraft type, or an equivalent ability to source and present a compliant aircraft for purchase. They would also need to understand aircraft sale transactions and the operational needs of scheduled inter-island services, including reliability, suitability for the intended routes and the buyer’s technical quality expectations. The winning supplier was an SME, while all four bidders were SMEs, indicating that the requirement was accessible to specialist smaller aviation businesses. A credible competitor would need strong aircraft knowledge, dependable sourcing channels and the capacity to provide the required aircraft under a standard aircraft sale agreement.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Supply of One Pre-Owned Aircraft

Notice Description

Orkney Islands Council has a requirement for the acquisition of a pre-owned Britten Norman BN2B-26 aircraft to extend the existing network to enhance services to the north isles communities inter-island air services.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Orkney Islands Council (the Authority) has a requirement for the acquisition of pre-owned Britten Norman BN2B-26 aircraft to extend existing network during 2025/26 financial year to enhance services to the north isles' communities inter-island air services. The service is provided under a Public Service Obligation (PSO) Contract. A PSO is established to maintain appropriate scheduled air services on routes which are vital for the economic development of the region they serve by setting frequency and pricing. Additional information: The estimated value as noted at section 11.2.6 is excluding VAT.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05e606
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082416-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

CPV Codes

34711300 - Piloted aircraft

34711400 - Special-purpose aircraft

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£400,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£400,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£550,000 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
31 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
9 Jan 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Orkney Islands Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
KIRKWALL
Postcode
KW15 1NY
Postcode Area
Kirkwall
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM2 Highlands and Islands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM20 Highlands and Islands
Delivery Location
TLM65 Orkney Islands
Local Authority
Orkney Islands
Electoral Ward
Kirkwall East
Westminster Constituency
Orkney and Shetland

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Cormack Aircraft Services Ltd

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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