Tender

Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

28 Nov 2025 at 15:36

Summary of the contracting process

The Scottish Government, through its Marine Directorate, is currently in the tender stage for the "Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme". This procurement falls under the "Veterinary services" industry category, aimed at providing a coordinated surveillance approach for cetacean, seal, shark, and marine turtle strandings in Scotland. Interested businesses must submit electronic bids by 9th January 2026, with the contract period starting from 7th April 2026 and lasting until 6th April 2029, with options to extend until 2031. The project is valued at £825,000 and is centrally coordinated from Aberdeen, UKM region, involving marine research services.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in marine research, veterinary services, and environmental management. Companies with a strong track record in these areas, and the ability to coordinate collaborative efforts using volunteer networks, will find this opportunity well-suited to expand their outreach and demonstrate their expertise. The contract requires a yearly turnover of £1.65 million over the past two years and technical capabilities to handle post-mortem investigations within their premises. Successful bidders will benefit from contributing to a national scheme with long-serving data collection and reporting commitments, potentially boosting their business profile and operational scope within the UK and beyond.

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Notice Title

Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme

Notice Description

The aim of the project is to provide a coordinated approach to the surveillance of cetacean, seal, sharks and marine turtle strandings, and to investigate causes of death of stranded animals in Scotland. Where required, efforts should be made to expand and develop the established volunteer network to improve reporting and strandings investigations.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Scottish Marine Strandings Scheme (SMASS) has been in operation since 1992, with principal aim of providing a coordinated approach to the surveillance of cetacean, seal, shark and marine turtle strandings, and to investigate major causes of death of stranded animals in Scotland. Along with undertaking these investigations, SMASS maintains an online database of stranding events as well as hosting annual and end of contract reports on their website. Archived tissue samples from strandings attended by the SMASS team or members of the volunteer network are also stored and managed under the SMASS programme. The data collected is used to inform reporting commitments under statutory obligations (e.g. UK Marine Strategy, OSPAR, ICES).

Renewal: Two 12 month options to extend up to 6 April 2031.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05eb48
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078200-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

73112000 - Marine research services

85200000 - Veterinary services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£825,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Nov 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
9 Jan 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
6 Apr 2026 - 6 Apr 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
July 2030.

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
Contact Name
bob.mcleod@gov.scot
Contact Email
bob.mcleod@gov.scot
Contact Phone
+44 1312442500

Buyer Location

Locality
ABERDEEN
Postcode
AB11 9DB
Post Town
Aberdeen
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM5 North Eastern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland

Local Authority
Aberdeen City
Electoral Ward
Torry/Ferryhill
Westminster Constituency
Aberdeen South

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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