Tender

Drone Training, Support & Maintenance

FORESTRY AND LAND SCOTLAND

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

19 Mar 2026 at 10:54

Summary of the contracting process

This procurement process initiated by Forestry and Land Scotland involves a tender for Drone Training, Support, and Maintenance services, actively seeking an external Service Provider to enhance their drone resource management. Classified under horticultural services within the wider industry of forestry services, this tender focuses on providing essential training, support, and maintenance for FLS's fleet of drones. The tender stage is currently active with submissions expected to be made electronically by 29 April 2026, specifically targeting operations within the region of UKM. The intended contract spans an initial period of 36 months, with an option to extend for up to 24 additional months. Interested suppliers should be Recognised Assessment Entities (RAE), with applicable performance criteria aimed to ensure comprehensive service delivery, emergency support, and efficiency in certification and maintenance operations.

This tender provides a lucrative opportunity for businesses specialising in drone services, particularly those adept in training, operational support, and maintenance. As Forestry and Land Scotland looks to expand their drone operations due to increasing requirements in land management and environmental protection, this contract is well-suited for technology firms, consultancy providers, and maintenance specialists within the forestry, technology integration, and training sectors. Success for suitable bidders could lead to further opportunities in drone operation management, given the organisation's intentions to evolve their in-house capabilities. With a projected contract value of £150,000, this opportunity presents scope for substantial business growth and long-term engagement with a key public sector buyer in Scotland.

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Notice Title

Drone Training, Support & Maintenance

Notice Description

Forestry and Land Scotland (the Purchaser) look after the national forests and land to enhance biodiversity, support tourism, and increase access to the green spaces that will help improve Scotland's physical and mental health and well-being. The Authority also continues to provide vital timber supplies to support a sustainable rural economy. Further information on who the Authority is and what it does can be found here: https://forestryandland.gov.scot/. The Purchaser has a requirement to place a contract with an external Service Provider for the provision of Drone Training, Support & Maintenance services of their drone resource (Pilots & Drones). The Purchaser currently have a number of General Visual Line of Sight Certification (GVC) and A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CoC). We have an accountable manager and a third-party agency who provide support including managing our Operations Manual. However, going forward the Purchaser plan to carry out their future in-house drone operations in the Open Category. This is due to the majority of its drone operations posing no/low risk to people. As such, there is no CAA operational authorisation or Operations Manual required. FLS currently has a total of thirty-three (33) drones, and it is anticipated this will increase over the duration of the contract period. The Purchaser is looking for a Service Provider to deliver the following aims: * Training: provision of A2 CoC with an additional practical, flight skills element. * Support which will take a number of forms: - Be the first point of contact for the Purchasers pilots and prospective pilots with queries relating to drones; - checking contractor documentation and certification; - conducting flight skills tests where judged necessary; - Production of Standard Operating Procedures and support materials; - Attending bi-annual all-pilot meetings; - Emergency support in event of accidents and incidents. * Maintenance: carry out maintenance on the FLS drone fleet. A breakdown of what the Purchaser seeks to achieve through the main aims outlined above is detailed within the tender documentation. Please Note: The principal Service Provider must be a Recognised Assessment Entity (RAE) to be eligible to submit a tender for this opportunity. If your organisation currently holds any Contract, Framework Agreement, or any other Agreement with the Purchaser that involves drone operations (excluding the purchase of drones & hardware), you are not eligible to submit a tender for this opportunity. This includes any persons of significant control within your organisation who may be affiliated to any other organisations who hold any contractual agreements for the provision of drone operations with FLS. Similarly, if you are awarded a contract through this tender process, you will not be eligible to submit tenders for any future opportunities related to drone operations whilst you hold that agreement. The contract will be for a period of thirty-six (36) months (three (3) years) with the option to extend up to an additional twenty-four (24) months (two (2) year).

Lot Information

Lot 1

Forestry and Land Scotland (the Purchaser) currently have a number of General Visual Line of Sight Certification (GVC) and A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CoC). The Purchaser have an accountable manager and a third-party agency who provide support including managing our Operations Manual. However, going forward the Purchaser plan to carry out their future in-house drone operations in the Open Category. This is due to the majority of its drone operations posing no/low risk to people. As such, there is no CAA operational authorisation or Operations Manual required. The Purchaser currently has a total of thirty-three (33) drones, and it is anticipated this will increase over the duration of the contract period. The Purchaser is looking for a Service Provider to deliver the following aims: * Training: provision of A2 CoC with an additional practical, flight skills element. * Support which will take a number of forms: - Be the first point of contact for the Purchasers pilots and prospective pilots with queries relating to drones; - checking contractor documentation and certification; - conducting flight skills tests where judged necessary; - Production of Standard Operating Procedures and support materials; - Attending bi-annual all-pilot meetings; - Emergency support in event of accidents and incidents. * Maintenance: carry out maintenance on the Purchasers drone fleet. Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: Initial 36 months (3-years) with the option to extend up to a further 24 months (2-years).

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-066e9a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025042-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
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

32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

48 - Software package and information systems

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

77 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services

80 - Education and training services

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services


CPV Codes

32210000 - Broadcasting equipment

32412100 - Telecommunications network

32510000 - Wireless telecommunications system

32530000 - Satellite-related communications equipment

38115100 - Radar surveillance equipment

38126000 - Surface observing apparatus

38221000 - Geographic information systems (GIS or equivalent)

38290000 - Surveying, hydrographic, oceanographic and hydrological instruments and appliances

38821000 - Radio remote-control apparatus

48614000 - Data-acquisition system

72222300 - Information technology services

72227000 - Software integration consultancy services

72228000 - Hardware integration consultancy services

72254100 - Systems testing services

72260000 - Software-related services

72300000 - Data services

77200000 - Forestry services

77300000 - Horticultural services

80000000 - Education and training services

90711500 - Environmental monitoring other than for construction

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£150,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£150,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Mar 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
29 Apr 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Summer 2031

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
FORESTRY AND LAND SCOTLAND
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
INVERNESS
Postcode
IV3 8NW
Post Town
Inverness
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
TLM Scotland

Local Authority
Highland
Electoral Ward
Inverness West
Westminster Constituency
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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