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DECC Appraisal of Peat Landslide Hazard Risk Assessments

Scottish Government

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

20 Aug 2026 at 12:45

Award Notice
Tender

07 May 2026 at 12:12

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Scottish Government commissioned expert technical advice on peat stability for development proposals considered under sections 36, 36C and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989. The service covers appraisal of comprehensive peat landslide hazard risk assessments prepared for electricity generation and overhead line applications, including environmental impact assessment material. The appointed adviser audits developers’ information against the Scottish Government’s best-practice guide, recommends how shortcomings should be addressed, contributes advice and drafting on planning conditions to mitigate landslide risks, and advises on peat landslide assessment requirements during environmental impact assessment screening and scoping. The work supports the Energy Consents Unit’s consideration of applications and pre-application discussions, including projects involving wind farms, infrastructure and peatland habitats across Scotland. This is environmental auditing and environmental impact assessment consultancy, with a strong geotechnical and peat-risk focus.

This is an awarded, completed procurement following an open procedure. One lot was awarded to Ironside Farrar Limited, with an award recorded as active and a contract signed on 3 August 2026. The contract value is £500,000 excluding VAT, and the planned term is 720 days, commencing in July 2026. The Scottish Government may extend it by up to 12 months, and may increase the value by up to 20%, to a maximum of £600,000 excluding VAT, where demand exceeds the original value. Four electronic bids were received, including three from SMEs. Evaluation weighted quality at 75% and price at 25%; quality covered methodology, project team, quality assurance, Fair Work First, and business continuity and disaster recovery. The tender deadline and bid opening were 8 June 2026, with bids valid for 180 days.

This award shows demand for specialist consultancy able to review peat landslide hazard risk assessments supporting major electricity infrastructure and consenting decisions in Scotland. A credible future competitor would need at least one relevant example of appraising similar geotechnical or environmental risk assessments, supported by robust supply-chain management and tracking systems where subcontractors are used. The required team is multidisciplinary, drawing on at least three of engineering geology, geomorphology, geotechnical engineering, hydrogeology or hydrology, and ecology. The team must be led by a competent person chartered through an appropriate professional institution, such as CEng, CGeol, CIWEM or MICE, or an equivalent body. Staff names and qualifications are required, alongside the ability to manage subcontractors, demonstrate resilient payment practices and hold professional indemnity, employers’ liability and public liability insurance at the specified levels.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

DECC Appraisal of Peat Landslide Hazard Risk Assessments

Notice Description

The Scottish Government has awarded a contract for the provision of expert technical advice from qualified professionals on peat stability matters in relation to development proposals under section 36, 36C and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Scottish Ministers are the consenting authority for applications for the construction and operation of generating stations, and the installation of overhead lines, under sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 ("Electricity Act Applications"). The Energy Consents Unit processes a number of Electricity Act Applications (including some on peatland) which require an Environmental Impact Assessment, including wind farms with installed capacity in excess of 50 megawatts and overhead electric lines. In peatland areas, aside from potential ecological impacts there can be the risk of peat landslide as a result of the proposal, its engineering operations and its associated infrastructure (such as roads, access tracks, anemometer masts, substations and foundations) with the potential for risk to population and public safety where paths, roadways or properties may be impacted, or environmental pollution, especially where there is the potential for peat landslides to impact on nearby watercourses. As a result, where Electricity Act Applications are proposed on peatland habitats, comprehensive peat landslide hazard risk assessments (PLHRA) are required to be carried out in accordance with the Scottish Government "Peat Landslide Hazard and Risk Assessments: Best Practice Guide for Proposed Electricity Generation Developments" (published at https://www.gov.scot/publications/peat-landslide-hazard-risk-assessments-best-practice-guide-proposed-electricity/) and details are required to be included in EIA reports provided with the applications. In addition to processing Electricity Act Applications for consent, the Energy Consents Unit also has a role in considering proposals at pre-application stage, facilitating discussions with environmental stakeholders to enable design iterations to be made in light of environmental sensitivities, and establishing where mitigation measures may overcome environmental impacts which may arise from the deployment of projects. In order to determine the applications described above, the Energy Consents Unit requires access to technical expertise to audit the environmental information provided by developers against the Scottish Government Best Practice Guide referred to above; to make recommendations to Scottish Ministers on how any matters which fall short of best practice should be addressed; to provide advice and drafting input to Scottish Ministers on planning conditions which may be required to mitigate peat landslide risks; and to provide advice to Scottish Ministers on requirements for PLHRAs during EIA screening and scoping. These services may be required in the context on any of the applications under the Electricity Act which are determined by Scottish Ministers.

Options: It is not possible to predict the number of Electricity Act Applications or the number of peat landslide hazard risk assessments that will require appraisal during the term of the contract. This is dependent on the volume and nature of applications submitted by developers, over which the Scottish Government has no control. The total value of the contract, including any extension periods, is not anticipated to exceed 500,000 GBP excluding VAT. The Scottish Government may however, at its sole discretion, increase the value of the contract by up to 20% to a maximum of 600,000 GBP excluding VAT. Any increase to the contract value may only be applied where actual demand for the services exceeds 500,000 GBP during the contract term and/or any extension periods. Any increase shall not modify the nature, scope, or specification of the services, nor shall it alter the pricing mechanism, rates, or basis of payment set out in the contract.

Renewal: The contract will be for a period of 24 months commencing in July 2026. The Scottish Government may, by giving 30 days notice to the Service Provider, extend the period of the contract for up to 12 months. Subject to that constraint, the Scottish Government may extend the period of the Contract on more than one occasion.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069330
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079425-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

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
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

90711400 - Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) services other than for construction

90714000 - Environmental auditing

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Aug 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
8 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Should there be an ongoing requirement for these services beyond the initial contract term, and the contract is not extended, further notices are likely to be published between January and March 2028. However, if the contract is extended by up to 12 months, further notices could be published at any point between July 2028 and March 2029.

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Scottish Government
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
GLASGOW
Postcode
G2 8LU
Postcode Area
Glasgow
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM3 West Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM32 Glasgow City
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland
Local Authority
Glasgow City
Electoral Ward
Anderston/City/Yorkhill
Westminster Constituency
Glasgow North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Ironside Farrar

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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