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Scottish Government Centres of Expertise x 4 Lots

Scottish Government

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

17 Aug 2026 at 15:03

Tender Notice
Planning

21 May 2026 at 08:47

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Scottish Government is procuring four separate research and consultancy service contracts for Scotland’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division. Lot 1 covers a Centre of Expertise on Climate Change, providing interdisciplinary evidence for mitigation, adaptation and a just transition. Lot 2 covers animal disease outbreaks, including research-based advice, emergency scientific advice and knowledge exchange. Lot 3 covers nature, water and the wider environment, including nature restoration, environmental protection and water management. Lot 4 covers plant health, including pest and disease prevention, surveillance, emergency response, biosecurity and advice for crops, horticulture, forestry and the natural environment. The centres will operate as virtual centres, coordinating expertise and translating research into policy-relevant advice and outputs across the UK, with a Scottish focus.

The procurement has reached tender: the Scottish Government invited offers through an open procedure, submitted electronically in English. The deadline for bids is 30 September 2026 at 12:00, with bid opening and the evaluation period starting at that time. Each lot has an initial 1,080-day contract period and an optional two-year extension at the Scottish Government’s discretion. Estimated values are £15,610,850 for Lot 1, £11,002,016 for Lot 2, £7,048,120 for Lot 3 and £3,569,000 for Lot 4; the stated overall value is £37,229,386. Evaluation is weighted 80% quality and 20% price, with technical responses scored from 0 to 4 and minimum moderated scores applying to mandatory questions. Bids remain valid for 180 days.

This opportunity suits research organisations, universities, consultancies and consortia able to assemble multidisciplinary scientific expertise and deliver rapid advice alongside longer-term research. Relevant strengths include programme design, evidence synthesis, horizon scanning, research methods, data management, knowledge exchange, public communication and policy translation. Lot-specific capability is needed in climate science and policy; animal health, veterinary public health and outbreak response; nature restoration, environmental quality, water and biodiversity; or plant health, pests, diseases and biosecurity. Bidders must provide named staff and qualifications, demonstrate technical and research capacity, environmental management and quality assurance, and show resilient supply-chain controls. Requirements include a current ratio of at least 0.8, £5 million public liability insurance and £2 million professional indemnity insurance. Subcontracting, climate action, community benefits and fair work commitments are also assessed.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Scottish Government Centres of Expertise x 4 Lots

Notice Description

The Scottish Government has a requirement to place 4 separate, lotted contracts with external service providers for the following services: - Lot 1. Centre of Expertise on Climate Change Lot 2. Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks Lot 3. Centre of Expertise on Nature, Water and Environment Lot 4. Centre of Expertise on Plant Health

Lot Information

Centre of Expertise on Climate Change

Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) Division is commissioning a Centre of Expertise on Climate Change. This is required to support Scotland's climate mitigation and adaptation goals by providing accessible, timely and high quality interdisciplinary evidence. This will be delivered through both rapid outputs and longer term research projects, commissioned and completed within timescales proportionate to policy need. The Centre will enhance the impact of Scottish funded science and translate wider UK and international research into a Scottish context, ensuring that robust external evidence is effectively applied to meeting Scotland's climate mitigation and adaptation ambitions. This includes: - Developing and managing a rolling, policy driven programme of evidence, balancing mitigation, adaptation and just transition needs, and delivering both rapid evidence outputs and longer term research within timescales proportionate to policy need. - Providing integrated, systems level analysis across sectors such as climate, environment, energy, land use, agriculture and socio economics, recognising the cross cutting nature of climate issues. - Translating UK and international research into a Scottish context, and ensuring clear, policy ready communication and effective knowledge exchange to maximise impact and uptake of evidence. - Horizon scanning to identify emerging climate risks, opportunities and priority evidence needs across mitigation and adaptation. Additional information: Price Quality Ratio = Quality 80%: Price 20% Total Value of Lot 1 across 3 + 2 year duration: 15610850 GBP

Renewal: Optional 2 year extension at Scottish Government discretion.

Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks

Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) Division is recommissioning a Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks. RESAS supports a small number of Centres of Expertise in key areas which brigade the best available expertise from a consortium of partners into virtual centres; to simplify access by policy officials to expertise from across Scotland, to enhance synergy of effort and to stimulate innovative thinking in support of policy. The suppliers of the Centre will have the following aims: - To deliver high-quality research-based evidence and advice on the prevention and control of animal disease outbreaks to the Scottish Government. - To provide expert scientific advice to the Scottish Government at short notice in the event of an outbreak of notifiable, zoonotic or newly emerging animal disease in the UK. - To stimulate innovative thinking in support of animal health policy development and delivery. - To further enhance the coordination of research, analysis and interpretation across the subject area, leading to high quality, world leading interdisciplinary research and the production of policy-relevant outputs. - To develop a programme of knowledge exchange to ensure the effective underpinning of policy and the wider dissemination of best practice amongst stakeholders. Additional information: Price Quality Ratio = Quality 80%: Price 20% Total Value of Lot 2 across 3 + 2 year duration: 11002016 GBP

Renewal: Optional 2 year extension at Scottish Government discretion.

Centre of Expertise on Nature, Environment and Water

Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS) is commissioning a new Centre of Expertise on Nature, Environment and Water. The objective is to brigade the best available expertise on nature restoration, environmental quality and protection and the management of water from across Scotland and the wider UK into a virtual centre, to simplify access to scientific advice and evidence by policy colleagues and their delivery partners, and to enhance synergy of effort and stimulate innovative thinking in support of these areas. The Centre's purpose is to: - Deliver timely and high-quality advice and research-based evidence on nature restoration, environmental quality and protection and the management of water to the Scottish Government and its delivery partners. - Stimulate innovative thinking in support of policy development and implementation in the research area. - Enhance the coordination of research, analysis and interpretation across the subject areas, leading to high quality research and policy-relevant outputs. - Deliver an effective programme of knowledge exchange and communication with Scottish Government and its stakeholders. Additional information: Price Quality Ratio = Quality 80%: Price 20% Total Value of Lot 3 across 3 + 2 year duration: 7048120 GBP

Renewal: Optional 2 year extension at Scottish Government discretion.

Centre of Expertise on Plant Health

Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) Division is recommissioning a Centre of Expertise on Plant Health. This is required to bring the best available plant health expertise relevant to Scotland's crops, horticulture, forestry, and natural environment into a virtual centre, to coordinate access, by policy colleagues and the Chief Plant Health Officer, to expertise, to enhance synergy of effort and to stimulate innovative thinking in support of plant health policy. This includes: - Horizon scanning to identify potential future threats and evidence needs, advising on implications for pest and disease prevention. Enhancing Scotland's capacity and capability to respond to emerging threats. - Strengthening resilience and emergency response plans and contributing to improved surveillance and detection to ensure robust contingency measures are operational across sectors. Providing scientific evidence to support policy decisions on outbreak management, including strategies to minimise impact where eradication is not viable. - Delivering timely and accurate research-based evidence on the mitigation of plant health risks, including management strategies, improved biosecurity, and an understanding of how new technologies and innovations can be used to help address these threats, to policy divisions, delivery agencies, and wider stakeholders. - Reducing the plant pest and disease risks associated with the movements of plants, trade, and people. Additional information: Price Quality Ratio = Quality 80%: Price 20% Total Value of Lot 4 across 3 + 2 year duration: 3569000 GBP

Renewal: Optional 2 year extension at Scottish Government discretion.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069e59
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078185-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning 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

03 - Agricultural, farming, fishing, forestry and related products

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

80 - Education and training services

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

03000000 - Agricultural, farming, fishing, forestry and related products

03117000 - Plants used in specific fields

03117130 - Plants used for insecticidal purposes

03117140 - Plants used for fungicidal or similar purposes

03117200 - Seeds of plants used in specific fields

03121100 - Live plants, bulbs, roots, cuttings and slips

03320000 - Cattle, livestock and small animals

03441000 - Ornamental plants, grasses, mosses or lichens

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

73100000 - Research and experimental development services

73110000 - Research services

73111000 - Research laboratory services

73112000 - Marine research services

73120000 - Experimental development services

73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

73210000 - Research consultancy services

73220000 - Development consultancy services

80490000 - Operation of an educational centre

90700000 - Environmental services

90710000 - Environmental management

90711500 - Environmental monitoring other than for construction

90712000 - Environmental planning

90713100 - Consulting services for water-supply and waste-water other than for construction

90714100 - Environmental information systems

90733000 - Services related to water pollution

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£37,229,386 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Aug 20264 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
30 Sep 20262 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
29 Jul 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

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
Not specified
Local Authority
Glasgow City
Electoral Ward
Anderston/City/Yorkhill
Westminster Constituency
Glasgow North

Further Information

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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