Planning

Scottish Government Centres of Expertise x 4 Lots

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

21 May 2026 at 07:47

Summary of the contracting process

The Scottish Government is in the planning stage of a procurement process for four separate Centres of Expertise, aimed at advancing research and development services within the UK. This initiative covers a broad spectrum, including climate change, animal disease outbreaks, nature, environment and water, and plant health. A key upcoming event is a Supplier Event scheduled for Tuesday, 23rd June, from 2 pm to 3:30 pm, offering critical insights into the specifications, procurement, and evaluation process for each lot. Interested suppliers must express their interest via the Public Contracts Scotland website and attend virtually for comprehensive engagement. The procurement, identified by CASE/866909, is a service category under CPV 73000000, driven by the Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) Division for the Scottish Government, acting as a national or federal agency.

This procurement represents a significant opportunity for businesses involved in research and consultancy services, especially those specialising in environmental, agricultural, and scientific domains. Companies that possess strong interdisciplinary expertise or are capable of delivering high-quality, research-based evidence within tight timelines will find this a viable and lucrative opportunity. The focus on creating virtual centres necessitates collaboration and innovation, potentially opening doors for businesses capable of offering state-of-the-art technological solutions and integration services. Given the breadth of expertise required across each lot, the tender is particularly suitable for enterprises that can draw upon a consortium of expertise to meet the comprehensive needs outlined by the Scottish Government.

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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 for Climate Change Lot 2. Centre of Expertise for Animal Disease Outbreaks Lot 3. Centre of Expertise for Nature, Water and Environment Lot 4. Centre of Expertise for Plant Health

Lot Information

Centre of Expertise for Climate Change

Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) Division is commissioning a Centre of Expertise for 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.

Centre of Expertise for 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.

Centre of Expertise for Nature, Environment and Water

Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS) is commissioning a new Centre of Expertise for 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.

Centre of Expertise for 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.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069e59
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/046748-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 May 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
28 Jul 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

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
Post Town
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

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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