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Skerry of Ness and Hoxa Head Lighthouse Refurbishments

Northern Lighthouse Board

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

26 Aug 2026 at 14:50

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

22 May 2026 at 16:05

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Northern Lighthouse Board is procuring civil refurbishment works at two lighthouse stations in Orkney: Skerry of Ness, in tidal waters south of Stromness, and Hoxa Head, on the Hoxa peninsula on South Ronaldsay. The works include power washing and removing lichen and marine growth, concrete repairs, repairs or replacement of GRP panels, metalwork, ladders, handrails and fenders, redecoration, and re-stringing an existing livestock fence. The stations have no welfare facilities. Skerry of Ness requires access on foot at low tide or by boat at high tide; Hoxa Head is approximately 400 metres from the road end and is reached by field tracks. The works are purely civil: electrical work is excluded and both optics must remain operational.

The buyer invited offers through a below-threshold open competition. This tender comprises one lot. The enquiry deadline is 16 September 2026 at 17:00, and the tender submission deadline is 28 September 2026 at 14:00. Bids may be submitted electronically through Delta eSourcing. The contract is scheduled to run from 9 November 2026 to 19 January 2027, with an estimated value of £75,000 gross including applicable taxes. Evaluation is based on quality and technical matters at 55% and price at 45%. A mandatory site visit in Orkney is scheduled for 10 September 2026; bidders must bring suitable PPE and clothing, with further arrangements communicated through the messaging facility.

This opportunity suits small and medium-sized contractors experienced in civil refurbishment and maintenance of remote coastal or lighthouse structures. The work requires practical capability in high-level and difficult-access environments, including cleaning and repairing concrete, GRP and metal structures, replacing corroded fixings and marine hardware, repairing or replacing ladders, handrails and fenders, repainting, and maintaining fencing. Contractors must hold IRATA rope-access certification. Suppliers need to plan safely around tidal access at Skerry of Ness, boat access at high tide, remote locations, limited site infrastructure and the requirement to keep the navigational optics operational throughout. Relevant experience coordinating site activity across two Orkney locations, managing marine exposure and working with appropriate PPE would be well suited to the requirement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Skerry of Ness and Hoxa Head Lighthouse Refurbishments

Notice Description

Skerry of Ness is a tidal station. Hoxa Head is located on land and can be accessed at all times. To utilise the contractor's time, its envisaged that Skerry of Ness will take priority to work around tidal times as required, and Hoxa Head works can be carried out around Skerry of Ness activities. Hoxa Head: Location: Hoxa Head is located on the Hoxa peninsula on the North East coast of South Ronaldsay, Orkney. The site is located on the longitude and latitude of 58deg49.315 N, 003deg02.085 W. The site is 400m away from a road end. There are field tracks from the road end to close to the site. Description of station: 7m high Aluminium "splat" structure, fixed to concrete base. White GRP daymark panels are fixed to the elevations of structure. The optic is powered by batteries, charged by the 6No panel solar array. The extent of the station is determined by a post and wire boundary fence designed to keep livestock out. There are no welfare facilities at this station. Description of works: The works are of a purely civil nature. The works will include: Wash down and remove lichen/marine growth from surfaces of all structures (GRP, Concrete and Metal work). Repairs to GRP daymark panels and metalworks as required. Existing fence to be re-strung. No electrical works shall be involved and the optic shall remain operational throughout. Skerry of Ness: Location: Skerry of Ness is located south of the town of Stromness on the mainland of Orkney. The site is located on the longitude and latitude of 58deg56.960 N 003deg17.830 W. Together with Hoy Loy Lighthouse the station denotes the entry to the port of Stromness. The station is located in tidal waters 200m from the mainland. The shoreline can be access via Guardhouse Park Road leading from the town of Stromness. The station can be accessed at low tide by foot. At high tides, boat access is required. Description of station: 10m high post-tensioned white concrete column, topped with concrete platform. The main concrete column is fixed to a square concrete foundation fixed to the sea bed. The platform is accessed via a ladder. There are fenders to each side of the ladder to allow a boat to access the ladder at high tides. The platform is guarded by a handrail and safety gate to the top of the ladder. The optic cubicle is located on the edge of the platform, with solar panels fixed to the seaward facing side of the cubicle. The optic is powered by batteries stored within the cubicle, which are trickle charged by the solar panels. There are no welfare facilities at this station. Description of works: The works are of a purely civil nature. The concrete structure is to be power washed to remove lichen/marine growth from surfaces. Any concrete repairs will be carried out as necessary following power washing. Any corroded metalwork or fixings shall be replaced, this may involve replacement of ladders, handrails, and fenders. The structure shall be redecorated. No electrical works shall be involved and the optic shall remain operational throughout. Minimum Certification Requirements Contractor will need rope access certificates (IRATA Certification) [Important Note to Bidders: There is a mandatory site visit in Orkney on 10 September - further details will be given via the message facility. Those parties who have expressed interest in a future Orkney refurbishment at Hoy Sound (High) can visit this site on 11 September. To avoid the need for two trips. There will be a separate site visit planned for those parties who have only expressed an interest in Hoy Sound in due course. Those attending site visits will need to bring suitable PPE and clothing, further details to follow via the messaging facility.] Please note all details and dates included are subject to change.

Planning Information

Any parties who wish to note their interest in this project please email euan.kidd@nlb.org.uk

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a208
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081399-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

CPV Codes

45453100 - Refurbishment work

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£75,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£75,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
28 Sep 20262 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
9 Nov 2026 - 19 Jan 2027 1-6 months
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
Northern Lighthouse Board
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH2 3DA
Postcode Area
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM65 Orkney Islands
Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh North and Leith

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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