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Provision of Election Night Flight Services

Argyll and Bute Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

17 Jul 2026 at 12:11

Tender Notice
Tender

08 Jun 2026 at 09:20

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Argyll and Bute Council is procuring election-night helicopter flight services, including helicopters with crew, to transport ballot boxes and election materials safely, securely and on time from designated island locations to Lochgilphead. The purpose is to enable ballot counting to start as scheduled. The service will be delivered across Argyll and Bute, with Lochgilphead as the receiving location. This is a service contract rather than a supply or construction opportunity. It is suited to aviation operators able to provide crewed helicopter hire and coordinate flights involving island locations, election materials and a fixed counting operation. The requirement concerns operational transport on election night and includes community benefits as part of the service expectation.

The procurement reached the tender stage: the council invited offers through an open procedure, with electronic submission and English-language bids. The tender deadline was 17 July 2026 at 15:00, following an amendment from 12:00; tenders were to be opened online at 15:00 the same day. The contract period is 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2031, with an option for the council to extend it by up to two years subject to satisfactory performance and discussion with the successful tenderer. Bids must remain valid for 120 days, and variant bids are not allowed. Evaluation is based on 70% quality and 30% price. Quality covers operational delivery, timeliness, safety, risk, communication, improvement and community benefits. Community benefits carry a minimum expectation of 40 points.

This opportunity suits helicopter operators with suitably crewed aircraft, the operational capacity to serve designated island locations and the ability to deliver time-critical flights into Lochgilphead. Suppliers should be able to demonstrate safe and secure handling of ballot boxes and election materials, reliable service delivery, risk management, resilience and effective communication with the council and other parties involved in the counting operation. The evaluation places particular emphasis on operational methodology, timeliness, safety assurance and continuity, so bidders with relevant aviation operations, emergency or specialist transport experience may be well placed. The requirement also tests continuous improvement, coordination, fair work practices, prompt payment performance and community benefits. The Invitation to Tender sets the detailed suitability and technical requirements.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Election Night Flight Services

Notice Description

The objective of this Service is to ensure the safe, secure and timely transportation of ballot boxes and election materials from designated island locations to Lochgilphead to enable the ballot counting process to commence as scheduled.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The objective of this Service is to ensure the safe, secure and timely transportation of ballot boxes and election materials from designated island locations to Lochgilphead to enable the ballot counting process to commence as scheduled.

Renewal: The Contract may be extended for up to 2 years at the option of Argyll and Bute Council, subject to satisfactory performance of the Contract and following discussions with the successful Tenderer.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06af4a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067744-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

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
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60424120 - Hire of helicopters with crew

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
17 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
4 years, 6 months or 6 years, 6 months

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Argyll and Bute Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LOCHGILPHEAD
Postcode
PA31 8RT
Postcode Area
Paisley
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
TLM63 Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh, Arran and Cumbrae, and Argyll and Bute
Local Authority
Argyll and Bute
Electoral Ward
Mid Argyll
Westminster Constituency
Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber

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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