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Courier Services

Scottish Qualifications Authority

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

17 Aug 2026 at 16:07

Award Notice
Tender

08 Jul 2026 at 10:03

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Qualifications Scotland sought courier services for its education and assessment operations, covering same-day, overnight, international and examination-script carriage. The requirement included regular collections and deliveries between sites in Dalkeith and Glasgow and addresses across Scotland, including schools and colleges. Overnight services were intended to cover next-day and 48-hour deliveries, mainly across Scotland including the Highlands and Islands, with wider UK coverage. International courier services were also required. Script carriage covered collecting unmarked coursework, examination materials and artwork from examination centres, delivering materials to markers, and returning marked coursework and examination materials to Qualifications Scotland. The procurement was for services delivered across the UK, with international movements included in one lot.

The procurement was run by Qualifications Scotland under an open procedure and included a framework arrangement with up to eight participants. It was divided into four lots: same-day courier services, overnight 24-hour and 48-hour services, international courier services, and script carriage. All four lots were cancelled, and the associated awards were recorded as unsuccessful because the process was discontinued; no supplier was selected. The estimated total value was £2,360,000. Each lot had a planned 1,080-day contract period and a possible 12-month extension. The tender deadline, bid opening and award-period start were 11 August 2026 at 12:00. Evaluation for the first three lots gave 40% to price and 60% to service quality; script carriage used the same price weighting with security, understanding, delivery, support, added value and fair-work criteria.

This cancelled process shows sustained demand from Qualifications Scotland for a broad courier capability supporting examinations, coursework, artwork and routine organisational deliveries. A credible future supplier would need reliable same-day, next-day and 48-hour distribution, UK-wide coverage including remote Highlands and Islands locations, and international courier arrangements. Script carriage requires secure chain-of-custody handling for unmarked and marked assessment materials, collections from examination centres, deliveries to markers and controlled returns. The evaluation also indicates that service quality matters alongside price: suppliers would need evidence of secure operations, dependable timescale performance, contract management, management information, contingency arrangements and understanding of the buyer’s requirements. Environmental improvement, innovation, added-value services and fair-work practices were also part of the stated quality assessment, so a competing operator would need evidence in each area.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Courier Services

Notice Description

Courier Services - Generic and specific services

Lot Information

Same day Courier Services

We have regular deliveries between our sites in Dalkeith and Glasgow and require couriers to collect from and deliver to a variety of residential and business addresses (mainly schools and colleges) throughout Scotland.

Renewal: Potential 12 month extension

Overnight Courier Services - 24 hour (Next Day) and 48-hour

Qualifications Scotland has a regular requirement for an overnight courier service mainly throughout Scotland including the Highlands and Islands but also covering all parts of the UK

Renewal: Potential 12 extension

International Courier Services

Qualifications Scotland has a regular requirement for international courier services.

Renewal: 12 month possible extension

Script Carriage

This Lot will consist of 4 different services as detailed below: Service 1 - Collection of unmarked Coursework and Examination Materials from examination centres Service 2 - Collection of unmarked Artwork from examination centres. Service 3 - Delivery of unmarked Coursework and Examination Materials to markers Service 4 - Return of marked Coursework and Examination Materials to Qualifications Scotland

Renewal: 12 month possible extension

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c5e7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078243-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
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

64 - Postal and telecommunications services

CPV Codes

64120000 - Courier services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,360,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Aug 20264 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
11 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Retender process will commence May 2029

Notice Status

Tender Status
Cancelled
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Unsuccessful
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

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

Buyer Location

Locality
MIDLOTHIAN
Postcode
EH22 1FD
Postcode Area
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM11 East Lothian and Midlothian
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Midlothian
Electoral Ward
Dalkeith
Westminster Constituency
Midlothian

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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