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Marine Services Framework

Crown Estate Scotland

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

29 Jul 2026 at 09:22

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Crown Estate Scotland is procuring a Marine Services Framework for strategic delivery partners supporting the marine activities in its 2026–31 Corporate Plan. The services are delivered in Scotland and cover three areas. Lot 1 is technical consultancy for offshore energy and infrastructure, aquaculture and marine ecosystem services, including technical due diligence, project management, reports, publications, sector profiles, tenant surveys and asset-life scenarios. Lot 2 covers commercial and economic advice on seabed agreements, leasing terms, fees, rents, valuation, financial security, insurance, markets, regulation and sector-specific issues affecting energy, infrastructure and aquaculture. Lot 3 covers seabed leasing and market access advice, including planning, regulatory context, stakeholder engagement, leasing offers, commercial terms and applicant guidance. Up to two suppliers may be appointed to each lot.

The procurement has reached tender: Crown Estate Scotland invited offers through an open procedure for a framework agreement with up to six participants. Responses were to be submitted electronically in English by 31 August 2026 at 12:00 BST; bids were due to be opened at that time, with evaluation scheduled from the deadline. The framework is divided into three lots, with individual estimated values of £600,000 for technical consultancy and £500,000 for commercial and economic support; the overall estimated value is £4,990,000. Each lot is planned to run from 12 November 2026 to 12 November 2028, with up to two further 12-month extensions. Evaluation is 70% quality and 30% price, and variants are not allowed.

This opportunity suits specialist consultancy firms able to provide senior, multidisciplinary advice across marine sectors and manage separate commissions. Lot 1 favours capability in offshore energy, infrastructure, aquaculture, marine ecosystems, engineering, technical due diligence and project management. Lot 2 suits commercial, economic, financial and valuation specialists with knowledge of leasing, rents, markets, regulation, energy infrastructure and aquaculture. Lot 3 requires expertise in seabed leasing, planning, market access, stakeholder engagement, commercial modelling and applicant assessment. Staff names and qualifications must be provided. Depending on the lot, the lead contact must hold PMQ, PRINCE2, MIET, CFA or CA/ACCA credentials. Core teams also require relevant CEng, MRTPI or MRICS Registered Valuer qualifications, with additional CFA or ACCA expertise for Lot 2.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Marine Services Framework

Notice Description

Crown Estate Scotland (CES) is now seeking to appoint suppliers who will be considered strategic delivery partners, to help us to deliver the Marine activities of the 2026-31 Corporate Plan. The three lots of expertise that CES require and have organised each as its own bespoke lot within a new Marine Services Framework: Lot 1 Technical Consultancy support Lot 2 Commercial and Economic support Lot 3 Seabed Leasing and Market Access Advice Crown Estate Scotland intends to appoint up to two suppliers per each Lot.

Lot Information

Technical Consultancy Support

Specialist advice To provide specialist advice and expertise on all aspects of offshore energy & infrastructure, aquaculture and marine ecosystem services areas, to support development function activities for all sectors, enabling activities and provision of technical due diligence. This work will typically include technical advice notes, reporting, and publications which will be shared by CES or in collaboration with partner organisations, or occasionally for internal CES use. This work will support production of sector profiles on the CES website, support in preparing tenant surveys, asset lifetime scenario reports, identification of commercial models for emerging sectors, and other similar commissions. Each project will have its own specific requirements; however, it should be assumed that all will require provision of project management. Additional information: Scotland Excel is acting on behalf of Crown Estate Scotland (CES) in the execution of this tender but will not be party to the contract or the management of the contract throughout its lifetime.

Renewal: Crown Estate Scotland reserves the right to extend the contract for up to two (2) additional periods of 12 months, up to a maximum duration of four (4) years.

Commercial & Economic Support

Valuations/commercial terms advice To undertake periodic and as needed sector and/or project specific commercial reviews to inform the terms (e.g. rental) which will be applied to our seabed agreements. The terms require to be applied to each type of agreement (Exclusivity/Appraisal Agreement, Option Agreement, Lease and/or Licence) and offered in ad-hoc leasing and in leasing rounds. These commissions will typically require review of our leasing guidance documents, Heads of Terms, existing and model from agreements and other relevant policies. The specific terms to be considered include (but are not limited to): Leasing terms Application fees Option Fees Option Periods Limits on live option agreements at any one time Lease rental fees and/ or mechanisms Financial Security and liability requirements Estimated maximum loss requirements Insurance requirements Fee indexing mechanisms (e.g. CPI versus RPI) Open market rent assessments for operational leases These reviews will consider the background context within which the particular sector is developing _operating, including: current market conditions uncertainties in revenue support or business models value to the grantee arising from the rights (including in the context of specific project economics) Regulatory environments and frameworks (eg Ofgem frameworks for Regulated Assets) Specific to Energy & Infrastructure: consideration of grid reinforcements and associated grid curtailment payments; subsidy and/ or regulated asset regimes; and policy and process developments brought forward by Government and National Energy System Operator (e.g. connections reform). Specific to Aquaculture: updates to sea lice framework as result of industry legal challenge to SEPA proposed framework. Future offshore developments for finfish, shellfish &/or seaweed outwith 3 nautical miles Finfish Production Audit (current contract in place until end of Feb 2028) needing retendered Q4 2027 Additional information: Scotland Excel is acting on behalf of Crown Estate Scotland (CES) in the execution of this tender but will not be party to the contract or the management of the contract throughout its lifetime.

Renewal: Crown Estate Scotland reserves the right to extend the contract for up to two (2) additional periods of 12 months, up to a maximum duration of four (4) years.

Seabed Leasing and Market Access Advice

Leasing Advice To work on sectoral market arrangements with an awareness of planning and regulatory environments to support leasing activities on an ad-hoc basis or in preparation for leasing rounds. CES leases seabed both on a 'plan-led' basis where a sectoral marine plan or equivalent policy is in place, or where no such plan exists, CES may lease seabed 'ad-hoc'. Leasing requires market appetite and stakeholder engagement activity is important to ensure our leasing is attractive to potential applicants and partner organisations. Documents need to be developed which detail the leasing offer, and commercial terms such as application fee, Option Fee and lease rental mechanism. Applicant guidance notes are required to explain the application evaluation criteria and how submissions are scored. In all of our leasing processes we must provide clear explanation of how competing interest will be resolved. Additional information in the specification Additional information: Scotland Excel is acting on behalf of Crown Estate Scotland (CES) in the execution of this tender but will not be party to the contract or the management of the contract throughout its lifetime.

Renewal: Crown Estate Scotland reserves the right to extend the contract for up to two (2) additional periods of 12 months, up to a maximum duration of four (4) years.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d5f7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071512-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

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

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

77 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

71300000 - Engineering services

71314000 - Energy and related services

71314300 - Energy-efficiency consultancy services

71335000 - Engineering studies

73210000 - Research consultancy services

77800000 - Aquaculture services

79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services

79411100 - Business development consultancy services

79413000 - Marketing management consultancy services

90712400 - Natural resources management or conservation strategy planning services

90713000 - Environmental issues consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,990,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,100,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
31 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
12 Nov 2026 - 12 Nov 2028 2-3 years
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
Crown Estate Scotland
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
EH3 9GL
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
TLM Scotland
Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

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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