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Environmental Impact of Harvesting Marram

Historic Environment Scotland

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

30 Sep 2026 at 10:02

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Historic Environment Scotland is commissioning specialist ecological research into the environmental and coastal effects of harvesting marram grass in the Western Isles, including whether and how it can be harvested sustainably for traditional thatching. The work continues an existing multi-year study, rather than starting a new investigation. Completed research includes desk-based work, baseline surveys, site selection and permissions, development of the trial method, and the first year of cutting trials. The remaining work must maintain consistent methods, site knowledge, interpretation of data and relationships with stakeholders through to the study’s conclusion. This is research services (CPV 73110000), delivered in the Western Isles, Scotland.

The procurement is complete and Historic Environment Scotland selected Boreas Ecology for the single lot. The award is active, and the contract is also active. The contract was signed on 29 September 2026 and is valued at £81,100. The wider research programme began in 2022 and is due to conclude in 2030; four of its eight years had been completed when the requirement was described. The buyer used a limited procedure without prior publication of a competition, intending to award on the basis that competition was absent for technical reasons. Its stated justification was that the specialist had gathered research and data over the preceding four to five years and was critical to completing the work. No evaluation criteria are stated.

For a future requirement of this kind, a credible supplier would need specialist ecological research capability and demonstrable experience of coastal fieldwork, marram harvesting and its environmental effects. Continuity is particularly important: the selected consultant’s existing research, accumulated site knowledge and data interpretation were central to the buyer’s decision, alongside the ability to preserve the established methodology and maintain stakeholder relationships. Suppliers would need to manage a long-running study involving baseline evidence, site permissions and selection, designed trials and analysis of whether harvesting can be sustained for traditional thatching. The award shows demand for a specialist able to carry work through several years, rather than deliver a standalone survey. Historic Environment Scotland’s stated reliance on technical continuity also indicates that competing credibly may require evidence of relevant prior involvement or a strong means of transferring and maintaining project knowledge.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Environmental Impact of Harvesting Marram

Notice Description

Research examining the environmental impacts of harvesting marram in key coastel areas of the Western Isles

Lot Information

Lot 1

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) intends to award this contract under the conditions of regulation 33.4.b(ii) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) regulations. HES requires a specialist ecological consultant to continue delivery of an existing multi-year research project assessing the environmental and coastal implications of harvesting marram grass in the Western Isles, and determining whether, and how, marram grass can be harvested sustainably for traditional thatching. The project began in 2022 and is due to conclude in 2030. Four years of the eight-year programme have now been completed, including desktop research, baseline survey work, site selection, permissions, development of the trial methodology and initiation of the first year of cutting trials. The remaining work depends on maintaining consistency in methodology, site knowledge, data interpretation and stakeholder relationships across the full study period. The intention is to put in place a contract to allow completion of the research.

Procurement Information

HES intends to award to the supplier on the basis that competition is absent for technical reasons. Research and data have been gathered over the past 4-5 years by a specialist who is critical in finishing this work based on their research so far.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077d22
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092180-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73110000 - Research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£81,100 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Sep 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Historic Environment 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
EH9 1SH
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
TLM64 Na h-Eileanan Siar
Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
Southside/Newington
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Boreas Ecology

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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