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Completion of Commissioned Archaeological Projects

Historic Environment Scotland

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

21 Oct 2026 at 08:53

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Historic Environment Scotland commissioned archaeological services to complete outstanding work at the Links of Noltland, a protected historic site on Westray in Orkney. The work concerns an archaeological project originally commissioned in response to coastal erosion, including ongoing work at the site and completion of the project through post-excavation work, final reporting, publication where appropriate, and submission of the archaeological archive. The contractor also stores and curates the archaeological assemblage from the excavation. This is a specialist heritage and archaeological services requirement, focused on bringing an existing excavation project and its records to completion rather than starting a new investigation.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to EASE Archaeology. Historic Environment Scotland used a limited procedure without a prior competition, relying on the supplier’s technical knowledge as the original excavator and its existing custody of the archaeological assemblage. The contract was signed on 20 October 2026 and is valued at £97,220. Its stated maximum duration is 24 months. The requirement was treated as a single lot covering the Links of Noltland project. The procurement rationale was that the original contractor’s knowledge of the finds is unparalleled and that information another supplier would need to manage and store the collection is not currently in the public domain. No award date is recorded.

For suppliers preparing for comparable archaeological commissions from Historic Environment Scotland, this award shows the importance of continuity with previously commissioned excavation work. EASE Archaeology was selected as the original excavator, with established knowledge of the finds and responsibility for storing and curating the assemblage. Credibility for this specific type of follow-on work therefore depends on being able to carry out post-excavation analysis, complete final reporting, prepare publication where appropriate, and submit the archive, while maintaining appropriate custody and understanding of the archaeological material. The requirement is a focused completion project at a coastal-erosion site, not a new excavation commission. The award demonstrates that specialist familiarity with the site and collection can be decisive where the necessary information is not publicly available.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Completion of Commissioned Archaeological Projects

Notice Description

This Voluntary Ex-Ante (VEAT) Notice relates to the intended procurement for the completion of already commissioned archaeological projects. The contract duration is for a maximum of 24 months.

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. Completion of outstanding previously commissioned archaeological projects and ongoing works at the Property in Care of Links of Noltland [PIC304], Westray, Orkney. The original commissioned project was in response to coastal erosion, the final work required is to bring this project to completion, (final reporting and publication if appropriate and archive submission). The contractor lead on post-excavation and currently store the entire archaeological assemblage.

Procurement Information

HES intends to award to the Supplier on the basis that competition is absent for technical reasons. The original commission projects were provided by the contractror who still store and curate the assemblage. Given the nature of the services described in II.2.4 of this notice, the contractor is the original excavators of these sites, their knowledge of what has been found is unparalleled, and as they are not published, the information which another contractor would require to store and manage the collection is not in the public domain at present.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078c62
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099245-2026
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

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71351914 - Archaeological services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£97,220 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Oct 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
TLM65 Orkney Islands
Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
Southside/Newington
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

EASE Archaeology

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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