Planning

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE DUNOON - INVERCLYDE FERRY SERVICE

COWAL GOUROCK TRANSPORT LINK

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

08 Sep 2025 at 00:00

OJEU - F1 - Prior Information Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Cowal Gourock Transport Link, acting as the buying organisation, is planning a tender process titled "Expression of Interest for the Dunoon – Inverclyde Ferry Service," published on 8th September 2025. This procurement is classified under services within the "Housing and community amenities" industry category and is set in the Cowal Peninsula and Inverclyde region, UK. The current stage is planning with a future notice planned for 16th February 2026. The total estimated value for this project is £20 million GBP, and the procurement process aims to introduce a high-frequency, competitively-priced ferry service between Dunoon and Inverclyde, including infrastructure maintenance and integration with local transport options.

This procurement presents substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in marine transport services, vessel maintenance, and transport infrastructure management. Companies with expertise in operating passenger ferry services, managing concessionary fare schemes, and collaborating with public transport services would find this project particularly suitable. The requirement for a minimum of two operational vessels with additional backup capacity and maintenance responsibilities indicates a broad scope for potential service providers to implement innovative solutions that align with the buyer's outcomes while potentially benefitting from long-term operational contracts.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Start Free Trial Book a Demo
All Features Pricing

Notice Information

Notice Title

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE DUNOON - INVERCLYDE FERRY SERVICE

Notice Description

DUNOON - INVERCLYDE FERRY SERVICE

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Buyer is looking for one or more Suppliers to deliver the following aims: High frequency, year-round competitively priced ferry service between Dunoon and Inverclyde. The service is envisaged as operating with a minimum of two vessels with provision for a backup vessel. However the buyer is willing to consider other options that align with the desired outcome. Repairs, insurance, and maintenance of the Linkspan at Dunoon. Connection with Scotrail Trains into Glasgow and bus services to other areas served by Bus Services from Dunoon Ferry Terminal. Operation of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport concessionary fares scheme. The Cowal Peninsula entitles the elderly and disabled to receive reduced ferry fares with a Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Ferry Card. There is no Road Equivalent Tarif for vehicles as yet, though this may be introduced at some point by the government.. See attached Expression of Interest document

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000809541
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP538690
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F1 - Prior Information Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60610000 - Ferry transport services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£20,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
16 Feb 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
COWAL GOUROCK TRANSPORT LINK
Contact Name
DAVID CLOUGH
Contact Email
cgtlink25@gmail.com
Contact Phone
+44 7761355644

Buyer Location

Locality
DUNOON
Postcode
PA23 7HH
Post Town
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, TLM83 Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, and Renfrewshire
Local Authority
Argyll and Bute
Electoral Ward
Dunoon
Westminster Constituency
Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-r6ebe6-0000809541-2025-09-08T00:00:00Z",
    "date": "2025-09-08T00:00:00Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-r6ebe6-0000809541",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "org-24",
            "name": "Cowal Gourock Transport Link",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Cowal Gourock Transport Link"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "c/o Dunoon Community Council, Queens Hall",
                "locality": "Dunoon",
                "region": "UK",
                "postalCode": "PA23 7HH"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "DAVID CLOUGH",
                "email": "cgtlink25@gmail.com",
                "telephone": "+44 7761355644",
                "url": "http://"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "Regional or local authority",
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE"
                    },
                    {
                        "id": "06",
                        "description": "Housing and community amenities",
                        "scheme": "COFOG"
                    }
                ],
                "url": "http://www.dunooncdt.org"
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "name": "Cowal Gourock Transport Link",
        "id": "org-24"
    },
    "planning": {
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "SEP538690",
                "documentType": "plannedProcurementNotice",
                "title": "EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE DUNOON - INVERCLYDE FERRY SERVICE",
                "description": "DUNOON - INVERCLYDE FERRY SERVICE",
                "url": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP538690",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "CGTLink 01",
        "title": "EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE DUNOON - INVERCLYDE FERRY SERVICE",
        "description": "DUNOON - INVERCLYDE FERRY SERVICE",
        "status": "planned",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "60610000",
                        "scheme": "CPV"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryLocation": {
                    "description": "Cowal Peninsual / Inverclyde"
                },
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKM83"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKM63"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amount": 20000000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "SEP538690-1",
                "title": "EofI FOR THE DUNOON-INVERCLYDE FERRY SERVICE V1.3 7th September (open document)",
                "url": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=SEP538690&idx=1",
                "datePublished": "2025-09-08T10:35:05Z",
                "dateModified": "2025-09-08T10:35:05Z",
                "format": "application/pdf"
            },
            {
                "id": "SEP538690-2",
                "title": "pdf version",
                "url": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=SEP538690&idx=2",
                "datePublished": "2025-09-08T10:35:05Z",
                "dateModified": "2025-09-08T10:35:05Z",
                "format": "application/pdf"
            }
        ],
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "The Buyer is looking for one or more Suppliers to deliver the following aims: High frequency, year-round competitively priced ferry service between Dunoon and Inverclyde. The service is envisaged as operating with a minimum of two vessels with provision for a backup vessel. However the buyer is willing to consider other options that align with the desired outcome. Repairs, insurance, and maintenance of the Linkspan at Dunoon. Connection with Scotrail Trains into Glasgow and bus services to other areas served by Bus Services from Dunoon Ferry Terminal. Operation of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport concessionary fares scheme. The Cowal Peninsula entitles the elderly and disabled to receive reduced ferry fares with a Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Ferry Card. There is no Road Equivalent Tarif for vehicles as yet, though this may be introduced at some point by the government.. See attached Expression of Interest document",
                "status": "planned"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-02-16T00:00:00Z"
        },
        "coveredBy": [
            "GPA"
        ],
        "classification": {
            "id": "60610000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
        },
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "32014L0024",
            "scheme": "CELEX"
        }
    },
    "language": "EN",
    "description": "NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=809541. (SC Ref:809541)",
    "links": [
        {
            "rel": "canonical",
            "href": "https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000809541"
        }
    ],
    "noticetype": "OJEU - F1 - Prior Information Notice"
}