Award

Provision of Benthic Surveys for Craignure EIA

ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

19 Sep 2025 at 00:00

PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Argyll and Bute Council has completed the procurement process for the "Provision of Benthic Surveys for Craignure EIA". This contract pertains to the service industry category, involving strategic planning for upgrading the Craignure ferry terminal on the Isle of Mull, Scotland. The contract was awarded to Ocean Ecology, a large-scale supplier, due to the project's extreme urgency and specialised needs. The procurement followed a limited procurement method without prior publication, justified by the operational urgency to collect relevant data during the summer 2025 period. The contract value is £58,877 GBP, with a signing date of 19th September 2025. This phase of the project aims to collect and test samples essential for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report as part of a larger development effort.

This tender provides substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in environmental surveys and assessments, particularly those equipped to respond quickly to urgent project timelines. Companies with capacities for fieldwork in Scotland's coastal regions would be ideal candidates for similar contracts. The procurement method highlights the possibility for niche firms with local expertise and quick mobilisation capabilities to secure contracts even when traditional competitive processes are bypassed. Such projects can serve as a gateway to forging long-term partnerships with government bodies and expanding business portfolios in the public sector.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Benthic Surveys for Craignure EIA

Notice Description

Scottish Government and Transport Scotland strategic planning requires Argyll and Bute Council to upgrade the ferry terminal at Craignure (Isle of Mull, Scotland) to facilitate planned deployments of new and existing vessels. The proposed development intends to replace the pier at Craignure with a new pier in a nearby location. An EIA scoping report was developed by Ramboll UK Ltd.

Lot Information

Lot 1

This award is for the collection and testing of samples to inform the EIA Report.

Procurement Information

This direct award is justified due to the operational urgency to complete the specialist surveys so that the collected data is relevant to the summer period for 2025. The findings from the survey will feed into the wider report which is being provided under a separate procurement exercise 'Craignure EIA Surveys (CEC PS FW DA) (JUN533489)' awarded 22/07/2025 to Turner and Townsend. This supplier has been recommended to the council to complete the surveys by Turner and Townsend. The initial hope had been to subcontract to Ocean Ecology through a Contract Modification Note as the surveys were not initially identified. However, a CMN would not be an appropriate route to market for this survey as the estimated cost is beyond that of the 50.00% threshold as outlined in Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations (2015), therefore a JNCA represents a compliant route to market whilst accounting for the urgency of the requirement. Additionally, the supplier is based in Oban and has confirmed capacity to be able to carry out the surveys and mobilise once award has been made.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000810675
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539602
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
PCS Notice - Website Contract 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
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71313400 - Environmental impact assessment for construction

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£58,877 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
19 Sep 20255 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL
Contact Name
Lewis Cowburgh
Contact Email
lewis.cowburgh@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1546604484

Buyer Location

Locality
LOCHGILPHEAD
Postcode
PA31 8RT
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
TLM6 Highlands and Islands
Local Authority
Argyll and Bute
Electoral Ward
Mid Argyll
Westminster Constituency
Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

OCEAN ECOLOGY

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539602
    Provision of Benthic Surveys for Craignure EIA - Scottish Government and Transport Scotland strategic planning requires Argyll and Bute Council to upgrade the ferry terminal at Craignure (Isle of Mull, Scotland) to facilitate planned deployments of new and existing vessels. The proposed development intends to replace the pier at Craignure with a new pier in a nearby location. An EIA scoping report was developed by Ramboll UK Ltd.

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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