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Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme

Scottish Government

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

02 Oct 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

28 Nov 2025 at 00:00

OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Scottish Government bought the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, a coordinated surveillance and investigation service for stranded cetaceans, seals, sharks and marine turtles in Scotland. The work includes investigating causes of death, maintaining the stranding-event database and archived tissue samples, and producing annual and end-of-contract reports. The information supports statutory marine reporting commitments, including UK Marine Strategy, OSPAR and ICES. The supplier may also need to develop the volunteer network to improve reporting and investigations. Post-mortem investigations are carried out at the supplier’s premises. This is specialist marine animal stranding and post-mortem investigation work, rather than a general wildlife monitoring service.

The procurement is complete and the contract is active. The Scottish Government selected the University Court of the University of Glasgow as supplier; one bid was received. The contract was signed on 3 September 2026 and runs from 7 April 2026 to 6 April 2029, with two optional 12-month extensions, up to 6 April 2031. The contract value is £825,000. The Scottish Government used an open procedure. Evaluation weighted understanding and delivery of requirements at 35% and price at 30%; the remaining award-criteria detail was set out in the tender documents. Economic selection requirements included specific annual turnover of at least £1.65 million in each of the previous two years, public liability insurance of £1 million, a current ratio above 0.8 and positive net profit over the two-year cycle. Technical requirements included three relevant examples from the previous five years.

For a future Scottish Government requirement of this kind, a credible supplier would need to combine marine wildlife stranding surveillance with the facilities and expertise to investigate animal deaths through post-mortem work. The service also calls for reliable database and tissue-sample management, reporting that supports statutory marine obligations, and the capacity to coordinate or expand a volunteer network. Bidders would need to demonstrate relevant recent delivery, suitable technical facilities and equipment, appropriate staff and technician resources, and environmental management measures. Quality management is also a requirement: either independent UKAS-accredited ISO 9001 certification or a documented, senior-authorised and regularly reviewed quality policy suited to the organisation and work. Financial standing is a material barrier, alongside the ability to meet insurance requirements. The award went to a university, showing that institutional research capability can be relevant to this specialised service.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme

Notice Description

The aim of the project is to provide a coordinated approach to the surveillance of cetacean, seal, sharks and marine turtle strandings, and to investigate causes of death of stranded animals in Scotland. Where required, efforts should be made to expand and develop the established volunteer network to improve reporting and strandings investigations.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Scottish Marine Strandings Scheme (SMASS) has been in operation since 1992, with principal aim of providing a coordinated approach to the surveillance of cetacean, seal, shark and marine turtle strandings, and to investigate major causes of death of stranded animals in Scotland. Along with undertaking these investigations, SMASS maintains an online database of stranding events as well as hosting annual and end of contract reports on their website. Archived tissue samples from strandings attended by the SMASS team or members of the volunteer network are also stored and managed under the SMASS programme. The data collected is used to inform reporting commitments under statutory obligations (e.g. UK Marine Strategy, OSPAR, ICES).

Renewal: Two 12 month options to extend up to 6 April 2031.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000817132
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT565832
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

73112000 - Marine research services

85200000 - Veterinary services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£825,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£825,000 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Oct 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
9 Jan 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
7 Apr 2026 - 6 Apr 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
July 2030.

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Scottish Government
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
GLASGOW
Postcode
G2 8LU
Postcode Area
Glasgow
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM3 West Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM32 Glasgow City
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland
Local Authority
Glasgow City
Electoral Ward
Anderston/City/Yorkhill
Westminster Constituency
Glasgow North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

University Court of the University of Glasgow

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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