Notice Information
Notice Title
Mercury Drone Port - Concessionaire Contract Opportunity - PIN
Notice Description
Angus Council is engaging with the market regarding a future concessionaire contract for the Mercury Drone Port in Montrose, a key project within the Tay Cities Deal. The Drone Port aims to become a world leading facility for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone trials, supporting decarbonisation of offshore operations, attracting private sector investment, and offering community engagement opportunities.
Lot Information
Lot 1
Angus Council is engaging with the market regarding a future concessionaire contract for the Mercury Drone Port in Montrose, a key project within the Tay Cities Deal. The Drone Port aims to become a world leading facility for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone trials, supporting decarbonisation of offshore operations, attracting private sector investment, and offering community engagement opportunities. Since an initial 2023 Request for Information, the Council has completed feasibility work identifying a preferred site and required airspace infrastructure, along with a high level Concept of Operations. The preferred regulatory pathway involves establishing a Temporary Reserved Area (TRA) to enable BVLOS flights from Montrose to the North Sea. The project anticipates three operational phases: 1. TRA demonstration (1-2 years) 2. Industrialisation via Transponder Mandatory Zones or similar (3-5 years) 3. Full integration at scale (10 years) The future concessionaire will develop the design specification for ground and air infrastructure and supply all air related equipment, and operate the drone port. Angus Council will fund and deliver ground infrastructure, with approximately 400,000 GBP allocated. To inform the upcoming procurement specification, the Council is inviting organisations to complete a new Request for Information by 20 February 2026. This engagement is not part of a procurement process and does not provide any competitive advantage. No costs or commercially sensitive information should be submitted, and all data will be handled in line with GDPR.. Attached is the PIN Request for Information and Draft Concessionaire Agreement.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-r6ebe6-0000820187
- Publication Source
- Public Contracts Scotland
- Latest Notice
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JAN546879
- Current Stage
- Planning
- All Stages
- Planning
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- PCS Notice - Website 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
32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment
71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
-
- CPV Codes
32424000 - Network infrastructure
71311200 - Transport systems consultancy services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- Not specified
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 9 Jan 20267 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- 31 Aug 20263 days to go
- 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
- Angus Council
- Contact Name
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Email
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Phone
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Buyer Location
- Locality
- FORFAR
- Postcode
- DD8 1AN
- Postcode Area
- Dundee
- Country
- Scotland
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLM Scotland
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLM0 Eastern Scotland
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLM03 Angus and Dundee City
- Delivery Location
- TLM71 Angus and Dundee City
-
- Local Authority
- Angus
- Electoral Ward
- Forfar and District
- Westminster Constituency
- Angus and Perthshire Glens
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=JAN546879&idx=3
6th February 2026 - Tay Cities Communication Protocol -
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=JAN546879&idx=1
9th January 2026 - PIN Request for Information -
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=JAN546879&idx=2
9th January 2026 - DRAFT Concessionaire Agreement -
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JAN546879
Mercury Drone Port - Concessionaire Contract Opportunity - PIN - Angus Council is engaging with the market regarding a future concessionaire contract for the Mercury Drone Port in Montrose, a key project within the Tay Cities Deal. The Drone Port aims to become a world leading facility for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone trials, supporting decarbonisation of offshore operations, attracting private sector investment, and offering community engagement opportunities.
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
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.