Planning

Mercury Drone Port - Concessionaire Contract Opportunity - PIN

ANGUS COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

09 Jan 2026 at 00:00

PCS Notice - Website Prior Information Notice
Summary of the contracting process

See notice for full details.

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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 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
31 Aug 20267 months 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
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@angus.gov.uk
Contact Phone
+44 3452777778

Buyer Location

Locality
FORFAR
Postcode
DD8 1AN
Post Town
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

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. 

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