Award

Strategic Digital Partner for Website and Mobile Applications

CALMAC FERRIES LIMITED

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

02 Feb 2026 at 00:00

Tender

30 Jan 2026 at 00:00

Summary of the contracting process

CalMac Ferries Limited is seeking a strategic digital partner through a competitive procedure with negotiation to enhance its digital platform, which supports three public-facing websites and mobile applications. This procurement is categorized under services and focuses on the industry of digital support and infrastructure management. Located in the UKM region, the process includes continuous improvement and must align with CalMac’s Digital North Star roadmap. The tender, titled "Strategic Digital Partner for Website and Mobile Applications," has a total estimated value of £7,500,000 with submission deadlines set for 4th March 2026. Significant dates are marked by the procurement stage progressing from planning to tendering, with a future invitation date on 31st March 2026 for further stages.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses specializing in digital solutions, particularly those with experience in maintaining and managing complex web platforms and mobile applications within service-oriented industries. The winning bidder would be positioned as a delivery partner, maintaining infrastructure stability, scalability, and resilience while implementing future integrations and innovations. Companies with a robust technical foundation, capable of meeting compliance with security and regulatory standards, and demonstrating capabilities in handling comprehensive systems like Microsoft Azure, will find this opportunity particularly beneficial for expanding their digital service offerings and establishing long-term business relationships with a major ferry operator. Additionally, there is an emphasis on delivering community benefits, such as offering digital skills training or collaborating with educational institutions, thus expanding the broader social impact through the procurement process.

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How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Strategic Digital Partner for Website and Mobile Applications

Notice Description

CalMac Ferries operates a business-critical digital platform comprising three public-facing websites (CalMac Consumer, CalMac Corporate, and David MacBrayne Group) and native mobile applications for iOS and Android. This platform is central to delivering ferry services, customer communications, and operational support. The current solution is built on Umbraco CMS, hosted in Microsoft Azure, and integrates with multiple internal and third-party systems, including booking, messaging, and analytics. It supports real-time service updates, timetables, and customer notifications, and is aligned with CalMac's Digital North Star roadmap, which aims to create a seamless, data-driven customer experience. CalMac now seeks a strategic digital partner to provide: -Ongoing support and maintenance of the existing platform. -Hosting and infrastructure management within Azure. -Continuous improvement and iterative enhancements under CalMac's governance. -Compliance with security, accessibility, and regulatory standards. -Capability to deliver future integrations and innovation through structured change control. The partner will act as a delivery partner, not a strategic owner, ensuring stability, scalability, and resilience while supporting CalMac's long-term digital vision.

Lot Information

Lot 1

CalMac Ferries operates a business-critical digital platform comprising three public-facing websites (CalMac Consumer, CalMac Corporate, and David MacBrayne Group) and native mobile applications for iOS and Android. This platform is central to delivering ferry services, customer communications, and operational support. The current solution is built on Umbraco CMS, hosted in Microsoft Azure, and integrates with multiple internal and third-party systems, including booking, messaging, and analytics. It supports real-time service updates, timetables, and customer notifications, and is aligned with CalMac's Digital North Star roadmap, which aims to create a seamless, data-driven customer experience. CalMac now seeks a strategic digital partner to provide: -Ongoing support and maintenance of the existing platform. -Hosting and infrastructure management within Azure. -Continuous improvement and iterative enhancements under CalMac's governance. -Compliance with security, accessibility, and regulatory standards. -Capability to deliver future integrations and innovation through structured change control. The partner will act as a delivery partner, not a strategic owner, ensuring stability, scalability, and resilience while supporting CalMac's long-term digital vision.

Renewal: The initial term will run for a period of 3 years, after which there will be the option to extend by up to an additional 24 months.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000822233
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=FEB548508
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive procedure with negotiation
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support


CPV Codes

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£7,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Feb 20263 months ago
Submission Deadline
4 Mar 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
2 Feb 20263 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Cancelled
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Unsuccessful
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
CALMAC FERRIES LIMITED
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
GOUROCK
Postcode
PA19 1QP
Post Town
Paisley
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM3 West Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM33 Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, and Renfrewshire
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland

Local Authority
Inverclyde
Electoral Ward
Inverclyde West
Westminster Constituency
Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JAN548474
    Strategic Digital Partner for Website and Mobile Applications - CalMac Ferries operates a business-critical digital platform comprising three public-facing websites (CalMac Consumer, CalMac Corporate, and David MacBrayne Group) and native mobile applications for iOS and Android. This platform is central to delivering ferry services, customer communications, and operational support. The current solution is built on Umbraco CMS, hosted in Microsoft Azure, and integrates with multiple internal and third-party systems, including booking, messaging, and analytics. It supports real-time service updates, timetables, and customer notifications, and is aligned with CalMac's Digital North Star roadmap, which aims to create a seamless, data-driven customer experience. CalMac now seeks a strategic digital partner to provide: -Ongoing support and maintenance of the existing platform. -Hosting and infrastructure management within Azure. -Continuous improvement and iterative enhancements under CalMac's governance. -Compliance with security, accessibility, and regulatory standards. -Capability to deliver future integrations and innovation through structured change control. The partner will act as a delivery partner, not a strategic owner, ensuring stability, scalability, and resilience while supporting CalMac's long-term digital vision.
  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=FEB548508
    Strategic Digital Partner for Website and Mobile Applications - CalMac Ferries operates a business-critical digital platform comprising three public-facing websites (CalMac Consumer, CalMac Corporate, and David MacBrayne Group) and native mobile applications for iOS and Android. This platform is central to delivering ferry services, customer communications, and operational support. The current solution is built on Umbraco CMS, hosted in Microsoft Azure, and integrates with multiple internal and third-party systems, including booking, messaging, and analytics. It supports real-time service updates, timetables, and customer notifications, and is aligned with CalMac's Digital North Star roadmap, which aims to create a seamless, data-driven customer experience. CalMac now seeks a strategic digital partner to provide: -Ongoing support and maintenance of the existing platform. -Hosting and infrastructure management within Azure. -Continuous improvement and iterative enhancements under CalMac's governance. -Compliance with security, accessibility, and regulatory standards. -Capability to deliver future integrations and innovation through structured change control. The partner will act as a delivery partner, not a strategic owner, ensuring stability, scalability, and resilience while supporting CalMac's long-term digital vision.

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