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DECC Appraisal of Peat Landslide Hazard Risk Assessments

Scottish Government

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

20 Aug 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

07 May 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit requires expert technical advice on peat stability for electricity-generation and overhead-line development proposals under sections 36, 36C and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989. The work covers auditing developers’ peat landslide hazard risk assessments against the Scottish Government’s best-practice guide; recommending how shortcomings should be addressed; advising on planning conditions to mitigate landslide risks; and advising on peat landslide assessments during environmental impact assessment screening and scoping. It also supports pre-application discussions and design changes where environmental sensitivities or mitigation measures need consideration. The services concern applications for projects such as wind farms over 50 megawatts and overhead lines in peatland areas across Scotland. This is specialist environmental and geotechnical consultancy work for the Scottish Government.

This procurement has been awarded following an open procedure. One lot was completed and awarded to Ironside Farrar Limited; the contract is active and was signed on 3 August 2026. The contract is for 24 months from July 2026, with an option for the Scottish Government to extend it by up to 12 months, on more than one occasion subject to the stated constraint. Its value is £500,000 excluding VAT, with discretion to increase this by up to 20%, to a maximum of £600,000, if demand exceeds the original value. The tender deadline and bid opening were 8 June 2026 at 12:00. Evaluation weighted overall quality at 75% and price at 25%. Four electronic bids were received, including three from SMEs.

This award indicates recurring demand from the Scottish Government for independent appraisal of peat landslide and wider geotechnical or environmental risk assessments linked to major energy infrastructure. A credible future supplier would need experience appraising similar assessments and the ability to provide technically defensible advice to a consenting authority, including recommendations on mitigation and planning conditions. The required team combines at least three disciplines from engineering geology, geomorphology, geotechnical engineering, hydrogeology or hydrology, and ecology, led by a Competent Person chartered through an appropriate professional institution such as CEng, CGeol, CIWEM or MICE, or equivalent. Suppliers should also be able to demonstrate resilient supply-chain systems, subcontractor management and prompt payment performance, with clear details of any proposed subcontracting.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

DECC Appraisal of Peat Landslide Hazard Risk Assessments

Notice Description

The Scottish Government has awarded a contract for the provision of expert technical advice from qualified professionals on peat stability matters in relation to development proposals under section 36, 36C and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Scottish Ministers are the consenting authority for applications for the construction and operation of generating stations, and the installation of overhead lines, under sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 ("Electricity Act Applications"). The Energy Consents Unit processes a number of Electricity Act Applications (including some on peatland) which require an Environmental Impact Assessment, including wind farms with installed capacity in excess of 50 megawatts and overhead electric lines. In peatland areas, aside from potential ecological impacts there can be the risk of peat landslide as a result of the proposal, its engineering operations and its associated infrastructure (such as roads, access tracks, anemometer masts, substations and foundations) with the potential for risk to population and public safety where paths, roadways or properties may be impacted, or environmental pollution, especially where there is the potential for peat landslides to impact on nearby watercourses. As a result, where Electricity Act Applications are proposed on peatland habitats, comprehensive peat landslide hazard risk assessments (PLHRA) are required to be carried out in accordance with the Scottish Government "Peat Landslide Hazard and Risk Assessments: Best Practice Guide for Proposed Electricity Generation Developments" (published at https://www.gov.scot/publications/peat-landslide-hazard-risk-assessments-best-practice-guide-proposed-electricity/) and details are required to be included in EIA reports provided with the applications. In addition to processing Electricity Act Applications for consent, the Energy Consents Unit also has a role in considering proposals at pre-application stage, facilitating discussions with environmental stakeholders to enable design iterations to be made in light of environmental sensitivities, and establishing where mitigation measures may overcome environmental impacts which may arise from the deployment of projects. In order to determine the applications described above, the Energy Consents Unit requires access to technical expertise to audit the environmental information provided by developers against the Scottish Government Best Practice Guide referred to above; to make recommendations to Scottish Ministers on how any matters which fall short of best practice should be addressed; to provide advice and drafting input to Scottish Ministers on planning conditions which may be required to mitigate peat landslide risks; and to provide advice to Scottish Ministers on requirements for PLHRAs during EIA screening and scoping. These services may be required in the context on any of the applications under the Electricity Act which are determined by Scottish Ministers.

Options: It is not possible to predict the number of Electricity Act Applications or the number of peat landslide hazard risk assessments that will require appraisal during the term of the contract. This is dependent on the volume and nature of applications submitted by developers, over which the Scottish Government has no control. The total value of the contract, including any extension periods, is not anticipated to exceed 500,000 GBP excluding VAT. The Scottish Government may however, at its sole discretion, increase the value of the contract by up to 20% to a maximum of 600,000 GBP excluding VAT. Any increase to the contract value may only be applied where actual demand for the services exceeds 500,000 GBP during the contract term and/or any extension periods. Any increase shall not modify the nature, scope, or specification of the services, nor shall it alter the pricing mechanism, rates, or basis of payment set out in the contract.

Renewal: The contract will be for a period of 24 months commencing in July 2026. The Scottish Government may, by giving 30 days notice to the Service Provider, extend the period of the contract for up to 12 months. Subject to that constraint, the Scottish Government may extend the period of the Contract on more than one occasion.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000831252
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG562733
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
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

90711400 - Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) services other than for construction

90714000 - Environmental auditing

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Aug 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
8 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Should there be an ongoing requirement for these services beyond the initial contract term, and the contract is not extended, further notices are likely to be published between January and March 2028. However, if the contract is extended by up to 12 months, further notices could be published at any point between July 2028 and March 2029.

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

Ironside Farrar

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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