This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Summary of the contracting process

Historic Environment Scotland, located in Edinburgh, has completed its procurement process for the tender titled "Grounds Maintenance West Coast - Oban." This procurement, under the industry categories of Tourism, Heritage, Conservation, and the Built Environment, aimed to secure grounds maintenance services for sites in the Oban area, such as Dunstaffnage Castle & Chapel, Bonawe Iron Furnace, Ardchattan Priory, and Inverlochy Castle. The award stage of this procurement process was completed with a contract signed on 23rd June 2026 with Acera Grounds Ltd. The procurement method used was an open procedure, indicating a transparent and competitive process suitable for service providers with expertise in grounds maintenance within the UK, specifically the UKM region.

This tender presents numerous opportunities for business growth, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) specializing in grounds maintenance and landscaping services. With a contract value of £35,572, awarded to Acera Grounds Ltd, this procurement sets a precedent for potential suppliers aiming to compete in similar future tenders issued by Historic Environment Scotland or similar bodies. Businesses with robust financial standing, capable of meeting public liability insurance requirements and demonstrating compliance with Historic Environment Scotland's non-negotiable terms and conditions, would be well-positioned to explore and win similar contracts. The tender process also highlighted the importance of electronic submissions, thus benefiting businesses with efficient digital capabilities.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Grounds Maintenance West Coast - Oban

Notice Description

HES is looking for a supplier to provide Grounds Maintenance Services for the following sites in Oban area. - Dunstaffnage Castle & Chapel - Bonawe Iron Furnace - Ardchattan Priory - Inverlochy Castle

Lot Information

Lot 1

Please see Document 2 Specification for full details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000832879
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG561523
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
PCS Notice - Website 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

77 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services


CPV Codes

77314000 - Grounds maintenance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£35,572 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Aug 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
5 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
23 Jun 20261 months ago
Contract Period
15 Jun 2026 - 30 Sep 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH9 1SH
Post Town
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland

Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
Southside/Newington
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ACERA GROUNDS

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-r6ebe6-0000832879-2026-08-04T00:00:00Z",
    "date": "2026-08-04T00:00:00Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-r6ebe6-0000832879",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "org-30",
            "name": "Historic Environment Scotland",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Historic Environment Scotland"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Longmore House, Salisbury Place",
                "locality": "Edinburgh",
                "region": "UKM75",
                "postalCode": "EH9 1SH"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "procurement@hes.scot",
                "telephone": "+44 1316688866",
                "url": "http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "National or federal agency/office",
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE"
                    },
                    {
                        "id": "Tourism, Heritage, Conservation, Built Environment",
                        "scheme": "COFOG"
                    },
                    {
                        "id": "Conservation, Heritage, Built Environment, Tourism",
                        "scheme": "COFOG"
                    },
                    {
                        "id": "Heritage, Tourism, Conservation, Built Environment",
                        "scheme": "COFOG"
                    }
                ],
                "url": "http://historicenvironment.scot"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "org-8",
            "name": "Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court"
            },
            "address": {
                "locality": "Edinburgh"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "url": "http://"
            },
            "roles": [
                "reviewBody"
            ]
        },
        {
            "id": "org-61",
            "name": "Historic Environment Scotland",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Historic Environment Scotland"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Longmore House, Salisbury Place",
                "locality": "Edinburgh",
                "region": "UKM75",
                "postalCode": "EH9 1SH"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "procurement@hes.scot",
                "telephone": "+44 1316688866",
                "url": "http://"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "National or federal agency/office",
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE"
                    },
                    {
                        "id": "Built Environment, Tourism, Heritage, Conservation",
                        "scheme": "COFOG"
                    },
                    {
                        "id": "Tourism, Heritage, Conservation, Built Environment",
                        "scheme": "COFOG"
                    },
                    {
                        "id": "Conservation, Heritage, Built Environment, Tourism",
                        "scheme": "COFOG"
                    }
                ],
                "url": "http://historicenvironment.scot"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "org-69",
            "name": "Acera Grounds Ltd",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Acera Grounds Ltd"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "15 Queensferry Road",
                "locality": "Edinburgh",
                "region": "UK",
                "postalCode": "EH4 3HB"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "telephone": "+44 7555793163"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "sme",
                "url": "http://"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "org-47",
            "name": "Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "27 Chambers Street",
                "locality": "Edinburgh",
                "postalCode": "EH1 1LB"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "url": "http://"
            },
            "roles": [
                "reviewBody"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "name": "Historic Environment Scotland",
        "id": "org-61"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "HES/C/4326",
        "title": "Grounds Maintenance West Coast - Oban",
        "description": "HES is looking for a supplier to provide Grounds Maintenance Services for the following sites in Oban area. - Dunstaffnage Castle & Chapel - Bonawe Iron Furnace - Ardchattan Priory - Inverlochy Castle",
        "status": "complete",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "77314000",
                        "scheme": "CPV"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKM"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKM"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "submissionMethod": [
            "electronicSubmission"
        ],
        "submissionMethodDetails": "http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk",
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-06-05T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "awardPeriod": {
            "startDate": "2026-06-05T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "MAY556573",
                "documentType": "contractNotice",
                "title": "Grounds Maintenance West Coast - Oban",
                "description": "HES is looking for a supplier to provide Grounds Maintenance Services for the following sites in Oban area. - Dunstaffnage Castle & Chapel - Bonawe Iron Furnace - Ardchattan Priory - Inverlochy Castle",
                "url": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY556573",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "MAY556573-1",
                "title": "Document 1 - Invitation to Quote - to be completed",
                "url": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=MAY556573&idx=1",
                "datePublished": "2026-05-26T13:36:58Z",
                "dateModified": "2026-05-26T13:36:58Z",
                "format": "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document"
            },
            {
                "id": "MAY556573-2",
                "title": "Document 2 - Specification - For Information",
                "url": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=MAY556573&idx=2",
                "datePublished": "2026-05-26T13:36:58Z",
                "dateModified": "2026-05-26T13:36:58Z",
                "format": "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document"
            },
            {
                "id": "MAY556573-3",
                "title": "Document 3 - Pricing Schedule - To be completed",
                "url": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=MAY556573&idx=3",
                "datePublished": "2026-05-26T13:36:58Z",
                "dateModified": "2026-05-26T13:36:58Z",
                "format": "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet"
            },
            {
                "id": "MAY556573-4",
                "title": "HES Terms and Conditions - For Information",
                "url": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=MAY556573&idx=4",
                "datePublished": "2026-05-26T13:36:58Z",
                "dateModified": "2026-05-26T13:36:58Z",
                "format": "application/pdf"
            },
            {
                "id": "MAY556573-5",
                "title": "Site Drawings",
                "url": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=MAY556573&idx=5",
                "datePublished": "2026-06-02T17:55:29Z",
                "dateModified": "2026-06-02T17:55:29Z",
                "format": "application/x-zip-compressed"
            },
            {
                "id": "AUG561523",
                "documentType": "awardNotice",
                "title": "Grounds Maintenance West Coast - Oban",
                "description": "HES is looking for a supplier to provide Grounds Maintenance Services for the following sites in Oban area. - Dunstaffnage Castle & Chapel - Bonawe Iron Furnace - Ardchattan Priory - Inverlochy Castle",
                "url": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG561523",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ],
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "Please see Document 2 Specification for full details",
                "status": "complete",
                "hasOptions": false,
                "submissionTerms": {
                    "variantPolicy": "notAllowed"
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-06-15T00:00:00Z",
                    "endDate": "2026-09-30T00:00:00Z"
                },
                "hasRenewal": false
            }
        ],
        "bidOpening": {
            "date": "2026-06-05T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "contractTerms": {
            "hasElectronicPayment": true,
            "hasElectronicOrdering": true,
            "electronicInvoicingPolicy": "allowed"
        },
        "coveredBy": [
            "GPA"
        ],
        "selectionCriteria": {
            "criteria": [
                {
                    "type": "economic",
                    "description": "HES use Scotbis, an independent provider of business credit reports, to assess the financial standing of tenderers. The overall aim of this assessment is to ensure, as far as possible, that any potential Supplier will not have financial difficulties that endanger their ability to perform the Contract. If financial information cannot be gained from that source Historic Environment Scotland will request that you provide full audited accounts for the last full financial year. If Suppliers cannot provide any of the assurances as detailed above, and it is determined by HES that your financial strength is not adequate, then your company may not pass the financial evaluation. If you can provide the assurances as detailed above, HES may explore these options with you before determining whether your company can be taken forward in this procurement exercise. Bank details may also be sought to support the above.",
                    "minimum": "Employers Liability Insurance - 5 million Public Liability Insurance - 10 million"
                }
            ]
        },
        "submissionTerms": {
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ]
        },
        "classification": {
            "id": "77314000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
        },
        "hasRecurrence": false
    },
    "language": "EN",
    "description": "HES cannot accept suppliers Terms and Conditions. HES will not negotaite at point of award or post contract award. (SC Ref:839161)",
    "links": [
        {
            "rel": "canonical",
            "href": "https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000832879"
        },
        {
            "rel": "canonical",
            "href": "https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000832879"
        }
    ],
    "noticetype": "PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice",
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "HES/C/4326",
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "org-69",
                    "name": "Acera Grounds Ltd"
                }
            ],
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "HES/C/4326",
            "awardID": "HES/C/4326",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amount": 35572,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "dateSigned": "2026-06-23T00:00:00Z"
        }
    ],
    "bids": {
        "statistics": [
            {
                "id": "106",
                "measure": "bids",
                "value": 2,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "107",
                "measure": "smeBids",
                "value": 2,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "108",
                "measure": "foreignBidsFromEU",
                "value": 0,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "109",
                "measure": "foreignBidsFromNonEU",
                "value": 2,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "110",
                "measure": "electronicBids",
                "value": 2,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ]
    }
}