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School of Biology/SMRU: Helicopter for August Aerial Surveys of Seals in Scotland

University of St Andrews

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

10 Aug 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

05 Jun 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of St Andrews bought helicopter services for the Sea Mammal Research Unit’s aerial surveys of seals in Scotland. The work involves operating an aircraft fitted with survey equipment, including a thermal imaging camera, to survey seals on rocky coastlines and their haul-out sites. Surveys cover the Scottish coastline, generally excluding islands more than 10 kilometres offshore, and are weather-dependent because moderate or heavy rain can affect seal behaviour and survey conditions. This is a specialist service contract rather than a helicopter supply contract. The buyer is an education-sector public body, and the delivery location is Scotland, with the tender identifying St Andrews as the principal location. Suppliers need to provide the aircraft, flight operations and associated capability needed to support aerial wildlife surveys.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded through an open procedure. The University of St Andrews selected PDG Helicopters for the single lot. The tender deadline and bid opening were 8 July 2026 at 12:00, and the contract was awarded on 8 July 2026. The estimated tender value was £250,000; the awarded contract value is £273,135. The contract was signed on 31 July 2026 and is active, with a stated duration of 1,080 days. The buyer included provision for two 12-month extensions, subject to annual review. The requirement could involve approximately 140 hours of engine time, including transit and positioning flights, spread over 30–40 flying days. Evaluation weighted quality at 60% and cost at 40%. Two electronic bids were received, both from SMEs.

This procurement demonstrates demand for specialist helicopter operators able to support aerial marine-wildlife surveys in Scotland. A credible future supplier would need an aircraft suitable for carrying and operating survey equipment, including thermal imaging equipment, together with pilots and operational staff capable of working safely around rocky coastlines and seal haul-out sites. The service requires flexibility around low-tide survey windows and the ability to manage weather-dependent flying, positioning flights and repeated survey operations. The buyer also required staff names and qualifications, and indicated that execution is reserved to a particular profession, so appropriate aviation competence and professional authorisations are central to competing. Experience delivering aerial environmental, ecological or coastal survey work would help demonstrate understanding of the operational conditions and quality requirements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

School of Biology/SMRU: Helicopter for August Aerial Surveys of Seals in Scotland

Notice Description

Helicopter for August Aerial Surveys of Seals in Scotland

Lot Information

Lot 1

SMRU have developed a technique for surveying seals inhabiting rocky coastlines using a thermal imaging camera in a helicopter. The survey equipment that will be used on/in the aircraft is described below under 'Survey methods & equipment'. Available survey periods are dictated by "low tide windows", i.e. local low water occurring in the afternoon, during the harbour seals' annual moult season in August. Surveys are weather dependent; we cannot survey in moderate or heavy rain as seals are more likely to leave their haul-out sites in very wet conditions. Over the next three to five years, SMRU is planning to carry out seal surveys around the Scottish coastline, excluding most islands that are over 10km offshore. All surveys will be carried out in August and could require up to a total of approximately 140 hours of engine time (including transit/positioning flights) spread over 30-40 flying days. Please see tender documents for full requirements.. All tenders for the University of St Andrews are administered through our eTendering System (InTend).To Express an Interest please go to our tender website at https://intendhost.co.uk/universityofstandrews Please note that 'Notes of Interest' placed via PCS (Public Contracts Scotland) are not automatically accepted

Renewal: Provision for 2 x 12 month extensions subject to annual review.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000833714
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG562018
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

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60424100 - Hire of aircraft with crew

60424120 - Hire of helicopters with crew

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£273,135 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
8 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
University of St Andrews
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
GUARDBRIDGE
Postcode
KY16 0US
Postcode Area
Kirkcaldy
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM0 Eastern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM01 Clackmannanshire and Fife
Delivery Location
TLM72 Clackmannanshire and Fife
Local Authority
Fife
Electoral Ward
Tay Bridgehead
Westminster Constituency
North East Fife

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

PDG Helicopters

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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