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Provision of Sheriff Officer Services - Highland

The Highland Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

31 Aug 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

11 Jun 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Highland Council procured sheriff officer and debt collection services in Inverness to support recovery of Council Tax, Non-Domestic Rates and sundry debts. The work covers recovery activity carried out in line with relevant legislation and the Council’s instructions, policies and procedures, with the aim of maximising collections while maintaining proportionality and lawful practice. This is a public-sector service requirement rather than a supply or construction contract. The buying organisation is Highland Council, a local authority, and the delivery location is Inverness. The service is classified under CPV 79940000, covering collection-agency services. The requirement relates to a single service lot and includes electronic payment and ordering arrangements, with electronic invoicing permitted. Suppliers would need to provide the operational capability to undertake sheriff officer and debt recovery work for the Council.

This procurement is complete and has been awarded through an open procedure. Bids closed at 12:00 on 13 July 2026, with evaluation beginning at 13:00 the same day. The award was made to Scott & Co (Scotland) LLP on 13 July 2026. The resulting contract is active, was signed on 21 August 2026, and is valued at £1,400,000. The original estimated lot value was £1,800,000. The contract period is 1,800 days, with renewal options of up to a total of 24 months; the requirement is identified as recurring in 2031. Quality carried 80% of the evaluation and price 20%. Three electronic bids were received, all from SMEs. The successful supplier was the sole awardee for the single lot, and variants were not allowed.

This award shows that Highland Council has an established requirement for specialist debt recovery and sheriff officer services supporting local taxation, business rates and sundry debt collection. A credible competitor for the same requirement would need membership of the Society of Messengers-At-Arms and Sheriff Officers, with sheriff officers and Messengers-at-Arms commissioned to operate in the Sheriffdom of Grampian, Highlands and Islands. It would need appropriately qualified and accredited staff, named personnel for service delivery, and robust procedures for lawful, proportionate recovery activity. The Council also expects suitable quality management, such as ISO 9001 or equivalent arrangements, compliance with environmental legislation and a sound financial position. Required insurance capability includes employers’ and public liability cover, alongside professional indemnity protection.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Sheriff Officer Services - Highland

Notice Description

The Highland Council are seeking the provision of Debt Collection Services to support the recovery of Council Tax, Non-Domestic Rates and Sundry Debts.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Highland Council requires debt collection services to support the recovery of Council Tax, Non-Domestic Rates and Sundry Debts. All recovery activity must be undertaken in compliance with the relevant legislation and in accordance with the Council's instructions, policies, and procedures, with the aim of maximising collections while ensuring proportionality and lawful practice.

Renewal: Options up to a total of 24 months

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000834472
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG563446
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

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79940000 - Collection agency services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,800,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,800,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£1,400,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
31 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
13 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
2031

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
The Highland Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
INVERNESS
Postcode
IV3 5NX
Postcode Area
Inverness
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM2 Highlands and Islands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM20 Highlands and Islands
Delivery Location
TLM6 Highlands and Islands
Local Authority
Highland
Electoral Ward
Inverness West
Westminster Constituency
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Scott & Co (Scotland) LLP

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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