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Renewable Energy Transport Opportunities Study (HITRANSformers)

Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS)

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

07 Aug 2026 at 01:00

PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice
Tender

19 Jun 2026 at 01:00

PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) commissioned a consultancy study on how renewable energy developments affect transport and logistics networks across the Highlands and Islands. The work covers consented, developed and proposed onshore and offshore energy schemes, grid reinforcement, construction and operational traffic, materials movements and abnormal-load routes. It also assesses network capacity, constraints and pinch-points; identifies strategic road, rail, port, harbour and waterway improvements; and provides indicative infrastructure priorities for policymakers, planners, infrastructure managers and Police Scotland. Outputs include an updateable electronic information resource, opportunities for local transport and construction SMEs, a collaborative network-use forum, policy mechanisms for investment, and an early technical note on Great Glen pumped-storage hydro logistics using the Caledonian Canal. HITRANS is the buyer and the work is delivered in the Highlands and Islands, with three in-person meetings in Inverness.

This procurement has been awarded following an open procedure. The single lot was awarded to Pell Frischmann Consultants Ltd on 20 July 2026, and the contract was signed on 30 July 2026. The awarded contract value is £98,750, against an estimated lot value and available budget of £100,000 excluding VAT. The contract runs from 27 June to 30 October 2026, with bids required by 20 July 2026 at 12:00 and bid opening in Inverness at 13:00 the same day. The award was based on the requirements in the procurement brief and required bidders to provide staff names and qualifications; variants were not allowed. The contract uses electronic payment, electronic invoicing is allowed, submissions were in English, and bids remained valid until 17 November 2026.

This award indicates demand for multidisciplinary consultancy capable of linking renewable energy development with transport planning and logistics across a geographically dispersed area. Credible future suppliers would need specialists in renewable energy, transport planning and logistics, supported by experience of working in the Highlands and Islands. Relevant capability includes analysing cumulative construction and operational impacts, tracing materials and abnormal loads, assessing road, rail, port, harbour and waterway constraints, and turning evidence into practical infrastructure and policy recommendations. The requirement also favours teams able to work with existing energy and planning databases, produce clear updateable electronic information for professional users, assess investment priorities, identify opportunities for local transport and construction SMEs, and contribute to collaborative stakeholder forums. Capacity for structured client engagement, qualified named staff and in-person meetings in Inverness would be important.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Renewable Energy Transport Opportunities Study (HITRANSformers)

Notice Description

Renewable Energy Transport Opportunities Study (HITRANSformers): HITRANS is looking for a suitably qualified consultant team to study the impacts of the renewable energy projects on the transport network in the Highlands and Islands, and to make recommendations on solutions to enable Net Zero targets to be fulfilled, and to leave a legacy for future generations. The successful bidder is expected to offer specialists in renewable energy, transport planning and logistics and have experience of working in the Highlands and Islands.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Transport and Renewables HITRANSformers HITRANS is looking for a suitably qualified consultant to study the impact s of the renewable energy projects on the transport network in the Highlands and Islands, and to make recommendations on solutions to enable Net Zero targets to be fulfilled, and to leave a legacy for future generations. The successful bidder is expected to offer specialists in renewable energy, transport planning and logistics and have experience of working in the Highlands and Islands. Study Objectives 1. An overview of consented, developed and proposed energy schemes both on-shore and off-shore, including OHL and subsea. The consultant should make use of existing databases such as the Renewable Energy Planning Database and work already completed by HIE. Grid reinforcement works planned by SSEN should also be included. 2. A quantified estimate of cumulative effects on both the local and strategic transport networks for the energy schemes and grid reinforcement projects, including during construction and operation. This assessment should consider the likely timing of developments, origin and destination of materials required, including aggregates and likely abnormal load routes. It is recognised there is some uncertainty regarding the timing of future developments and assumptions should be based on available evidence and professional judgement. These should be discussed and agreed with the client group. 3. An understanding of capacity, capability, pinch-points and constraints on the local and strategic transport and logistics networks. 4. Quality information for policy makers, planners, infrastructure managers and controllers, and Police Scotland: a one stop shop for data on transport and renewables. This should be deliverable in an electronic graphic format and should be capable of being updated. 5. Identification of investment in infrastructure improvements required to overcome these constraints - road, rail, and ports, harbours and waterways, including indicative costs. Infrastructure improvements should focus on strategic improvements which are unlikely to be funded through planning obligations, so excluding site access requirements etc. The list of infrastructure improvements should be rag rated according to their potential impact on risk to project delivery. 6. Identification of business opportunities for local transport and construction SMEs. 7. A policy framework for the establishment of a collaborative forum leading to co-operative use of networks. 8. An exploration of policy mechanisms to encourage investment in the transport network. 9. A technical note on Great Glen Pumped Storage Hydro logistics will also be required at the earliest opportunity, to include the use of the Caledonian Canal. Additional information A separate piece of work will be commissioned to study the impacts of workforce travel to site, workforce travel to home for weekends/leave and worker accommodation. Budget A budget of GBP 100000 (one hundred thousand pounds) ex VAT is available. HITRANS is the procuring party. Timescales The study will be tendered via Public Contracts Scotland on 12.06.26, with a deadline for return at 1200 on 20.07.26. Bids will be emailed in pdf format (max 30 pages) to info@hitrans.org.uk. The study will be awarded on 27.07.26. Study Management The contract is with the Highlands and Islands Strategic Transport Partnership (HITRANS). The main contact will be Frank Roach Partnership Manager at HITRANS. A Steering Group of key funders will be formed, and regular meetings held. There will also be meetings with the wider Client Group. Tenderers should budget for three in person meetings in Inverness. Evaluation Please see attachment hitransformers brief 120626.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000834579
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG561859
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

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

CPV Codes

63710000 - Support services for land transport

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£100,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£100,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£98,750 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
20 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
30 Jul 20264 weeks ago
Contract Period
27 Jun 2026 - 30 Oct 2026 1-6 months
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
Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS)
Additional Buyers

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
IV1 1JJ
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 Central
Westminster Constituency
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Pell Frischmann Consultants Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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