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Courier Services

Scottish Qualifications Authority

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

17 Aug 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

08 Jul 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Qualifications Scotland sought courier services across four areas: same-day deliveries, overnight deliveries within 24 or 48 hours, international courier services, and script carriage. The same-day service covered regular collections from sites in Dalkeith and Glasgow and deliveries to residential and business addresses, mainly schools and colleges, throughout Scotland. Overnight services mainly covered Scotland, including the Highlands and Islands, with wider UK coverage. Script carriage covered collecting unmarked coursework, examination materials and artwork from examination centres, delivering materials to markers, and returning marked materials to Qualifications Scotland. The work was classified as courier services (CPV 64120000), with Qualifications Scotland as the buying organisation. The requirement involved a framework for up to eight participants.

The procurement used an open procedure with electronic submission and was divided into four lots. All four lots were discontinued and marked unsuccessful: same-day courier services, overnight 24-hour and 48-hour courier services, international courier services, and script carriage. The tender deadline and bid opening were 11 August 2026 at 12:00, and bids were to remain valid for 180 days. The estimated procurement value was £2,360,000. Each lot had an intended 1,080-day contract period, with a possible 12-month extension. Evaluation allocated 40 points to price and 20 to service delivery; script carriage also required evidence of security throughout the process and service delivery, weighted at 15 points. A retender process was scheduled to commence in May 2029.

This requirement is relevant to courier operators with established UK-wide and international networks, particularly those able to provide dependable overnight, next-day and 48-hour services across Scotland, the Highlands and Islands, and the wider UK. Same-day work requires flexible collection and delivery to varied residential and business addresses, including schools and colleges. Script carriage suits providers with secure chain-of-custody procedures for examination materials and artwork, including controlled collection, delivery to markers and return of marked materials. Credible competitors would need demonstrable service-delivery performance, operational capacity for recurring education-sector consignments, and strong security controls for sensitive coursework and examination materials. Businesses able to support multiple service types and operate within a multi-supplier framework would be well placed when this requirement returns.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Courier Services

Notice Description

Courier Services - Generic and specific services

Lot Information

Same day Courier Services

We have regular deliveries between our sites in Dalkeith and Glasgow and require couriers to collect from and deliver to a variety of residential and business addresses (mainly schools and colleges) throughout Scotland.

Renewal: Potential 12 month extension

Overnight Courier Services - 24 hour (Next Day) and 48-hour

Qualifications Scotland has a regular requirement for an overnight courier service mainly throughout Scotland including the Highlands and Islands but also covering all parts of the UK

Renewal: Potential 12 extension

International Courier Services

Qualifications Scotland has a regular requirement for international courier services.

Renewal: 12 month possible extension

Script Carriage

This Lot will consist of 4 different services as detailed below: Service 1 - Collection of unmarked Coursework and Examination Materials from examination centres Service 2 - Collection of unmarked Artwork from examination centres. Service 3 - Delivery of unmarked Coursework and Examination Materials to markers Service 4 - Return of marked Coursework and Examination Materials to Qualifications Scotland

Renewal: 12 month possible extension

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000836833
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG562492
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

64 - Postal and telecommunications services

CPV Codes

64120000 - Courier services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,360,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
11 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Retender process will commence May 2029

Notice Status

Tender Status
Cancelled
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Unsuccessful
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Scottish Qualifications Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MIDLOTHIAN
Postcode
EH22 1FD
Postcode Area
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM11 East Lothian and Midlothian
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Midlothian
Electoral Ward
Dalkeith
Westminster Constituency
Midlothian

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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