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Dark Skies at Muirshiel Country Park

Renfrewshire Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

23 Jul 2026 at 01:00

PCS Notice - Website Prior Information Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Renfrewshire Council intends to commission a multi-disciplinary consultancy team for a dark skies development at Muirshiel Country Park and its associated visitor centre in Renfrewshire. The project is intended to establish the park as a dark skies hub and a year-round regional attraction, complementing its existing natural environment offer. The services cover architectural, design and related professional consultancy work, including developing existing concept designs from RIBA stages 0–2 through to technical design stages 3–4. The commission is also intended to support a future planning application and external funding bids. The work combines visitor attraction development, landscape and environmental considerations, technical design and planning support in a rural country park setting.

This procurement is at the planning and market-research stage. Renfrewshire Council has stated an intention to appoint a suitably qualified consultancy team, but this process is not a call for competition and there is no invitation to tender at this stage. The planned approach is to use market engagement to identify suppliers with relevant experience before the requirement reaches the market. The procurement is planned as a single service requirement covering the dark skies project. The council indicates that a subsequent notice is expected on 31 August 2026. The project concerns progression from RIBA 0–2 concept designs to RIBA 3–4 technical design, planning application support and assistance with external funding bids.

The work is likely to suit established multi-disciplinary consultancies able to bring together architectural design, technical design, planning, landscape, environmental and visitor-attraction expertise. Strong candidates will be able to demonstrate experience of taking early concepts through developed and technical design, preparing information for planning applications, and supporting public-sector or externally funded projects. Experience of dark skies initiatives, protected or rural landscapes, visitor centres, tourism destinations or projects that work with the natural environment will be particularly relevant. The council is specifically seeking suppliers with experience of similar projects, so firms should prepare concise evidence of comparable commissions, relevant team qualifications and their ability to coordinate design, planning and funding requirements.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Dark Skies at Muirshiel Country Park

Notice Description

Renfrewshire Council are seeking to appoint a suitably qualified multi-disciplinary consultancy team to progress designs for a dark skies offer at Muirshiel Country Park and its associated visitor centre. The project aim is to position the park as a dark skies hub, serving as a year-round regional attraction which compliments the parks existing natural environment offer. The commission will involve the development of existing concept RIBA 0-2 designs to RIBA 3-4 technical design stages, enabling the submission of a planning application for proposals and supporting external funding bids. The purpose of this PIN is to engage in market research to identify potential suppliers who have experience of working on similar projects.

Lot Information

Lot 1

This PIN is market research purposes only and is not a call for competition at this stage.. The purpose of this PIN is for market research purposes only.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000837418
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL560822
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
PCS Notice - Website Prior Information Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71200000 - Architectural and related services

71220000 - Architectural design services

71221000 - Architectural services for buildings

71222000 - Architectural services for outdoor areas

71400000 - Urban planning and landscape architectural services

71420000 - Landscape architectural services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
31 Aug 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Renfrewshire 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
PAISLEY
Postcode
PA1 1JB
Postcode Area
Paisley
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM3 West Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM33 Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, and Renfrewshire
Delivery Location
TLM83 Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, and Renfrewshire
Local Authority
Renfrewshire
Electoral Ward
Paisley East and Central
Westminster Constituency
Paisley and Renfrewshire South

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=JUL560822&idx=1
    23rd July 2026 - PIN Questionnaire
  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL560822
    Dark Skies at Muirshiel Country Park - Renfrewshire Council are seeking to appoint a suitably qualified multi-disciplinary consultancy team to progress designs for a dark skies offer at Muirshiel Country Park and its associated visitor centre. The project aim is to position the park as a dark skies hub, serving as a year-round regional attraction which compliments the parks existing natural environment offer. The commission will involve the development of existing concept RIBA 0-2 designs to RIBA 3-4 technical design stages, enabling the submission of a planning application for proposals and supporting external funding bids. The purpose of this PIN is to engage in market research to identify potential suppliers who have experience of working on similar projects.

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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