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Supply and Support of Automated Film Scanners

HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

21 Jul 2026 at 00:00

OJEU - F15 - Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process led by Historic Environment Scotland pertains to the "Supply and Support of Automated Film Scanners," specifically targeted towards the Built Environment, Tourism, and Conservation industry category. Located in Edinburgh, the procurement process has progressed to the Award stage as of 21st July 2026. Predominantly focusing on goods, the contract involves providing five automated digitisation workstations, under a limited procurement method that bypasses the conventional call for competition, justified by the absence of market alternatives for the desired product. The supplier, Hartech Automation Limited, has been chosen following a successful prototype development and testing phase, making them uniquely positioned to deliver on the requirements. The total contract value is GBP 190,000.

This tender presents significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in the development and support of sophisticated scanning and digitisation technologies, particularly those capable of handling unique archival materials, such as pre-1970s aerial films. Given the niche technical specifications and the limited procurement method, businesses with specialized skills in developing bespoke digitisation solutions will find themselves in a favourable position to benefit from similar future tenders. Additionally, firms engaged in heritage preservation through technological innovations would find this field conducive to long-term collaboration with public agencies like Historic Environment Scotland.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Supply and Support of Automated Film Scanners

Notice Description

This Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency (VEAT) Notice relates to the intended procurement of five automated film scanners.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) intends to award this contract under the conditions of regulation 33.4.b(ii) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) regulations. The contract will be for the supply of five automated digitisation workstations, to be used by the National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), following the successful development of a prototype for the automated digitisation of pre-1970s aerial film.

Options: The Contracting Authority reserves the right to request additional deliveries by the Successful Tenderer, either intended as partial replacement of supplies or installations or as extensions of existing supplies and installations. The Contracting Authority may at it's sole discretion exercise this option.

Procurement Information

HES intends to award to the Supplier on the basis that competition is absent for technical reasons. On the basis no scanning workstations are available in the marketplace for the automated digitisation of pre-1970s aerial film, a procurement exercise was undertaken by Historic Environment Scotland in 2024 for the development of a prototype bespoke solution. This resulted in a contract being awarded to the Supplier. In January 2025 the prototype workstation successfully passed acceptance testing by the NCAP team. The supply of the workstations can therefore only be provided by the supplier.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000837811
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL560624
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F15 - Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

CPV Codes

38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£190,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Jul 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
21 Jul 20262 weeks ago
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
HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH9 1SH
Post Town
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM75 City of Edinburgh
Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
Southside/Newington
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

HARTECH AUTOMATION

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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