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Marine Survey Vessel

Scottish Natural Heritage

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

18 Aug 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F14 - Corrigendum
TenderUpdate

18 Aug 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F14 - Corrigendum
TenderUpdate

18 Aug 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F14 - Corrigendum
Tender

24 Jul 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Scottish Natural Heritage, trading as NatureScot, is procuring a replacement marine survey vessel and trailer for environmental monitoring in Scotland’s inshore waters, within 12 nautical miles of the coast. The requirement covers the vessel’s design, manufacture, commissioning and delivery. It will replace Aphrodite, an ageing rigid-hull inflatable boat, and provide a safe, reliable and versatile platform for monitoring marine protected areas, benthic habitats and species. The vessel must support diver surveys and sampling, drop-down video and remotely operated vehicle surveys, deployment and recovery of scientific equipment, acoustic monitoring and hydrographic surveys. It will also be used for operations in remote coastal and island locations, including the Shiant Isles, Mingulay and Sanday in Orkney. This is a goods procurement for one complete vessel solution.

The buyer reached the tender stage and invited offers through an open procedure. The requirement is one lot, with electronic submission in English. Offers were due by 26 August 2026 at 12:00, with tenders opened at that time. The contract period is 180 days, although the delivery programme may vary the duration. The estimated value is £188,000. Bids must remain valid for 120 days. Evaluation is based on quality and price: quality carries 70% and price 30%. Variants are not allowed, and the contract does not include renewal or additional purchase options. Electronic payment and ordering will be used, and electronic invoicing is permitted. The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement.

This opportunity suits a boat designer, commercial boatbuilder or specialist marine engineering supplier able to deliver a complete survey vessel and trailer, rather than a routine vessel hire or equipment-only contract. Suppliers should be able to translate varied scientific and operational requirements into a safe, reliable and versatile rigid-hull or comparable platform, then manage manufacture, commissioning and delivery. Relevant expertise includes marine environmental monitoring, workboat design, offshore operations, vessel integration and the installation or support of scientific equipment. Experience of enabling diver work, remotely operated vehicle and video surveys, acoustic or hydrographic monitoring, and operations around remote coasts and islands would be particularly relevant. The successful supplier will need sufficient technical, project-management and production capacity to deliver a compliant vessel for use by NatureScot in Scottish inshore waters.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Marine Survey Vessel

Notice Description

NatureScot's survey vessel, Aphrodite, is a 24-year-old rigid hull inflatable boat that has reached the end of its recommended service life. NatureScot therefore requires the design, manufacture, commissioning, and delivery of a replacement versatile survey vessel and trailer capable of conducting marine environmental monitoring for a range of diverse habitats and species in Scotland's inshore waters.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The vessel will be used by NatureScot to undertake marine environmental monitoring and survey activities within Scotland's inshore waters (within 12nm). The vessel shall provide a safe, reliable, and versatile platform capable of supporting a range of scientific and operational activities, including: - Marine Protected Area (MPA) monitoring - Benthic habitat surveys - Species monitoring and evidence-gathering - Diver-based surveys and sampling - Drop-down video (DDV) and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) surveys - Deployment and recovery of scientific monitoring equipment - Acoustic monitoring and hydrographic survey activities - Operations in remote coastal and island locations (e.g. Shiant Isles, Mingulay and Sanday (Orkney)) The vessel shall be capable of supporting these activities whilst carrying personnel and equipment safely in accordance with all applicable regulatory requirements.. Scotland Excel is acting on behalf of Scottish Natural Heritage (NatureScot) in the execution of this tender but will not be party to the contract or the management of the contract throughout its lifetime. The duration of the contract may be varied in line with the finalised delivery programme.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000838265
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG562540
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F14 - Corrigendum
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

CPV Codes

34500000 - Ships and boats

34520000 - Boats

34521000 - Specialised boats

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£188,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
24 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Scottish Natural Heritage
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 8NW
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
TLM Scotland
Local Authority
Highland
Electoral Ward
Inverness West
Westminster Constituency
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

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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