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TimberLINK Services

Scottish Forestry

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

25 Aug 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F1 - Prior Information Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Scottish Forestry intends to procure TimberLINK Services, a public service contract for transporting timber by road from various forest locations to ports in Argyll, shipping it by sea, and moving it onwards to markets in Ayrshire. The service supports the movement of around 75,000 tonnes of timber each year. A subsidy will be available to resource the service. This is a transport and shipping service procurement, classified under CPV 60000000. Delivery covers forest locations, ports in Argyll and onward markets in Ayrshire. The service has been established since 2000, indicating an operating model involving coordinated timber haulage, port handling, sea freight and onward distribution. It will suit businesses able to manage an integrated timber logistics service across these locations and transport modes.

This procurement is at the planning stage: Scottish Forestry has announced its intention to invite tenders, but is not inviting responses now. The buyer expects the tender notice to be issued on 29 October 2026. The planned contract is for five years, running from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2032 inclusive. Its total value is capped at £4.725 million, with expenditure capped at £945,000 per year. The procurement comprises one planned lot covering the TimberLINK public service contract. The arrangement is supported by a subsidy to resource the service and is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement. The stated legal basis is Directive 2014/24/EU. The notice sets out the intended contract scope rather than a current bidding exercise.

When the procurement reaches the market, it should suit established logistics, haulage, shipping and freight operators, or a consortium able to combine these capabilities. Relevant suppliers will need to coordinate timber collections from multiple forest locations, road transport to ports in Argyll, sea transport and onward delivery to markets in Ayrshire. The scale calls for capacity to handle approximately 75,000 tonnes of timber annually and to plan reliable movements across road, port and maritime operations. Experience of timber logistics, bulk freight, port interfaces, shipping schedules and supply-chain coordination will be particularly relevant. Businesses should prepare evidence of operational capacity, dependable transport arrangements and experience delivering a continuous, geographically distributed service. The long-established TimberLINK model suggests familiarity with public-service delivery and subsidy-supported operations will also be useful.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

TimberLINK Services

Notice Description

The TimberLINK Public Service Contract (PSC) is a timber transport and shipping service established in 2000 to transport around 75,000 tonnes of timber per annum from various forest locations to ports in Argyll, then via sea, and onwards to a range of markets in Ayrshire. A subsidy is available to resource this service. The five-year contract, which totals 4.725GBP million capped at 0.945GBP million per annum, will run from 01 April 2027 until 31 March 2032 inclusive.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The TimberLINK Public Service Contract (PSC) is a timber transport and shipping service established in 2000 to transport around 75,000 tonnes of timber per annum from various forest locations to ports in Argyll, then via sea, and onwards to a range of markets in Ayrshire. A subsidy is available to resource this service. The five-year contract, which totals 4.725GBP million capped at 0.945GBP million per annum, will run from 01 April 2027 until 31 March 2032 inclusive.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000841097
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG563028
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F1 - 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

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,725,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Aug 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
29 Oct 20263 months to go
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
Scottish Forestry
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
EH11 3XD
Postcode Area
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
TLM Scotland
Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
Sighthill/Gorgie
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh South West

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG563028
    TimberLINK Services - The TimberLINK Public Service Contract (PSC) is a timber transport and shipping service established in 2000 to transport around 75,000 tonnes of timber per annum from various forest locations to ports in Argyll, then via sea, and onwards to a range of markets in Ayrshire. A subsidy is available to resource this service. The five-year contract, which totals 4.725GBP million capped at 0.945GBP million per annum, will run from 01 April 2027 until 31 March 2032 inclusive.

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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