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Voice Communications and Control System (BEB, SYY, WIC)

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

22 Oct 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F6 - Contract Award Notice (Utilities)
Summary of the contracting process

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited procured replacement voice communications and control systems (VCCS) for Benbecula, Stornoway and Wick airports. The requirement covered supply, installation, testing, commissioning and handover of equipment supporting air traffic services, together with implementation services, training, warranty and support. The systems were intended to replace ageing infrastructure that the buyer considered obsolete and operationally risky. The work concerns specialist airport communications and control equipment, including the installation and commissioning needed to put the replacement systems into service at the three named airports. The buying organisation is Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, whose airport operations include these locations.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to Copperchase Ltd, which is also the named supplier on the active contract. The contract was signed on 6 August 2026 and is valued at £511,425.88. It covered the single requirement for all three airports. HIAL used a limited, non-competitive procedure without a prior call for competition, citing urgent operational risks from obsolete equipment, lack of manufacturer support, faults and possible disruption to air traffic services; it judged that waiting for a competitive process would extend those risks. Price was the stated award criterion. The recorded bid count was one, from an SME. No award date or contract-period dates are published in the process data.

For suppliers considering similar future requirements from Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, this award indicates demand for replacement voice communications and control systems that support air traffic services at regional airports. A credible competitor would need to provide the equipment as well as manage installation, testing, commissioning and handover across multiple airport sites, with training, warranty and support forming part of the delivery. The buyer’s rationale shows the operational importance of maintaining these systems and the value it places on addressing obsolescence, faults and supportability risks. Copperchase Ltd, an SME, secured the contract through a non-competitive route justified by urgency, so this outcome does not demonstrate an open competition or establish that price alone will decide future awards. Relevant capability includes specialist airport communications systems and end-to-end implementation.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Voice Communications and Control System (BEB, SYY, WIC)

Notice Description

Supply, installation and commissioning of replacement Voice Communications and Control Systems (VCCS) at Benbecula, Stornoway and Wick airports, including training, warranty and associated implementation services.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The procurement was undertaken to secure the supply, installation, testing, commissioning and handover of replacement Voice Communications and Control Systems (VCCS) for Benbecula, Stornoway and Wick airports. The requirement included associated implementation, training and support services to replace ageing communications infrastructure supporting the provision of air traffic services.. The award criteria shown reflect the Authority's intended assessment methodology for the procurement requirement. The contract was subsequently awarded following approval of a Non-Competitive Action.

Procurement Information

HIAL identified an urgent requirement to replace obsolete Voice Communications and Control Systems (VCCS) at Benbecula, Stornoway and Wick Airports. The existing systems were assessed as presenting a high and increasing operational risk due to obsolescence, the unavailability of manufacturer support, existing faults and the potential impact on the continued provision of air traffic services. Following consideration of the operational risks, business case and supporting justification, a Non-Competitive Action process was undertaken and a contract was awarded to Copperchase Limited for the supply, installation, commissioning, training, warranty and support associated with replacement VCCS equipment. The Authority considered that delaying implementation until completion of a competitive procurement process would materially extend the period during which the identified operational risks remained.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000846109
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT567160
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F6 - Contract Award Notice (Utilities)
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

31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting

32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment

51 - Installation services (except software)

CPV Codes

31682210 - Instrumentation and control equipment

32000000 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

32570000 - Communications equipment

32573000 - Communications control system

34962000 - Air-traffic control equipment

34962100 - Control tower equipment

34962200 - Air-traffic control

34962220 - Air-traffic control systems

34997000 - Control, safety or signalling equipment for airports

35711000 - Command, control, communication systems

51300000 - Installation services of communications equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£511,425 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
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
Highlands and Islands Airports Limited
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
IV2 7JB
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
TLM6 Highlands and Islands
Local Authority
Highland
Electoral Ward
Culloden and Ardersier
Westminster Constituency
Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Copperchase Limited

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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