---
title: "National Air Ambulance Service for The Scottish Ambulance Service"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-035343"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-035343"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-035343.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-035343.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "SCOTTISH AMBULANCE SERVICE"
published: "2022-07-19"
---

# National Air Ambulance Service for The Scottish Ambulance Service

Buyer: SCOTTISH AMBULANCE SERVICE  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-035343

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## Summary

The Scottish Ambulance Service is currently procuring a National Air Ambulance Service, which serves the entirety of Scotland, including its islands. This active tender falls under the services category, specifically air-rescue services, and is being conducted through a selective procurement method involving competitive dialogue. The tender period is set to close on 17th August 2022, with the maximum number of candidates to be invited for the second stage being six. The ultimate contract duration is 7 years, with an optional extension of 3 years.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for businesses engaged in air transport and emergency services, particularly those with capabilities in helicopter operations and the provision of medical training and support. Companies that hold an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) and have the necessary infrastructure to meet the rigorous demands of a national service are well-suited to compete. The emphasis on community benefits and the need for innovative, sustainable solutions will further align the competition with firms that can enhance service delivery to meet both operational challenges and government sustainability targets.

## Notice

The procurement of a national air ambulance service for the Scottish Ambulance Service.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The Scottish Ambulance Service ("the Service") provides a national air ambulance service to all of Scotland and its islands. This is the only wholly publicly funded air ambulance service in the United Kingdom and provides an invaluable resource to the public of Scotland. Scotland presents a challenging environment for air ambulance operators. Factors to be considered include: - Varied terrain. - Potentially severe weather conditions. - Longer hours of darkness in winter. - Limited and varying airport capabilities and hours of operation. - Future island transport provisions including ferries and airport developments or changes. - Recognition of the Government targets on sustainability and carbon neutral. - National planning of specialist services for example thrombectomy and major trauma. The aims of the procurement are to deliver an innovative, sustainable, resilient and value for money air ambulance service that can respond to changes in service delivery requirements whilst maintaining a high quality care and experience for the patients and public of Scotland. The future contract is expected to encompass the following elements including but not limited to: 1.The aircraft fleet must be capable of reaching all of Scotland's population. The rotary aircraft must have 24/7 Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) capability and all aircraft must act as a suitable transport platform for the personnel and equipment associated with our adult, paediatric and neonatal critical care transport and retrieval teams (ScotSTAR). 2. Provision of aircraft hangarage in order to ensure 24/7 availability of aircraft during inclement weather. 3. Provision of maintenance & backup. All planned and reactive maintenance must be carried out in Scotland. Backup aircraft to be provided to the same specification as core aircraft. 4. Provision of 24/7 engineering support. 5. Provision of adequate base facilities for clinical staff. e.g., provision of Ops Room space, lockers and parking facilities etc., In addition, meeting room/training room and overnight accommodation (where necessary) for on-call clinical staff. 6. Provision of air crew member training (e.g., Technical Crew Member training for HEMS). 7.Provision of compliant radio communications system. The aircraft must be capable of compliance with the current Airwave communications system (if this is still in operation at contract commencement), and also compliance with the future Emergency Services Network (ESN) system 8. Provision of on-going monitoring of service provision by way of regular contract monitoring meetings. 9. The Service will provide the clinical staffing. The aircraft, flight crew (pilots), estate & facilities and engineering support will be provided by the successful contractor(s) on a managed service basis. 10. The successful contractor(s) shall support a variety of air ambulance missions; ranging from hospital discharges through to pre-hospital helicopter emergency calls and critical care transfers.

Renewal: optional three year extension (7+3)

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019611-2022 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Competitive dialogue |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 19 Jul 2022 |
| Submission deadline | 17 Aug 2022 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Contract is for 7 years with a possible 3 years extension. |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | SCOTTISH AMBULANCE SERVICE |
| Locality | EDINBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH12 9EB |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM13 City of Edinburgh |
| Local authority | City of Edinburgh |
| Electoral ward | Drum Brae/Gyle |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh South West |
| Delivery location | TLM Scotland |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment
- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

### Codes

- 34700000 - Aircraft and spacecraft
- 34710000 - Helicopters, aeroplanes, spacecraft and other powered aircraft
- 34711110 - Fixed-wing aircrafts
- 34711300 - Piloted aircraft
- 34711400 - Special-purpose aircraft
- 35112000 - Rescue and emergency equipment
- 35612500 - Search and rescue helicopters
- 35613000 - Unmanned aerial vehicles
- 60424110 - Hire of fixed-wing aircraft with crew
- 60424120 - Hire of helicopters with crew
- 60440000 - Aerial and related services
- 60443000 - Air-rescue services

## Release History

- 19 Jul 2022 at 07:40 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019611-2022

## Notice URLs

- http://www.scottishambulance.com
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000700400
- https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:689048-2022:TEXT:EN:HTML
- https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_MainPage.aspx
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=700400
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00393
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-035343. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-035343.json.