---
title: "Provision of Maeshowe Shuttle Bus Service"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-065e52"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-065e52"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065e52.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065e52.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND"
published: "2026-06-22"
---

# Provision of Maeshowe Shuttle Bus Service

Buyer: HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-065e52

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## Summary

The public procurement contract titled "Provision of Maeshowe Shuttle Bus Service" was initiated by Historic Environment Scotland, a national agency based in Edinburgh. The contract focuses on the transportation service sector, specifically the hire of buses and coaches with a driver (CPV Code: 60172000). The service is to operate from the Stenness Visitor Centre to Tormiston Mill in Orkney, with daily operations excluding specific holidays. Initially tendered using an open procedure, the contract was awarded to Acacia Coaches LTD on 8th June 2026, with the tender entering the award stage on 22nd June 2026. Important submission deadlines included a tender period closure on 30th March 2026.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for transport service providers and those specialising in tourism-related transportation. Companies with strong technical capabilities and competitive pricing strategies are well-suited for participation. Historical data shows the contract was initially valued at £300,000, underlying the potential revenue for qualified bidders. Moreover, companies with the capacity to fulfil contract extensions or renewals would find this tender competitively advantageous. Essential prerequisites include substantial liability insurances and the capacity to fulfil daily shuttle service requirements, thus favouring well-established transport providers capable of maintaining high operational standards.

## Notice

Provision of Maeshowe Shuttle Bus Service

### Lot Information

Lot 1

HES requires the provision of a shuttle bus service from Stenness Visitor Centre, Orkney to Tormiston Mill, Stenness, Orkney and back on a daily basis, with the exceptions of 25 - 26th December 2026 and 1-2 January 2027. The appointed supplier must provide a bus and qualified licensed driver from 09.45hrs - 17.30hrs 7 days a week. However, during the months of June, July and August the bus will also run daily until 21:00.

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.

Renewal: HES will have the option to extend the contract for a further 12 month period, giving a maximum possible contract term of 24 months.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058428-2026 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 22 Jun 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 30 Mar 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 7 Jun 2026 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | 24 months from contract award date. |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £300,000 |
| Lots value | £300,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £180,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND |
| Locality | EDINBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH9 1SH |
| 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 | Southside/Newington |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh South |
| Delivery location | TLM65 Orkney Islands |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | ACACIA COACHES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

### Codes

- 60172000 - Hire of buses and coaches with driver

## Release History

- 22 Jun 2026 at 10:45 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058428-2026
- 27 Feb 2026 at 13:31 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017921-2026

## Notice URLs

- http://historicenvironment.scot
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000825079
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00164

## 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-065e52. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065e52.json.