--- title: "Peatland ACTION FW02 Field Ecologists Framework" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f877" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f877" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f877.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f877.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "Scottish Natural Heritage" published: "2026-09-11" --- # Peatland ACTION FW02 Field Ecologists Framework Buyer: Scottish Natural Heritage Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f877 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f877) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f877.json) ## Summary Scottish Natural Heritage, known as NatureScot, is procuring field ecology services for the Peatland ACTION programme across Scotland. The appointed ecologists will support the Peatland ACTION Technical Team and Project Officers at peatland restoration sites. Work includes protected species surveys before restoration begins, covering breeding birds including Schedule 1 species, raptor roosts, mammals, freshwater pearl mussels, reptiles and plants. Ecologists will use findings to inform restoration planning, identify mitigation and licensing needs, and brief site personnel on protected species. During restoration, they will provide ongoing ecological support, including setting safe working distances and buffer zones, preparing species protection plans and delivering toolbox talks. The procurement is for environmental monitoring and related ecological survey services. The process has reached tender: the buyer invited offers through an open procedure, with electronic submission required. It is a single-lot framework agreement for up to 20 participants. The tender deadline was 6 November 2026 at 12:00, when bids were also due to be opened and evaluation was scheduled to begin. The framework has an initial contract period from 18 January to 31 March 2027, with annual extensions available until 31 March 2031. Its estimated value is £450,000. Evaluation is based on 30% price and 70% quality: key personnel, data management and submission processes, and capacity and resourcing each carry 25%; health, safety and remote-site working carries 15%; sustainability and Fair Work First each carry 5%. The framework is recurrent before expiry. This opportunity suits ecological consultancies and field ecologists experienced in protected species work and peatland or environmental restoration sites. Suppliers need the skills and practical experience to survey a broad range of species, including breeding birds, raptors, mammals, freshwater pearl mussels, reptiles and plants. They should be able to interpret survey findings for restoration planning, mitigation and licensing, and provide ecological advice while works are under way. Useful delivery capabilities include preparing species protection plans, defining safe working distances and buffer zones, supporting project personnel and giving toolbox talks. Bidders should be able to demonstrate suitably qualified key personnel, reliable capacity and resourcing, robust data management and submission processes, and safe working arrangements for remote sites. Sustainability and fair-work practices also form part of the evaluation. ## Notice NatureScot work to improve our natural environment in Scotland and inspire everyone to care more about it. We work to ensure that all nature in Scotland - our key habitats and landscapes, all our green space and our native species - are maintained, enhanced and bring us benefits. Our priority is a nature-rich future for Scotland and an effective response to the climate emergency. Peatland ACTION funding - from Scottish Government - primarily supports on-the-ground peatland restoration activities and is open for applications from eligible land managers who have peatlands that would benefit from restoration. There are no geographical restrictions or target areas for Peatland ACTION funding. Peatlands are an iconic part of the Scottish landscape and have many benefits for people and nature. Healthy peatlands provide important ecosystem services including storing and sequestering carbon, supporting unique and specialised biodiversity, improving downstream water quality, and regulating water flow to provide natural flood management. In contrast, damage to peatlands reduces or reverses these benefits. For example, degraded peatlands release stored carbon and are a major global source of greenhouse gas emissions. Peatland ACTION is led and funded by Scottish Government and delivered in partnership with NatureScot, Cairngorms National Park Authority, Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority, Forestry and Land Scotland, and Scottish Water. Since 2012, Peatland ACTION has set over 66,000 hectares of degraded peatland on the road to recovery, but this effort needs to accelerate rapidly in the coming years to help address the twin crises of the climate emergency and biodiversity loss. The appointed Field Ecologists will work with the Peatland ACTION Technical Team and Project Officers located across Scotland to help support species and ecological survey requirements for Peatland ACTION restoration sites. ### Lot Information Lot 1 The primary role for the appointed Field Ecologists will be to carry out protected species surveys on request, which may include surveys for breeding birds (including Schedule 1 species), raptor roosts, mammals, freshwater pearl mussel, reptiles, or plants. Field Ecologists must be suitably skilled and experienced in carrying out a range of species surveys of this nature. Surveys conducted prior to peatland restoration work commencing on site will be used to plan the restoration work and ensure all project personnel (agents, contractors / workers) are aware of the presence of any protected species on site and any mitigation and licensing requirements. Surveys conducted during restoration works will also be used to provide continued ecological support to project personnel, including mitigation requirements, safe working distances/buffer zones, preparation of species protection plans and may include giving toolbox talks. Additional information: Scotland Excel is acting on behalf of NatureScot in the execution of this tender but will not be party to the contract or the management of the contract throughout its lifetime. Renewal: Annual extension available until 31 March 2031 ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086589-2026 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 11 Sep 2026 | | Submission deadline | 6 Nov 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 18 Jan 2027 - 31 Mar 2027 | | Recurrence | Prior to the expiry of the contract including any extension periods exercised. | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £450,000 | | 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 Natural Heritage | | Locality | INVERNESS | | Postcode area | Inverness | | Postcode | IV3 8NW | | Country | Scotland | | ITL 1 | TLM Scotland | | ITL 2 | TLM2 Highlands and Islands | | ITL 3 | TLM20 Highlands and Islands | | Local authority | Highland | | Electoral ward | Inverness West | | Westminster constituency | Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire | | Delivery location | TLM Scotland | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 09 - Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy - 45 - Construction work - 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services - 77 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services - 90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services ### Codes - 09112000 - Lignite and peat - 09112200 - Peat - 45100000 - Site preparation work - 45111230 - Ground-stabilisation work - 45111240 - Ground-drainage work - 71350000 - Engineering-related scientific and technical services - 71354100 - Digital mapping services - 77000000 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services - 90700000 - Environmental services - 90711000 - Environmental impact assessment other than for construction - 90711300 - Environmental indicators analysis other than for construction - 90711400 - Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) services other than for construction - 90711500 - Environmental monitoring other than for construction ## Release History - 11 Sep 2026 at 16:04 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086589-2026 ## Notice URLs - http://www.nature.scot - http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363 - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000842768 - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=842768 - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=842768 - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00383 - 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-06f877. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f877.json.