---
title: "Northern Isles Ferry Services"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000548727"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000548727"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000548727.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000548727.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "TRANSPORT SCOTLAND"
published: "2020-04-30"
---

# Northern Isles Ferry Services

Buyer: TRANSPORT SCOTLAND  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000548727

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## Summary

Transport Scotland is conducting a tender process for the Northern Isles Ferry Services, aimed at providing critical public transport services to and from harbours in Aberdeen, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Scrabster, and Stromness. The procurement is currently in the Award stage, with the contract value estimated at £370 million to be executed over a period of up to eight years. The contract, which requires a mobilisation period before operation, involves providing five vessels, which include three RoPax passenger vessels and two RoRo freighters. The tender was initiated on 30th April 2020, with significant aspects covered in electronic submissions through the Public Contracts Scotland portal.

This contract represents a considerable opportunity for businesses within the marine transport and logistics sectors, particularly those with experience in operating ferry services and managing maritime cabotage. Companies that can demonstrate technical capacity and financial robustness, including quality, environmental, and health and safety management systems, are well-positioned to compete for this contract. Additionally, organisations with the ability to scale operations to align with potential future expansions of service routes will find this tender particularly relevant as it opens doors to additional contracts and collaborations within the Northern Isles region.

## Notice

Provision of public services in relation to Northern Isles Ferry Services to or from harbours located at Aberdeen, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Scrabster and Stromness. The services shall comprise of five vessels (3 RoPax passenger vessels and 2 RoRo freighters) to deliver the Ferry Services. Further information on Transport Scotland can be accessed through the Transport Scotland website at: www.transportscotland.gov.uk

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Scottish Ministers have executed a new contract for the provision of the Ferry Services in relation to the operation of passenger, vehicle and freight services in the Northern Isles. This will replace the existing public services contract which was extended to 30 June 2020. The Contract will require a mobilisation period prior to operation of replacement services in 30 June 2020 . The duration of the Contract will be for a maximum of 8 years (6 years + 2 years). The Principal Service is a subsidy for the Northern Isles Ferry Services for foot passengers, freight and vehicles. The services will comprise of five vessels (3 RoPax passenger vessels and 2 RoRo freighters) to deliver the Ferry Services. The 5 existing vessels are available on equal commercial terms to participants under a Bareboat Charterparty arrangement. The Scottish Ministers may seek to introduce additional tonnage on the routes and/or additional routes within the geographic area of the Northern Isles, during the period of Contract, to provide additional capacity dependent on future service demand.. Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Options: Introduction of additional tonnage and/or additional routes

Renewal: The Contract shall commence 31 October 2019 (14:01 hrs). The Contract has a maximum period of 8 years (6+2). The contract shall incorporate a review consisting of a base case recalculation before the end of year 6. If there is a positive outcome to the review, the Contract can continue for the final 2 years.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY386062 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Restricted procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 30 Apr 2020 |
| Submission deadline | 25 Oct 2018 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 22 Apr 2020 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £370,000,000 |
| Lots value | £370,000,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £349,564,798 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | TRANSPORT SCOTLAND |
| Locality | GLASGOW |
| Post town | Glasgow |
| Postcode | G4 0HF |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM3 West Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM32 Glasgow City |
| Local authority | Glasgow City |
| Electoral ward | Anderston/City/Yorkhill |
| Westminster constituency | Glasgow North |
| Delivery location | TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire, TLM6 Highlands and Islands, TLM65 Orkney Islands, TLM66 Shetland Islands |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | SERCO |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

### Codes

- 60600000 - Water transport services

## Release History

- 30 Apr 2020 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY386062
- 25 Sep 2018 at 00:00 - Tender - OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP332440

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=SEP332440&idx=7
  18th October 2018 - Circular Advice Notice 4
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=SEP332440&idx=6
  11th October 2018 - Circular Advice Notice 3
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=SEP332440&idx=5
  10th October 2018 - Circular Advice Notice 2
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=SEP332440&idx=4
  9th October 2018 - Circular Advice Notice 1
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=SEP332440&idx=1
  27th September 2018 - NIFS - Financial Scoring Mechanism for ESPD
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=SEP332440&idx=2
  27th September 2018 - NIFS Pre-Tender Information
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=SEP332440&idx=3
  27th September 2018 - NIFS ESPD
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP332440
  Northern Isles Ferry Services - Provision of public services in relation to Northern Isles Ferry Services to or from harbours located at Aberdeen, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Scrabster and Stromness. The services shall comprise of five vessels (3 RoPax passenger vessels and 2 RoRo freighters) to deliver the Ferry Services. Details will be set out in a vessel specification to be included in the Invitation to Tender. Pre-tender information is attached to this notice. Further information on Transport Scotland can be accessed through the Transport Scotland website at: www.transportscotland.gov.uk
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY386062
  Northern Isles Ferry Services - Provision of public services in relation to Northern Isles Ferry Services to or from harbours located at Aberdeen, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Scrabster and Stromness. The services shall comprise of five vessels (3 RoPax passenger vessels and 2 RoRo freighters) to deliver the Ferry Services. Further information on Transport Scotland can be accessed through the Transport Scotland website at: www.transportscotland.gov.uk

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.sportscotland.org.uk
- http://www.transport.gov.scot
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000548727
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk

## 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-r6ebe6-0000548727. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000548727.json.