---
title: "Improving area estimates and greenhouse gas emissions data for peat under grassland conversion in Scotland"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000740311"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000740311"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000740311.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000740311.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT"
published: "2023-10-10"
---

# Improving area estimates and greenhouse gas emissions data for peat under grassland conversion in Scotland

Buyer: SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000740311

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## Summary

The Scottish Government has recently awarded a contract for the project titled "Improving area estimates and greenhouse gas emissions data for peat under grassland conversion in Scotland." This project was aimed at supporting the Peatland Policy Unit in the delivery of the peatland restoration programme and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The procurement process was carried out using an open procedure, with the contract being valued at £93,674.85 GBP. The tender stage ended on 28th August 2023, with the contract being awarded on 26th September 2023.

This public procurement contract offers opportunities for businesses in the services sector, especially those with expertise in scientific field surveys, geospatial mapping, emissions data, and peatland restoration. Businesses that can provide accurate area estimates and emissions data for peat under grassland conversion in Scotland would find this tender suitable for growth. The project focuses on improving emissions reporting and has implications on policy proposals and emissions envelopes. Interested businesses can explore collaboration with the Scottish Government for similar inventory improvement projects.

## Notice

Introduction This project will support the Scottish Government's Peatland Policy Unit (within the Directorate for Environment and Forestry) in the delivery of the peatland restoration programme and related targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from peatland under the Scottish Government's Climate Change Plan. Background & Context An estimated 6.6 MtCO2 is emitted from Scottish peatlands each year, with approximately 38% of this attributed to deep peat (>0.5 m) under grassland conversion. Here all reference to peatland is to deep peat >0.5 m. This project is required to quantify accurately the area of peat currently under converted grassland in Scotland, followed by the refinement of current estimates of emissions. The outputs will be used to improve the emissions reported under the UK GHG Inventory, and also SG's own internal modelling which supports the development of policy proposals and emissions envelopes.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Scope /Statement of Requirement The project will require extensive ground measurement of areas of suspected grassland on peat, followed by upscaling. The objectives will be to: - Understand the nature of the 'grassland on peat' classification; i.e. use robust field studies to determine the accuracy of (i) selected peatland maps for deep peat and (ii) selected land cover maps for converted grassland; (iii) the joint distribution of grassland on peat maps. Field studies should focus on robust sampling across areas of Scotland identified with potential classification challenges. - Determine how the spatial resolution of map products affects their reliability. This understanding should be based on field estimates of the underlying spatial variability (patchiness) of deep peat and land use spatial variability. What spatial resolution of maps is required for unbiased products? - Identify the potential role of geospatial mapping errors in combining maps to generate the joint distribution and determine how to minimise/eliminate these errors. - Produce an upscaling methodology for generating a national joint peatland-land cover map. The map should be calibrated and validated against the field data with clearly identified geospatial inputs and uncertainty estimates on map products. - Use this methodology to produce an updated joint peatland-land cover map showing the best estimate of grassland on peat for Scotland, with a robust estimate of uncertainty traceable to the assumptions of the mapping and upscaling processes. - Analyse the size distribution and total extent of grassland on peat areas where they exist, to provide guidance on the potential for restoration i.e. if very small slithers, are they too difficult to restore. - Based on enhanced mapping identify suitable areas for deployment of flux towers for measuring emissions from peat under grass. - Refine current estimates of emissions from grassland on peat for Scotland to inform realistic envelopes and develop achievable target-based policies for the upcoming CCP, noting and incorporating also the current uncertainties in associated emission factors for grassland on peat. - Provide a repeatable survey design to apply to other land uses / peatland margins. - Coordinate with SG GHG Inventory teams to ensure appropriate collaboration with other inventory improvement projects, and to ensure data is compatible with inventory methodologies. - Determine if similar examination is required for other land uses that are directly adjacent to peatland. The project will require scientific expertise and capability in the design and delivery of field surveys, geospatial mapping, knowledge of emissions data and inventory, and restoration of Scottish peatlands.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT490084 |
| Notice type | PCS Notice - Website Contract Award 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 | 10 Oct 2023 |
| Submission deadline | 28 Aug 2023 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 26 Sep 2023 |
| Contract period | 11 Sep 2023 - 11 Mar 2024 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £93,674 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT |
| Locality | GLASGOW |
| Post town | Glasgow |
| Postcode | G2 8LU |
| 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 | TLM Scotland |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | THE JAMES HUTTON INSTITUTE |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 10 Oct 2023 at 00:00 - Award - PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT490084
- 27 Sep 2023 at 00:00 - Award - PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP489173
- 1 Aug 2023 at 00:00 - Tender - PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG484917

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=AUG484917&idx=1
  1st August 2023 - RRF/006/23 - ITT
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=AUG484917&idx=2
  1st August 2023 - RRF/006/23 - Terms and Conditions
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG484917
  Improving area estimates and greenhouse gas emissions data for peat under grassland conversion in Scotland - Introduction This project will support the Scottish Government's Peatland Policy Unit (within the Directorate for Environment and Forestry) in the delivery of the peatland restoration programme and related targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from peatland under the Scottish Government's Climate Change Plan. Background & Context An estimated 6.6 MtCO2 is emitted from Scottish peatlands each year, with approximately 38% of this attributed to deep peat (>0.5 m) under grassland conversion. Here all reference to peatland is to deep peat >0.5 m. This project is required to quantify accurately the area of peat currently under converted grassland in Scotland, followed by the refinement of current estimates of emissions. The outputs will be used to improve the emissions reported under the UK GHG Inventory, and also SG's own internal modelling which supports the development of policy proposals and emissions envelopes.
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP489173
  Improving area estimates and greenhouse gas emissions data for peat under grassland conversion in Scotland - Introduction This project will support the Scottish Government's Peatland Policy Unit (within the Directorate for Environment and Forestry) in the delivery of the peatland restoration programme and related targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from peatland under the Scottish Government's Climate Change Plan. Background & Context An estimated 6.6 MtCO2 is emitted from Scottish peatlands each year, with approximately 38% of this attributed to deep peat (>0.5 m) under grassland conversion. Here all reference to peatland is to deep peat >0.5 m. This project is required to quantify accurately the area of peat currently under converted grassland in Scotland, followed by the refinement of current estimates of emissions. The outputs will be used to improve the emissions reported under the UK GHG Inventory, and also SG's own internal modelling which supports the development of policy proposals and emissions envelopes.
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT490084
  Improving area estimates and greenhouse gas emissions data for peat under grassland conversion in Scotland - Introduction This project will support the Scottish Government's Peatland Policy Unit (within the Directorate for Environment and Forestry) in the delivery of the peatland restoration programme and related targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from peatland under the Scottish Government's Climate Change Plan. Background & Context An estimated 6.6 MtCO2 is emitted from Scottish peatlands each year, with approximately 38% of this attributed to deep peat (>0.5 m) under grassland conversion. Here all reference to peatland is to deep peat >0.5 m. This project is required to quantify accurately the area of peat currently under converted grassland in Scotland, followed by the refinement of current estimates of emissions. The outputs will be used to improve the emissions reported under the UK GHG Inventory, and also SG's own internal modelling which supports the development of policy proposals and emissions envelopes.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/
- http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Government/Procurement/Selling/supplier-enquiries
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- http://www.scotland.gov.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000740311

## 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-r6ebe6-0000740311. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000740311.json.