---
title: "Ant Captive Rearing"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000799250"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000799250"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000799250.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000799250.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY"
published: "2025-05-19"
---

# Ant Captive Rearing

Buyer: CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000799250

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## Summary

The Cairngorms National Park Authority is inviting tenders for a project titled "Ant Captive Rearing" within the Environmental Protection category, located in the Cairngorms National Park region (UKM62). This procurement process is currently at the Tender stage, with electronic submissions required by 3rd June 2025, 12:00 PM. The anticipated start date for award activities is the same day, suggesting an immediate decision-making process. The procurement method being utilised is an open procedure, providing equal opportunity for all qualified suppliers to participate. The project's estimated value is £50,000, aiming to establish captive ant nests whilst maintaining them under controlled environments.

This tender represents a significant business growth opportunity for organisations specialised in environmental and wildlife services, particularly those with expertise in the captive rearing of insects. Suitable businesses should have the capability to create and maintain environments that simulate natural conditions, identifying and collecting target ant species within Cairngorms National Park. Firms with a background in ecological sciences, specifically in Scotland's Formica ants or those familiar with biodiversity conservation practices, will be well-positioned to compete. Moreover, the contract includes a potential for extension till March 2028, depending on available funding and project outcomes, further enhancing long-term business prospects.

## Notice

Ant Captive Rearing, please see ITT Brief for more information about scope and outputs.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The chosen contractor will be expected to establish captive nests from scratch, with collection of males and queens, maintain these nests through to stage where they can be considered self-sustaining. Experience of captive rearing insects is essential and experience of captive rearing ants is highly desirable. Space to house at least 50 colonies is required and this needs to be of a standard to provide sufficient light and warmth, maintain stable conditions and adjust accordingly for winter months when the nests are less active. Where relevant, costs associated with creating such a space for the ant colonies must be itemised in the tender for this project, alongside all other overheads, e.g., electricity, ant food etc. The chosen contractor will need to be able to commence fieldwork in June to collect winged queens and males of the target species. This will require a knowledge of the Cairngorms National Park and the habitats that support the target species. Ability to identify the target ant species is essential. Knowledge of the ecology of mound-building Formica ants in Scotland is essential, as is understanding their biology and how nests reproduce. Fieldwork will involve multiple visits to sites on Deeside and Strathspey. Narrow-headed ants are anticipated to be collected from RSPB Abernethy and Mar Lodge Estate for ultimate release at Mar Lodge Estate. Wood ants are likely to be collected from a number of locations in Deeside and Strathspey.

Renewal: Estimated duration: Initial contract period of June 2025 to March 2026 with potential extension till 31 March 2028 depending on funding and quality of outputs.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY530644 |
| Notice type | PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| 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 | 19 May 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 3 Jun 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £50,000 |
| Lots value | £50,000 |
| 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 | CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY |
| Additional buyers | SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT |
| Locality | GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY |
| Post town | Perth |
| Postcode | PH26 3HG |
| 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 | Sighthill/Gorgie |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh South West |
| Delivery location | TLM62 Inverness and Nairn, Moray, and Badenoch and Strathspey |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

### Codes

- 90721700 - Endangered species protection services

## Release History

- 19 May 2025 at 00:00 - Tender - PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY530644

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=MAY530644&idx=1
  19th May 2025 - ITT Brief - Ant Captive Rearing
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY530644
  Ant Captive Rearing - Ant Captive Rearing, please see ITT Brief for more information about scope and outputs.

## Notice URLs

- http://www.cairngorms.co.uk
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- http://www.scotland.gov.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000799250
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=799250
- 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-r6ebe6-0000799250. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000799250.json.