--- title: "School of Biology/SMRU: Aircraft for the Aerial Survey of Grey Seal Breeding Colonies 2025" ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000799694" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000799694" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000799694.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000799694.json" source: "Public Contracts Scotland" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS" published: "2025-09-23" --- # School of Biology/SMRU: Aircraft for the Aerial Survey of Grey Seal Breeding Colonies 2025 Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000799694 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000799694) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000799694.json) ## Summary The University of St Andrews has completed a procurement process for the "School of Biology/SMRU: Aircraft for the Aerial Survey of Grey Seal Breeding Colonies 2025." This contract involves providing a twin-engine aircraft, with a survey pilot, for conducting aerial surveys of grey seal breeding sites from September 2025 to early January 2026. The procurement falls under the services category and was conducted via an open procedure. The aircraft will operate primarily from the UK region of St Andrews, covering areas in Scotland and along the east coast of England. The award notice, with document ID SEP539775, was issued on 23 September 2025, marking the completion of the contract stage, with the contract signed on 25 August 2025. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in aviation services, especially those capable of providing aircraft that meet the specified requirements. Companies that can offer tailored aerial survey solutions, including the necessary flight time and capacity for specialised equipment, would find this contract appealing. Given the procurement method favours open competition, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in aviation fitting these criteria could particularly benefit and use this as a growth opportunity by establishing a relationship with a renowned educational institution like the University of St Andrews. ## Notice In September to December 2025, SMRU will carry out repeat aerial surveys of around 80 grey seal breeding sites around Scotland and along the east coast of England (with the aim to survey each colony 4 or 5 times throughout the season). We therefore require a twin-engine aircraft (with survey pilot) with 4-5 hours available flight time excluding reserve fuel time. ### Lot Information Lot 1 In September to December 2025, SMRU will carry out repeat aerial surveys of around 80 grey seal breeding sites around Scotland and along the east coast of England (with the aim to survey each colony 4 or 5 times throughout the season). We therefore require a twin-engine aircraft (with survey pilot) with 4-5 hours available flight time excluding reserve fuel time. Several flights will be to and from relatively remote airports such as Stornoway and Kirkwall. The aircraft must accommodate two SMRU staff and SMRU's aerial camera system (PAS150). Surveys will be carried out from mid-September 2025 until early January 2026 with 9 or 10 separate rounds of surveys (most of these taking 3 to 4 days each) spread through the season with approximately 10-day intervals between rounds. The total flying time is expected to be around 120 hours (which would probably mean around 135 hours engine time). We estimate a total number of approx. 40 flights conducted on around 30 different days will be needed. Overnights at various airports (e.g. Stornoway, Kirkwall, Perth, Norwich) will be required. Please see ITT for full details.. All tenders for the University of St Andrews are administered through our eTendering System (InTend).To Express an Interest please go to our tender website at https://intendhost.co.uk/universityofstandrews Please note that 'Notes of Interest' placed via PCS (Public Contracts Scotland) are not automatically accepted Renewal: 2 x 12 month extensions subject to satisfactory annual review. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland | | Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539775 | | Notice type | OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | SME | | All stages | Tender, Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 23 Sep 2025 | | Submission deadline | 2 Jul 2025 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 25 Aug 2025 | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £300,000 | | Lots value | £300,000 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | £145,972 | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Complete | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Active | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS | | Locality | GUARDBRIDGE | | Post town | Kirkcaldy | | Postcode | KY16 0US | | Country | Scotland | | ITL 1 | TLM Scotland | | ITL 2 | TLM0 Eastern Scotland | | ITL 3 | TLM01 Clackmannanshire and Fife | | Local authority | Fife | | Electoral ward | Tay Bridgehead | | Westminster constituency | North East Fife | | Delivery location | TLM72 Clackmannanshire and Fife | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | CHESHIRE FLYING SERVICES LIMITED TRADING AS RAVENAIR | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation - 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport) ### Codes - 34711300 - Piloted aircraft - 60424100 - Hire of aircraft with crew ## Release History - 23 Sep 2025 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539775 - 30 May 2025 at 00:00 - Tender - OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY531419 ## Documents - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=MAY531419&idx=1 30th May 2025 - Portal Supplier Registration - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY531419 School of Biology/SMRU: Aircraft for the Aerial Survey of Grey Seal Breeding Colonies 2025 - In September to December 2025, SMRU will carry out repeat aerial surveys of around 80 grey seal breeding sites around Scotland and along the east coast of England (with the aim to survey each colony 4 or 5 times throughout the season). We therefore require a twin-engine aircraft (with survey pilot) with 4-5 hours available flight time excluding reserve fuel time. - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539775 School of Biology/SMRU: Aircraft for the Aerial Survey of Grey Seal Breeding Colonies 2025 - In September to December 2025, SMRU will carry out repeat aerial surveys of around 80 grey seal breeding sites around Scotland and along the east coast of England (with the aim to survey each colony 4 or 5 times throughout the season). We therefore require a twin-engine aircraft (with survey pilot) with 4-5 hours available flight time excluding reserve fuel time. ## Notice URLs - http:// - http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/procurement/ - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000799694 - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofstandrews - https://intendhost.co.uk/universityofstandrews ## 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-r6ebe6-0000799694. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000799694.json.