---
title: "Provision of Benthic Surveys for Craignure EIA"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000810675"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000810675"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000810675.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000810675.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL"
published: "2025-09-19"
---

# Provision of Benthic Surveys for Craignure EIA

Buyer: ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000810675

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000810675)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000810675.json)

## Summary

Argyll and Bute Council has completed the procurement process for the "Provision of Benthic Surveys for Craignure EIA". This contract pertains to the service industry category, involving strategic planning for upgrading the Craignure ferry terminal on the Isle of Mull, Scotland. The contract was awarded to Ocean Ecology, a large-scale supplier, due to the project's extreme urgency and specialised needs. The procurement followed a limited procurement method without prior publication, justified by the operational urgency to collect relevant data during the summer 2025 period. The contract value is £58,877 GBP, with a signing date of 19th September 2025. This phase of the project aims to collect and test samples essential for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report as part of a larger development effort.

This tender provides substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in environmental surveys and assessments, particularly those equipped to respond quickly to urgent project timelines. Companies with capacities for fieldwork in Scotland's coastal regions would be ideal candidates for similar contracts. The procurement method highlights the possibility for niche firms with local expertise and quick mobilisation capabilities to secure contracts even when traditional competitive processes are bypassed. Such projects can serve as a gateway to forging long-term partnerships with government bodies and expanding business portfolios in the public sector.

## Notice

Scottish Government and Transport Scotland strategic planning requires Argyll and Bute Council to upgrade the ferry terminal at Craignure (Isle of Mull, Scotland) to facilitate planned deployments of new and existing vessels. The proposed development intends to replace the pier at Craignure with a new pier in a nearby location. An EIA scoping report was developed by Ramboll UK Ltd.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

This award is for the collection and testing of samples to inform the EIA Report.

### Procurement Information

This direct award is justified due to the operational urgency to complete the specialist surveys so that the collected data is relevant to the summer period for 2025. The findings from the survey will feed into the wider report which is being provided under a separate procurement exercise 'Craignure EIA Surveys (CEC PS FW DA) (JUN533489)' awarded 22/07/2025 to Turner and Townsend. This supplier has been recommended to the council to complete the surveys by Turner and Townsend. The initial hope had been to subcontract to Ocean Ecology through a Contract Modification Note as the surveys were not initially identified. However, a CMN would not be an appropriate route to market for this survey as the estimated cost is beyond that of the 50.00% threshold as outlined in Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations (2015), therefore a JNCA represents a compliant route to market whilst accounting for the urgency of the requirement. Additionally, the supplier is based in Oban and has confirmed capacity to be able to carry out the surveys and mobilise once award has been made.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539602 |
| Notice type | PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 19 Sep 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 19 Sep 2025 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £58,877 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL |
| Locality | LOCHGILPHEAD |
| Post town | Paisley |
| Postcode | PA31 8RT |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM2 Highlands and Islands |
| ITL 3 | TLM20 Highlands and Islands |
| Local authority | Argyll and Bute |
| Electoral ward | Mid Argyll |
| Westminster constituency | Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber |
| Delivery location | TLM6 Highlands and Islands |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | OCEAN ECOLOGY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 71313400 - Environmental impact assessment for construction

## Release History

- 19 Sep 2025 at 00:00 - Award - PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539602

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539602
  Provision of Benthic Surveys for Craignure EIA - Scottish Government and Transport Scotland strategic planning requires Argyll and Bute Council to upgrade the ferry terminal at Craignure (Isle of Mull, Scotland) to facilitate planned deployments of new and existing vessels. The proposed development intends to replace the pier at Craignure with a new pier in a nearby location. An EIA scoping report was developed by Ramboll UK Ltd.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000810675

## 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-r6ebe6-0000810675. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000810675.json.