---
title: "Northern Isles Ferry Services 4 (NIFS4)"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000820082"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000820082"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000820082.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000820082.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "TRANSPORT SCOTLAND"
published: "2026-03-04"
---

# Northern Isles Ferry Services 4 (NIFS4)

Buyer: TRANSPORT SCOTLAND  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000820082

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## Summary

Transport Scotland is planning a procurement process titled "Northern Isles Ferry Services 4 (NIFS4)" in the transport industry, located in the UK region, specifically Glasgow. This procurement is at the planning stage and involves public services for ferry transport to and from several harbours, including Aberdeen, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Scrabster, and Stromness. The contract is set to replace the existing services by June 2028 and will involve a 10-year term, with operations continuing until 2038. The procurement will follow the Restricted Procedure and key documents will be provided for interested parties.

This forthcoming contract offers lucrative business growth opportunities, particularly for companies involved in maritime transport services, vessel provision, and fleet management. Firms specialising in freight and passenger vessel operations with experience in subsidies and charter agreements will be well-suited to compete. Transport Scotland intends to enhance the service with new vessels and expanded operations, potentially increasing the complexity and scale of the contract, encouraging participation from robust market players ready to engage in a long-term partnership. Businesses armed with effective cost management, strategic deployment of resources, and innovation in maritime solutions should consider this opportunity.

## Notice

Provision of public services in relation to the Northern Isles Ferry Services to/or from harbours located at Aberdeen, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Scrabster and Stromness. The services currently comprise of 5 vessels (3 Ro-Pax and 2 RoRo freighters) to deliver the Ferry Services. Further pre-tender information will be provided with the contract notice. Further information on Transport Scotland can be accessed through the Transport Scotland website at: www.transportscotland.gov.uk

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Transport Scotland, on behalf of Scottish Ministers intend to execute a new contract for the provision of 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 expires on 30 June 2028 at 1400hrs. The duration of the contract will be a maximum of 10 years ( 8 years + 2 years). The principal service is a subsidy for the Northern Isles Ferry Services (NIFS) for foot passengers, vehicles and Freight. The NIFS network provides vital year-round transportation between mainland Scotland and the Orkney and Shetland Islands. The services connect Aberdeen to Lerwick (Shetland), with some sailings stopping at Kirkwall (Orkney), and Scrabster to Stromness (Orkney). Vessels are provided via a bareboat charter agreement from Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL). The indicative outturn cost of the current NIFS3 contract, covering the eight-year period ending in June 2028, is estimated to be in the region of 370 million GBP. The next iteration of the service will be delivered through the NIFS4 contract, with forecast costs based on a ten year term running to 2038. This contract is expected to include the introduction of two new Freight Flex vessels in the early years of the contract followed by three new RoPax vessels. The extended contract duration and the enhanced fleet deployment will increase the overall net operating cost requirements. These costs will remain subject to ongoing review as project costs, timelines and finance arrangements are refined. An estimated contract value range for NIFS4 will be provided within the Contract Notice and SPD. This estimate will be derived from assumptions on a number of variables including fuel prices, fares policy, the deployment schedule for new vessels throughout the contract duration, and the continuation of existing funding mechanisms associated with those vessels. Please note that any future changes to fares policy, vessel deployment plans, or funding arrangements will influence the final budget required for the NIFS4 contract. The procurement will be conducted using the Restricted Procedure.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR550876 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F1 - Prior Information Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 4 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 30 Jun 2028 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | TRANSPORT SCOTLAND |
| Locality | GLASGOW |
| Post town | Glasgow |
| Postcode | G2 7ER |
| 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 |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

### Codes

- 60610000 - Ferry transport services

## Release History

- 4 Mar 2026 at 00:00 - Planning - OJEU - F1 - Prior Information Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR550876

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR550876
  Northern Isles Ferry Services 4 (NIFS4) - Provision of public services in relation to the Northern Isles Ferry Services to/or from harbours located at Aberdeen, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Scrabster and Stromness. The services currently comprise of 5 vessels (3 Ro-Pax and 2 RoRo freighters) to deliver the Ferry Services. Further pre-tender information will be provided with the contract notice. Further information on Transport Scotland can be accessed through the Transport Scotland website at: www.transportscotland.gov.uk

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=820082
- http://www.transport.gov.scot
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000820082

## 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-r6ebe6-0000820082. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000820082.json.