---
title: "Provision of Maeshowe Shuttle Bus Service"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000825079"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000825079"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000825079.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000825079.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND"
published: "2026-06-22"
---

# Provision of Maeshowe Shuttle Bus Service

Buyer: HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000825079

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## Summary

Historic Environment Scotland, a central purchasing body responsible for heritage conservation, has successfully awarded a contract for the provision of a shuttle bus service titled "Provision of Maeshowe Shuttle Bus Service." The service, categorized under the tourism, heritage, and conservation industry, will operate daily between Stenness Visitor Centre and Tormiston Mill in Orkney, with the exception of specific dates in December 2026 and January 2027. The contract, worth £180,000, has been awarded to Acacia Coaches LTD following an open procurement method. The procurement process commenced with the tender stage closing on 30 March 2026, and the contract has since been signed and is active as of 8 June 2026.

This project presents substantial growth opportunities for businesses within the transportation and tourism sectors. Companies capable of providing robust driver and vehicle operations, particularly those familiar with the logistics of heritage site access and visitor service management, are well-suited to compete. The procurement process highlighted the importance placed on price and technical quality criteria, likely appealing to businesses that can leverage competitive pricing and quality service delivery. Moreover, the open procedure and electronic submission method broaden access opportunities, encouraging diverse business participation and fostering innovation within the service offering.

## Notice

Provision of Maeshowe Shuttle Bus Service

### Lot Information

Lot 1

HES requires the provision of a shuttle bus service from Stenness Visitor Centre, Orkney to Tormiston Mill, Stenness, Orkney and back on a daily basis, with the exceptions of 25 - 26th December 2026 and 1-2 January 2027. The appointed supplier must provide a bus and qualified licensed driver from 09.45hrs - 17.30hrs 7 days a week. However, during the months of June, July and August the bus will also run daily until 21:00.

Options: The Contracting Authority reserves the right to request additional deliveries by the Successful Tenderer, either intended as partial replacement of supplies or installations or as extensions of existing supplies and installations. The Contracting Authority may at it's sole discretion exercise this option.

Renewal: HES will have the option to extend the contract for a further 12 month period, giving a maximum possible contract term of 24 months.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN558427 |
| 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 | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 22 Jun 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 30 Mar 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 8 Jun 2026 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | 24 months from contract award date. |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £300,000 |
| Lots value | £300,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £180,000 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND |
| Locality | EDINBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH9 1SH |
| 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 | Southside/Newington |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh South |
| Delivery location | TLM65 Orkney Islands |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | ACACIA COACHES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

### Codes

- 60172000 - Hire of buses and coaches with driver

## Release History

- 22 Jun 2026 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN558427
- 27 Feb 2026 at 00:00 - Tender - OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=FEB550584

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=FEB550584&idx=11
  27th February 2026 - Appendix B - Policy on Working With Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=FEB550584&idx=1
  27th February 2026 - Document 1 - Instructions for Tenderers
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=FEB550584&idx=2
  27th February 2026 - Document 2 - Specification of Requirement
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=FEB550584&idx=3
  27th February 2026 - Document 3 - Quality Schedule
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=FEB550584&idx=4
  27th February 2026 - Document 4 - Pricing Schedule
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=FEB550584&idx=5
  27th February 2026 - Document 5 - HES Terms and Conditions
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=FEB550584&idx=6
  27th February 2026 - Document 6 - Self Declaration Form on Russian & Belarusian Links
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=FEB550584&idx=7
  27th February 2026 - Document 7 - Prompt Payment Form
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=FEB550584&idx=8
  27th February 2026 - Document 8 - HES Suppliers Privacy Notice
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=FEB550584&idx=9
  27th February 2026 - Document 9 - Form of Tender
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=FEB550584&idx=10
  27th February 2026 - Appendix A - Brand Guidelines
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=FEB550584
  Provision of Maeshowe Shuttle Bus Service - Provision of Maeshowe Shuttle Bus Service
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN558427
  Provision of Maeshowe Shuttle Bus Service - Provision of Maeshowe Shuttle Bus Service

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://historicenvironment.scot
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000825079
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/

## 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-r6ebe6-0000825079. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000825079.json.