---
title: "Award of Provision of Guidance for addressing uncertainty in EIA post Wull Muir Ruling"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000837865"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000837865"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000837865.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000837865.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Scottish Government"
published: "2026-08-10"
---

# Award of Provision of Guidance for addressing uncertainty in EIA post Wull Muir Ruling

Buyer: Scottish Government  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000837865

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## Summary

The Scottish Government’s Planning Directorate commissioned specialist consultancy services to prepare draft guidance on addressing uncertainty in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), following the Wull Muir ruling. The work concerns how uncertainty should be treated within EIA practice and the Scottish planning and consenting context. It is an environmental issues consultancy requirement, classified under CPV 90713000. The intended output is guidance to support robust assessment and sound decision-making on the likely significant environmental effects of development proposals. The buyer is the Scottish Government, with the requirement focused on Scottish planning authorities and the wider Scottish planning system. The selected supplier’s work is therefore relevant to environmental consultants, planning specialists and organisations experienced in EIA policy, practice or guidance.

This procurement has been awarded through a direct, non-competitive route to a single supplier. The tender record began on 8 July 2026. Fothergill Training & Consulting was awarded the contract on the basis of its specialist expertise and experience, for £8,250 including the stated GBP currency. The contract is recorded as active. The procurement was evaluated on the suitability of the supplier’s expertise rather than through competing bids: one bid was recorded. The requirement was treated as highly specialised, covering EIA practice, uncertainty in assessment and the Scottish planning and consenting context. The award rationale also cites direct Scottish experience, recognised EIA expertise, relevant research and guidance, and senior professional experience in policy and quality frameworks.

For future work of this kind, credible suppliers would need deep, demonstrable expertise in Environmental Impact Assessment, particularly the treatment of uncertainty in planning and consenting decisions. Relevant evidence would include work with Scottish planning authorities, practical understanding of the Scottish planning system, and experience developing guidance, research, training or capacity-building programmes. The selected supplier was valued for recognised leadership in EIA practice and systems, contributions to UK and international guidance and professional standards, and thought leadership on complex issues including proportionality, digital EIA and system improvement. Senior personnel with substantial sustainability, impact-assessment and EIA policy experience would strengthen a competitor’s case, as would the ability to turn technically complex practice into clear guidance for public-sector users.

## Notice

The Scottish Government (SG) Planning Directorate (PD) would like to commission a suitably qualified and experienced contractor to prepare draft guidance on dealing with uncertainty in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG561989 |
| Notice type | PCS Notice - Quick Quote Award |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | The contract is awarded to a single supplier without competition. |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 10 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 10 Aug 2026 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £8,250 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Scottish Government |
| Additional buyers | Angus Council; Clackmannanshire Council; Environmental Standards Scotland; Falkirk Council; Forestry and Land Scotland; NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde; NHS Tayside; Perth & Kinross Council; Public Health Scotland; Registers of Scotland; Social Security Scotland |
| Locality | ALLOA |
| Postcode area | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH6 6QQ |
| 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 | Leith |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh North and Leith |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 22 |
| Supplier names | AECOM Limited; Access UK Ltd; Arcadis Consulting (UK) Limited; Auto Services Perth Ltd; BT PLC; Brownriggs; ESRI (UK); ForgeFront; Form by Thought Ltd; Fothergill Training & Consulting; Fraser of Allander, University of Strathclyde; Hays Specialist Recruitment Ltd; Montagu Evans LLP; Nova Biomedical; Playscapes Scotland Ltd; Quo Imus Limited (trading as Qi Consulting); Softcat Plc; TSJ DataTec Ltd; The Media Shop Scotland Ltd; Venesky Brown Ltd; WESTEND FLOORING SPECIALISTS LTD; YNG Media Group Ltd operating as Speakeasy Productions |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

### Codes

- 90713000 - Environmental issues consultancy services

## Release History

- 10 Aug 2026 at 15:51 - Award - PCS Notice - Quick Quote Award - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG561989

## Notice URLs

- http://www.angus.gov.uk/
- http://www.clacks.gov.uk/business/corporateprocurementprocess/
- http://www.falkirk.gov.uk
- http://www.forestryandland.gov.scot
- http://www.nhsggc.scot/about-us/procurement/
- http://www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk
- http://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/15478/Tenders-and-contracts
- http://www.ros.gov.uk
- http://www.scotland.gov.uk
- https://publichealthscotland.scot/
- https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/

## Provenance

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