--- title: "Minor Archaeological Services Call-Off Contract" ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000843197" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000843197" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000843197.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000843197.json" source: "Public Contracts Scotland" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "Historic Environment Scotland" published: "2026-09-25" --- # Minor Archaeological Services Call-Off Contract Buyer: Historic Environment Scotland Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000843197 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000843197) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000843197.json) ## Summary Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is buying minor archaeological services across its estate in Scotland. The estate includes Properties in Care, related properties and depots managed by HES on behalf of Scottish Ministers. Most work is expected to be small watching briefs and archaeological evaluations, together with written schemes of investigation, post-fieldwork analysis and reporting. The contract may also cover larger excavations, community archaeology, archaeological surveys, historic-building recording, geophysical surveys and dendrochronology. This is a broad heritage archaeology requirement, suited to firms able to provide both fieldwork and associated technical reporting. HES is the buying organisation and the services are to be delivered across its estate; individual delivery locations will depend on the property or site requiring work. HES invited offers through an open procedure for one contract lot. The tender deadline was 27 October 2026 at 12:00 UTC, with the award period starting at that time. The contract is initially for 24 months, with four optional 12-month extensions, giving a potential maximum duration of six years. The estimated value is £480,000. Quality carries 60% of the evaluation and price 40%; community benefits form part of the scored quality assessment. Bidders must provide named staff and their qualifications. HES assesses financial standing using credit reports and may request audited accounts and bank details. The tender requires public liability cover of at least £5 million, professional indemnity cover of at least £10 million, employers’ liability cover of at least £5 million and product liability cover of at least £10 million, held or obtainable before contract start. This opportunity suits archaeological contractors with the breadth to respond to routine watching briefs and evaluations as well as occasional larger or specialist assignments. Relevant capability includes preparing written schemes of investigation, carrying out fieldwork, analysing finds and evidence, and producing post-fieldwork reports. Firms with experience in excavation, community archaeology, archaeological and geophysical survey, historic-building recording or dendrochronology may be well placed to cover the full range of potential call-offs. The requirement spans HES-managed heritage properties and supporting sites across Scotland, so suppliers need to organise suitably qualified staff for varied locations and project types. Bidders should be able to demonstrate adequate financial standing and meet the specified insurance thresholds by contract commencement. Quality is the larger part of the assessment, and community-benefit proposals also contribute to the quality score. ## Notice Historic Environment Scotland (HES) requires a call off contract to be put in place for minor archaeological services. ### Lot Information Lot 1 The proposed contract is for the provision of minor archaeological services on the HES estate. The HES Estate comprises the Properties in Care, ancillary properties and depots managed by Historic Environment Scotland on behalf of Scottish Ministers. It is expected that the majority of the services required will be for small scale watching briefs and evaluations, along with the provision of requisite Written Schemes of Investigations and post-fieldwork analyses and reporting. However, larger scale excavation, community archaeology projects, archaeological survey, historic building recording, geophysical surveys or dendrochronology may be required as part of this contract. 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: The contract will be in place for an initial period of twenty-four months, with the option to extend the contract by four further twelve month periods at the discretion of HES, giving a total potential contract length of seventy-two months. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland | | Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP565296 | | Notice type | OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 25 Sep 2026 | | Submission deadline | 27 Oct 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Six years from contract award | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £480,000 | | Lots value | £480,000 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | Historic Environment Scotland | | Locality | EDINBURGH | | Postcode area | 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 | TLM Scotland | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 45 - Construction work - 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services ### Codes - 45112450 - Excavation work at archaeological sites - 71351720 - Geophysical surveys of archaeological sites - 71351914 - Archaeological services ## Release History - 25 Sep 2026 at 01:00 - Tender - OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP565296 ## Documents - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP565296 Minor Archaeological Services Call-Off Contract - Historic Environment Scotland (HES) requires a call off contract to be put in place for minor archaeological services. ## Notice URLs - http:// - http://historicenvironment.scot - http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=843197 - http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000843197 - https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/ - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=843197 ## 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-r6ebe6-0000843197. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000843197.json.