---
title: "PROVISION OF OCEAN LEARNING HUB DESIGN TEAM"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000845452"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000845452"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845452.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845452.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "Scottish Association for Marine Science ('SAMS')"
published: "2026-10-12"
---

# PROVISION OF OCEAN LEARNING HUB DESIGN TEAM

Buyer: Scottish Association for Marine Science ('SAMS')  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000845452

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## Summary

The Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) seeks a multidisciplinary design team for its Ocean Learning Hub at its site in Oban, Argyll. The project combines refurbishment and repurposing of the existing OEB building with an extension, alterations to the Ocean Explorer Centre and external groundworks. The team will develop the design for an expanded marine-environment exhibition and learning facility, including flexible spaces aimed particularly at school groups while serving people of all ages. The work covers plans, specifications, cost estimates, construction design and management duties, and building contracts. The completed hub is intended to support learning through activities including exploring, making, experimenting, debating, performing and exhibitions, as well as films and presentations. The design should fit the existing exhibition facility and allow for changing educational and technology needs.

SAMS invited offers through an open procedure for one design-services contract. The procurement reached the tender stage; bids were to be submitted electronically by 2 November 2026 at 16:00, with the same time set for bid opening. The stated contract period runs from 18 November 2026 to 19 March 2027, with design completion targeted by 19 March 2027 and the main contractor due to be onboarded by 25 May 2027. The contract value is £80,000. Following construction approval, the design team is expected to lead RIBA stages 5 and 6 through handover by the end of February 2028, subject to the buyer’s right to extend the contract for those stages. Named staff and qualifications are required. Selection includes a pass/fail assessment of professional suitability and financial standing; technical and professional qualifications are evaluated against relevant industry standards.

This opportunity suits an established, multidisciplinary building-design consultancy able to take a public-facing education and exhibition project from concept through detailed design and into construction and handover. The team must be capable of producing coordinated plans and specifications, cost estimates, construction planning and cost control, preparing building contracts, and undertaking duties under CDM 2015. Staff assigned to the work must hold appropriate industry-standard qualifications; examples named include RIBA, RICS, RIAS, CIBSE and IET, or equivalent. Bidders must be able to demonstrate financial capacity with two years of audited accounts, including profit and loss statements, or an alternative signed financial statement covering turnover, resources and available funds. Required insurance includes employers’ liability of £5 million or the statutory amount, public liability of £5 million and professional indemnity of £2 million. The design challenge calls for adaptable learning spaces integrated with an existing marine exhibition facility.

## Notice

SAMS require to procure a Design team to fully design and specify the new Ocean Learning Hub at SAMS. This is a combination of refurbishment and repurposing of the existing OEB building and provision of an extension, alterations to OEC area and associated external groundworks.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Funded through the Argyll & Bute Rural Growth Deal and supported further by charitable donations, the Scottish Association for Marine Science seeks to appoint a full inter-disciplinary Design Team to create all necessary plans, specifications, cost estimation, CDM 2015 duties and building contracts to bring our vision for an Ocean Learning Hub through RIBA stages 1-4 with Key Milestones for Design Completion by Friday 19 March 2027 and main contractor onboarded by 25 May 2027. On project final construction approval, the supplier will continue to lead the project through RIBA stages 5 and 6 handover to SAMS by the end of February 2028. The contractor is to design, specify, plan and cost control the expansion of SAMS' Ocean Explorer Centre, an exhibition space about the marine environment, to include learning spaces. The Ocean Learning Hub will provide different spaces where people of all ages (but with a focus on schools) can learn about the marine environment through playing, imagining, exploring, making, experimenting, debating, performing, exhibiting as well as through watching films and presentations. Flexibility of the spaces is essential given fast changing education and technology requirements and opportunities. The hub's style will fit with the existing exhibition facility.. This project is funded through the Argyll & Bute Rural Growth Deal and supported further by charitable donations.

Renewal: The Authority reserve the right to formally extend the contract, in respect of Riba Stages 5 and 6.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566486 |
| Notice type | PCS Notice - Website 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 | 12 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 2 Nov 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 18 Nov 2026 - 19 Mar 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £80,000 |
| Lots value | £80,000 |
| 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 | Scottish Association for Marine Science ('SAMS') |
| Locality | ARGYLL |
| Postcode area | Paisley |
| Postcode | PA37 1QA |
| 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 | Oban North and Lorn |
| Westminster constituency | Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber |
| Delivery location | TLM63 Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh, Arran and Cumbrae, and Argyll and Bute |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 71220000 - Architectural design services
- 71240000 - Architectural, engineering and planning services
- 71312000 - Structural engineering consultancy services
- 71324000 - Quantity surveying services
- 71334000 - Mechanical and electrical engineering services

## Release History

- 12 Oct 2026 at 01:00 - Tender - PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566486

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566486
  PROVISION OF OCEAN LEARNING HUB DESIGN TEAM - SAMS require to procure a Design team to fully design and specify the new Ocean Learning Hub at SAMS. This is a combination of refurbishment and repurposing of the existing OEB building and provision of an extension, alterations to OEC area and associated external groundworks.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.sams.ac.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000845452
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=845452
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=845452
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx

## 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-r6ebe6-0000845452. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845452.json.