--- title: "Provision of Banking & Merchant Services" ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000845730" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000845730" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845730.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845730.json" source: "Public Contracts Scotland" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "South Ayrshire Council" published: "2026-10-14" --- # Provision of Banking & Merchant Services Buyer: South Ayrshire Council Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000845730 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000845730) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845730.json) ## Summary South Ayrshire Council is seeking banking and merchant services for its council operations in Ayr and across South Ayrshire. The requirement is split into two lots. Banking services cover day-to-day bank accounts, cash and liquidity management, payment processing and associated treasury support. Merchant services cover secure acceptance, processing and settlement of card payments across council service areas and customer payment channels. Suppliers may bid for either or both lots. The buyer is South Ayrshire Council, a local authority. The merchant services requirement is particularly suited to providers able to support reliable card payment infrastructure across multiple service areas and payment channels; the banking lot suits providers with the operational capability to manage routine public-sector banking and treasury-related services. The buyer invited offers through an open procedure. Bids were due by 12:00 on 26 November 2026, with the evaluation period scheduled to begin at that time. The contract is divided into two lots: banking services and merchant services. Each lot has a stated contract duration of 1,800 days, with an option to renew for a further two years. Quality and price each carry equal weighting at 50% for both lots. Tenderers may bid for both lots, and variant bids are not allowed. For Lot 2, suppliers must hold, or commit to obtain before the contract starts, Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) accreditation or an equivalent certification. Bid validity is 120 days. The procurement is expected to recur, with a further competition anticipated in approximately seven years. The opportunity suits established financial-services providers with the capacity to deliver dependable day-to-day banking, account administration, cash and liquidity management, payment processing and treasury support for a local authority. Providers focused on merchant acquiring and payment technology may find Lot 2 relevant if they can securely accept, process and settle card transactions across varied council services and customer channels. A business can pursue either specialism or compete across both lots. Merchant-services bidders need PCI DSS accreditation or an equivalent certification, or a credible commitment to obtain it before contract commencement. The buyer will assess quality and price equally, so suppliers should be prepared to demonstrate both service capability and competitive commercial terms. The substantial multi-year service commitment is suited to organisations able to sustain reliable operations and support throughout the contract. ## Notice South Ayrshire Council (the Council) has a requirement to establish a contract for the delivery of Banking Services and Merchant Services via two (2) lots. Lot 1 - Banking Services. The provision of day-to-day banking services, including bank accounts, cash management, liquidity management, payment processing and associated treasury support services. Lot 2 - Merchant Services. The provision of merchant services to facilitate the secure acceptance, processing and settlement of card payments across a range of Council service areas and customer payment channels. ### Lot Information Banking Services The provision of day-to-day banking services, including bank accounts, cash management, liquidity management, payment processing and associated treasury support services. Renewal: + 2 years Merchant Services The provision of merchant services to facilitate the secure acceptance, processing and settlement of card payments across a range of Council service areas and customer payment channels. Renewal: + 2 years ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland | | Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566679 | | 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 | 14 Oct 2026 | | Submission deadline | 26 Nov 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Yes, this is a recurrent procurement and will be advertised again in approximately seven (7) years | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | 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 | South Ayrshire Council | | Locality | AYR | | Postcode area | Kilmarnock | | Postcode | KA7 1DR | | Country | Scotland | | ITL 1 | TLM Scotland | | ITL 2 | TLM9 Southern Scotland | | ITL 3 | TLM94 South Ayrshire | | Local authority | South Ayrshire | | Electoral ward | Ayr West | | Westminster constituency | Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock | | Delivery location | TLM94 South Ayrshire | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 66 - Financial and insurance services ### Codes - 66000000 - Financial and insurance services - 66100000 - Banking and investment services - 66111000 - Central bank services ## Release History - 14 Oct 2026 at 01:00 - Tender - OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566679 ## Documents - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566679 Provision of Banking & Merchant Services - South Ayrshire Council (the Council) has a requirement to establish a contract for the delivery of Banking Services and Merchant Services via two (2) lots. Lot 1 - Banking Services. The provision of day-to-day banking services, including bank accounts, cash management, liquidity management, payment processing and associated treasury support services. Lot 2 - Merchant Services. The provision of merchant services to facilitate the secure acceptance, processing and settlement of card payments across a range of Council service areas and customer payment channels. ## Notice URLs - http:// - http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343 - http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/procurement/ - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000845730 - https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/ - https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.html?VISITORID=b5ad006c-e15e-4362-b698-e7b6a7bcdd65&_ncp=1791985388926.29217-1 ## 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-r6ebe6-0000845730. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845730.json.