---
title: "Restoration Operatives to Control Invasive Plants, Isle of Raasay"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000845916"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000845916"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845916.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845916.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "Raasay Development Trust"
published: "2026-10-16"
---

# Restoration Operatives to Control Invasive Plants, Isle of Raasay

Buyer: Raasay Development Trust  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000845916

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## Summary

Raasay Development Trust is seeking self-employed contractors to control invasive non-native plants across approximately 145 hectares on the Isle of Raasay. The work continues a habitat restoration programme and focuses mainly on rhododendron, with Japanese knotweed and pampas grass also included. Treatment operators will carry out control work; separate duties include coordinating work packages and delivering repeat Japanese knotweed treatment. Work is issued in packages, with each appointed contractor holding an individual contract on common terms. The buying organisation is a community development trust. The work takes place on the Isle of Raasay, Highland, and is funded through a Scottish Government island carbon fund, with some further work dependent on Forestry and Land Scotland funding.

The buyer invited applications through an open procedure. Up to five contractors, including any trainee places, are to be appointed. Applications were due by 12 noon on 30 October 2026, with appointments expected to be confirmed by 12 noon on 4 November 2026. The stated contract period runs from 5 November 2026 to 31 March 2028. The estimated total budget is £129,068 including VAT; this includes a committed core of about £54,068 and optional further rhododendron work of up to £75,000, subject to funding and at the buyer’s discretion. Payment is at buyer-set hourly rates, and selection is based on quality, with a minimum score of 2 out of 4 on every question. Trainee applicants are assessed separately from other applicants.

This opportunity suits land-management and habitat-restoration operators able to work across dispersed sites and deliver treatment to a defined scope. Applicants for operator roles need certificates of competence for pesticide application; trainees can apply without them and begin with a paid trial alongside experienced operators, under direct supervision by a certificate holder whenever herbicides are used. A Japanese knotweed specialist is needed for repeat treatment during the July–September window, and one operator will also coordinate work packages. Contractors must meet health and safety, herbicide-use, COSHH, biosecurity and watercourse-protection requirements, keep hours records, report weekly and take part in reviews. Sole traders are welcome, and packages are designed to support their participation. Travel, ferry, accommodation and subsistence costs are not recoverable; only productive hours on site are paid.

## Notice

Raasay Development Trust is appointing up to five self-employed contractors to treat invasive non-native plants on the Isle of Raasay, mainly rhododendron, with Japanese knotweed and pampas grass, across approximately 145 hectares. Work is instructed through work packages and paid at hourly rates set by RDT, so applicants are chosen on quality only. Each contractor holds their own contract on identical terms. A trainee route is open to people new to the work. Bidders do not need a PCS account. Request the Application Pack by email to tom@raasaydevelopmenttrust.org.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The work continues an established habitat restoration programme on the Isle of Raasay, funded by the Scottish Government Carbon Neutral Islands Capital Fund, with optional further work funded by Forestry and Land Scotland. Three roles are available. Treatment operators control rhododendron and pampas grass. One operator will also act as coordination lead, paid a fixed coordination allowance per work package. One operator will also act as knotweed specialist, delivering a repeat treatment programme in the July to September window. Certificates of competence for pesticide application are required for all roles except trainee places. Up to five contractors will be appointed, including any trainee places. Trainees are assessed only against other trainee applicants and start with a paid trial alongside experienced operators. Work is issued as work package orders. The first package is approximately 15000 GBP. Contractors keep an hours log and report weekly. Hours paid are productive hours on site. Travel, ferry, accommodation and subsistence are not recoverable. Treatment must meet the standard set out in the Scope of Works. The contract runs until 31 March 2028. The estimated value includes a committed core of approximately 54068 GBP and optional packages of further rhododendron control of up to 75000 GBP, subject to Forestry and Land Scotland funding. RDT is under no obligation to instruct the optional packages. A help session is available by arrangement from 19 to 23 October 2026 at Raasay Community Hall, Inverarish. Bidders do not need a PCS account. Request the Application Pack by email to tom@raasaydevelopmenttrust.org. Responses may be returned by email or on paper. Operator places may be reopened annually or as required due to contractor reduced availibility to new applicants on the same terms. Scoring: at least 2 out of 4 on every question required. The estimated value is RDT's total budget for this contract, inclusive of any VAT. Rates set by RDT are inclusive of VAT where applicable.

Options: Optional work packages of further rhododendron control up to 75000 GBP, funded by Forestry and Land Scotland, instructed at the same rates and terms if funding is confirmed. RDT is under no obligation to instruct these packages.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566809 |
| 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 | 16 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 30 Oct 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 5 Nov 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £129,068 |
| Lots value | £129,068 |
| 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 | Raasay Development Trust |
| Locality | ISLE OF RAASAY |
| Postcode area | Inverness |
| Postcode | IV40 8PA |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM2 Highlands and Islands |
| ITL 3 | TLM20 Highlands and Islands |
| Local authority | Highland |
| Electoral ward | Eilean á Chèo |
| Westminster constituency | Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire |
| Delivery location | TLM6 Highlands and Islands |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 77 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services

### Codes

- 77231000 - Forestry management services
- 77312000 - Weed-clearance services

## Release History

- 16 Oct 2026 at 01:00 - Tender - PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566809

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566809
  Restoration Operatives to Control Invasive Plants, Isle of Raasay - Raasay Development Trust is appointing up to five self-employed contractors to treat invasive non-native plants on the Isle of Raasay, mainly rhododendron, with Japanese knotweed and pampas grass, across approximately 145 hectares. Work is instructed through work packages and paid at hourly rates set by RDT, so applicants are chosen on quality only. Each contractor holds their own contract on identical terms. A trainee route is open to people new to the work. Bidders do not need a PCS account. Request the Application Pack by email to tom@raasaydevelopmenttrust.org.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000845916
- https://raasay.com/development-trust/
- https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/

## 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-r6ebe6-0000845916. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845916.json.