--- title: "Purchase & Installation of Echosounder System" ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000847010" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000847010" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000847010.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000847010.json" source: "Public Contracts Scotland" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "Scottish Government" published: "2026-10-29" --- # Purchase & Installation of Echosounder System Buyer: Scottish Government Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000847010 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000847010) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000847010.json) ## Summary The Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate is seeking a scientific, multi-frequency, wideband echosounder system to replace the ageing equipment aboard its research vessel, Alba Na Mara. The requirement covers supply and installation, including compatibility with the vessel’s retractable sonar pod and its recently fitted transducer. The system will support depth and water-column measurements, seabed assessment and acoustic surveys used to monitor pelagic fish such as herring, mackerel, sprat and blue whiting. The resulting data informs fish-stock assessments and advice on quotas. This is a marine scientific equipment procurement, in the field of sonar and echo-sounder equipment (CPV 38114000). Delivery and installation are for use around Scotland and offshore. The buyer invited offers through an open procedure. This is a single-lot procurement. The tender deadline was 30 November 2026 at 12:00, and offers were to be submitted electronically in English. The estimated contract value is £150,000. The contract period is 6 January to 31 March 2027. Evaluation gives 50% to the technical solution and delivery and 30% to price; the published description also states that the supplier questionnaire is assessed pass or fail. Bidders could not propose variants. The stated economic thresholds include specific annual turnover of at least £150,000 in each of the last two years, public liability insurance of £1 million, a current ratio above 0.8 and positive net profit over the two-year cycle. Bids must remain valid for 180 days. This opportunity is best suited to suppliers with demonstrable experience supplying and installing scientific acoustic equipment for marine research vessels, and the technical resources to integrate a system with existing vessel equipment and transducers. Bidders must provide three relevant examples from the previous five years and show the technicians, staff, facilities, tools and technical equipment they can call on. They must also describe supply-chain tracking, quality controls, environmental management and any intended subcontracting. Quality assurance requires either an independently accredited BS EN ISO 9001 certificate, or a documented, senior-authorised quality management policy that is regularly reviewed and appropriate to the work. The buyer may check technical capacity and quality measures. The requirement involves outfitting a working research vessel, so suppliers need the capacity to complete supply and installation within the specified contract period. ## Notice The Scottish Ministers, Marine Directorate invites tenders for the purchase and installation of a scientific, multi-frequency, wideband, echosounder system to replace the existing Simrad EK60 echosounder system on our Marine Research Vessel (MRV) Alba Na Mara. ### Lot Information Lot 1 The MRV Alba Na Mara, is currently equipped with an aging, ( ~20 years), scientific echosounder system operating at 3 individual frequencies (38, 120 and 200 kHz). The current system is now unsupported in terms of replacement components. Recently, the existing 38 kHz ES38B transducer was damaged beyond repair. A new ES 38-7 transducer was fitted in dry dock but is not supported by the current EK60 system. The transducers are mounted on a retractable sonar pod. As well as continually providing water column depth, productivity and information on seabed type these acoustic devices are the primary tools used in the creation of population indices for pelagic species including herring, mackerel, sprat and blue whiting. Data which is vital in producing accurate stock assessments for the respective species throughout the North East Atlantic, the North Sea and in Scotland's sea lochs. In co-operation with ICES partners, stock assessments, along with landing and discard data, allow Marine Directorate colleagues to provide advice around the setting of quotas for these important fish stocks. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland | | Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT567675 | | Notice type | OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 29 Oct 2026 | | Submission deadline | 30 Nov 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 6 Jan 2027 - 31 Mar 2027 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £150,000 | | 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 | Scottish Government | | Locality | ABERDEEN | | Postcode area | Aberdeen | | Postcode | AB11 9DB | | Country | Scotland | | ITL 1 | TLM Scotland | | ITL 2 | TLM5 North Eastern Scotland | | ITL 3 | TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire | | Local authority | Aberdeen City | | Electoral ward | Torry/Ferryhill | | Westminster constituency | Aberdeen South | | Delivery location | TLM Scotland | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) ### Codes - 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) - 38100000 - Navigational and meteorological instruments - 38110000 - Navigational instruments - 38114000 - Echo sounders ## Release History - 29 Oct 2026 at 00:00 - Tender - OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT567675 ## Documents - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT567675 Purchase & Installation of Echosounder System - The Scottish Ministers, Marine Directorate invites tenders for the purchase and installation of a scientific, multi-frequency, wideband, echosounder system to replace the existing Simrad EK60 echosounder system on our Marine Research Vessel (MRV) Alba Na Mara. ## Notice URLs - http:// - http://www.gov.scot - http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk - http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=847010 - http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000847010 - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=847010 - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=538689 - 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-r6ebe6-0000847010. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000847010.json.