Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
University of St Andrews
Walter Bower House, Eden Campus
Guardbridge
KY16 0US
UK
Contact person: Adrian Wood
Telephone: +44 1334462523
E-mail: aw18@st-andrews.ac.uk
NUTS: UKM72
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/procurement/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00111
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Education
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
School of Biology/SMRU: Helicopter for August Aerial Surveys of Seals in Scotland
Reference number: BIO/050626/CM/SL
II.1.2) Main CPV code
60424100
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Helicopter for August Aerial Surveys of Seals in Scotland
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
273 135.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
60424120
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM72
Main site or place of performance:
UK-St Andrews
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
SMRU have developed a technique for surveying seals inhabiting rocky coastlines using a thermal imaging camera in a helicopter. The survey equipment that will be used on/in the aircraft is described below under ‘Survey methods & equipment’.
Available survey periods are dictated by “low tide windows”, i.e. local low water occurring in the afternoon, during the harbour seals’ annual moult season in August. Surveys are weather dependent; we cannot survey in moderate or heavy rain as seals are more likely to leave their haul-out sites in very wet conditions.
Over the next three to five years, SMRU is planning to carry out seal surveys around the Scottish coastline, excluding most islands that are over 10km offshore. All surveys will be carried out in August and could require up to a total of approximately 140 hours of engine time (including transit/positioning flights) spread over 30-40 flying days.
Please see tender documents for full requirements.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 60
Cost criterion: Cost
/ Weighting: 40
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
All tenders for the University of St Andrews are administered through our eTendering System (InTend).To Express an Interest please go to our tender website at https://intendhost.co.uk/universityofstandrews
Please note that 'Notes of Interest' placed via PCS (Public Contracts Scotland) are not automatically accepted
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2026/S 000-053199
Section V: Award of contract
Contract No: BIO/050626/CM/SL
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
31/07/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 2
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 2
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 2
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
PDG Helicopters
The Heliport, Dalcros Ind Est
Inverness
IV2 7XB
UK
Telephone: +44 1667464400
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 273 135.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
All tenders for the University of St Andrews are administered through our eTendering System (InTend).To Express an Interest please go to our tender website at https://intendhost.co.uk/universityofstandrews
Please note that 'Notes of Interest' placed via PCS (Public Contracts Scotland) are not automatically accepted
(SC Ref:839777)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Dundee Sheriff Court
6 West Bell Street
Dundee
DD1 9AD
UK
Telephone: +44 1382229961
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
The University of St Andrews will incorporate a minimum of 10 calendar day standstill period at the point of information on the award of the contract being communicated to tenderers. This period allows unsuccessful tenderers to seek further debriefing from the contracting authority before the contract is entered into. Applicants have 2 working days from the notification of the award decision to request additional debriefing and that information has to be provided a minimum of 3 working days before the expiry of the standstill period. Such additional information should be requested from The University of St Andrews.
If an appeal regarding the award of contract has not been successfully resolved The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2012 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rule to take action in the Sheriff Court or Court of Session.
The anticipated review body in such cases would be:
Dundee Sheriff Court
6 West Bell Street
Dundee
DD1 9AD
Telephone: +44 1382 229 961
Anyone bringing court proceedings against the University of St Andrews must inform the University of St Andrews in advance of the alleged breach and its intention to bring proceedings. Any such action must be brought within 15 days of the date on which a decision is sent to them or published to challenge that decision.
Proceedings seeking an ineffectiveness order must be brought within 30 days of the publication of the contract award notice in the OJEU, or 30 days from the date of a decision letter to all tenderers concerned, and any candidates concerned, containing a summary of the reason for the recipient being unsuccessful, otherwise 6 months from the date of entering into the contract or concluding the framework agreement.
Where a contract has not been entered into the Court may, by interim order, suspend the procurement procedure. The court may also set aside a decision or actions taken by the University or order it to amend and document; and/or award damages. However, by express requirement the court may decide not to grant an interim order when the negative consequences of such an order are likely to outweigh the benefits, having regard to a number of considerations.
If the contract has been entered into the Court may, depending on the nature of the breach: make an ineffectiveness order; impose a financial penalty; shorten the duration of the contract; make any other order considered appropriate to address the consequences of ineffectiveness or shortening the duration or the contract; award damages.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
10/08/2026