Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Historic Environment Scotland
Longmore House, Salisbury Place
Edinburgh
EH9 1SH
UK
Telephone: +44 1316688866
E-mail: procurement@hes.scot
NUTS: UKM75
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://historicenvironment.scot
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00164
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
National or federal agency/office
I.5) Main activity
Other: Tourism, Heritage, Conservation, Built Environment
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Provision of Maeshowe Shuttle Bus Service
Reference number: HES/C/4345
II.1.2) Main CPV code
60172000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Provision of Maeshowe Shuttle Bus Service
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
300 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM65
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
HES requires the provision of a shuttle bus service from Stenness Visitor Centre, Orkney to Tormiston Mill, Stenness, Orkney and back on a daily basis, with the exceptions of 25 - 26th December 2026 and 1-2 January 2027. The appointed supplier must provide a bus and qualified licensed driver from 09.45hrs - 17.30hrs 7 days a week. However, during the months of June, July and August the bus will also run daily until 21:00.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality/Technical
/ Weighting: 10
Price
/ Weighting:
90
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
300 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 12
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
HES will have the option to extend the contract for a further 12 month period, giving a maximum possible contract term of 24 months.
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
The Contracting Authority reserves the right to request additional deliveries by the Successful Tenderer, either intended as partial replacement of supplies or installations or as extensions of existing supplies and installations. The Contracting Authority may at it's sole discretion exercise this option.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria:
HES use Scotbis, an independent provider of business credit reports, to assess the financial standing of tenderers. The overall aim of this assessment is to ensure, as far as possible, that any potential Supplier will not have financial difficulties that endanger their ability to perform the Contract. If financial information cannot be gained from that source Historic Environment Scotland will request that you provide full audited accounts for the last two full financial year. If Suppliers cannot provide any of the assurances as detailed above, and it is determined by HES that your financial strength is not adequate, then your company may not pass the financial evaluation. If you can provide the assurances as detailed above, HES may explore these options with you before determining whether your company can be taken
forward in this procurement exercise. Bank details may also be sought to support the above.
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
Employers Liability Insurance – 5 million GBP
Public Liability Insurance – 10 million GBP
Motor Vehicle, Third Party Property Damage - 5 million GBP
Medical Intervention (if required) – 2 million GBP
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
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.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
30/03/2026
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 5 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
30/03/2026
Local time: 12:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published:
24 months from contract award date.
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=825079.
The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.
Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.
(SC Ref:825079)
Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=825079
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court
Edinburgh
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
27/02/2026