Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Scottish Government
5 Atlantic Quay 150 Brromielaw
Glasgow
G2 8LU
UK
Contact person: Gary Crombie
Telephone: +44 7392287522
E-mail: Gary.Crombie@gov.scot
NUTS: UKM
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.scotland.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10482
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.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.html
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.html
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at:
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.html
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
DFH - Investment in Charitable Bonds
Reference number: Case 865168
II.1.2) Main CPV code
66190000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Scottish Government (SG) is committed to supporting the third sector in Scotland. The third sector has a direct impact on the growth of Scotland's economy, the wellbeing of its citizens and the improvement of its public services.
The supply of affordable housing as set out in the Housing to 2040 Strategy is a high priority for the SG and Charitable Bonds contribute to the Affordable Housing Supply Programme through both the provision of loan finance to Regional Social Landlords (RSLs) and the distribution of Charitable Donations.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
5 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
66150000
75100000
66190000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
Main site or place of performance:
Scotland
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The successful Contractor will issue and promote limited recourse bonds open for investment by Scottish Ministers., Upon the Bonds’ maturing (following a fixed term of between five and fifteen years), Subscribers will receive back their full investment plus a rate of return.
The Bonds will allow Subscribers to receive a rate of return on the amount they invest in the Bonds, the rate of return being expressed as total gross interest to be paid on maturity of the Bonds. .
A proportion of the money which the SG Invests in the Bonds will be used by the Contractor to fund one or more loans, at a commercial fixed rate of interest (and subject to a single repayment with compound interest over a period matching the term of the bond), to eligible Registered Social Landlords for the purposes of supporting the development of affordable housing in Scotland.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Skills and Experience
/ Weighting: 25
Quality criterion: Robustness of Organisation and Investment
/ Weighting: 15
Quality criterion: Contract Management
/ Weighting: 5
Quality criterion: Climate Emergency
/ Weighting: 5
Quality criterion: Community Benefits
/ Weighting: 5
Quality criterion: Fair Work First
/ Weighting: 5
Quality criterion: Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
/ Weighting: 5
Quality criterion: Service and Approach
/ Weighting: 35
Price
/ Weighting:
30
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
5 000 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 48
This contract is subject to renewal: No
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:
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
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions:
suppliers must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria:
SPD 4B 4 - Bidders must demonstrate a Current Ratio of no less than 1.0.
Current Ratio will be calculated as follows:
net current assets divided by net current liabilities.
There must be no qualification or contra-indication from any evidence provided in support of the bidders economic and financial standing.
4B5 - The bidder confirms they already have or can commit to obtain, prior to the commencement of the contract, the levels of insurance cover indicated below:
Professional Risk Indemnity: 1000,000 GBP
Employer's (Compulsory) Liability: 5,000,000 GBP
Public Liability: 1,000,000 GBP
Insurances must be kept for a minimum of 5 years after contract expiry date
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
suppliers must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
The successful supplier may be required to provide a Parent Company Guarantee
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:
11/08/2026
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: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
11/08/2026
Local time: 14:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.3) Additional information
Statement for 4B.5
It is a requirement of this contract that bidders hold or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of any
contract, the insurances indicated below:
Employer's (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = 5 million GBP
Public Liability Insurance = 1 million GBP
Professional Indemnity Insurance = 1 million GBP
SPD will be scored on a pass/fail basis.
The contract award criteria will be Price 30%/Quality 70 %.
Question Scoring Methodology for Award Criteria outlined in invitation to tender:
0 — Unacceptable. Nil or inadequate response. Fails to demonstrate an ability to meet the requirement.
1 — Poor. Response is partially relevant but generally poor. The response addresses some elements of the
requirement but contains insufficient/limited detail or explanation to demonstrate how the requirement will be
fulfilled.
2 — Acceptable. Response is relevant and acceptable. The response addresses a broad understanding of the
requirement but may lack details on how the requirement will be fulfilled in certain areas.
3 — Good. Response is relevant and good. The response is sufficiently detailed to demonstrate a good
understanding and provides details on how the requirements will be fulfilled.
4 — Excellent. Response is completely relevant and excellent overall.
Bidders must complete the SPD (Scotland) to demonstrate adherence to the Exclusion and Selection Criteria
for this procurement.
If there are named subcontractors/technicians upon which the bidder will rely to meet the selection criteria,these named parties must
complete and reattach the SPD Supplier Response Form attached to SPD
questions 2C.1.1 (Technicians) and 2D.1.2 (Subcontractors) on PCS-T. These parties must complete the first three sections of the SPD
form, as well as any part of the section 4 selection criteria that the main bidder will rely upon the parties to fulfil. If parties have not yet
been identified, this information may be required at a later
date. Scottish Government reserves the right to request this information from relevant parties upon whom the
main bidder will not rely to fulfil selection criteria.
4C.10 Bidders will be required to confirm whether they intend to sub-contract and if so, for what proportion of the
contract.
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 32117. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
Community Benefits will be a scored Evaluation Criteria
SGPT Community Benefits Guidance - June 2021
The tenderer must provide a Community Benefits proposal that is relevant to the subject matter of this contract and supports the Scottish Ministers’ commitment to contributing to the social, economic & environmental well-being of the people of Scotland, as described in the specification.
Tenderers should not provide details of any existing initiatives they already undertake as part of their day-to-day business and the community benefits proposed must be generated specifically for and as a result of this contract.
Good answers will demonstrate to evaluators that the tenderer has a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter of this contract and how the proposed benefits will reflect the national outcomes described in the Specification.
Proposals can be innovative but must be tangible and measurable, so that they can be monitored and reported throughout the contract.
(SC Ref:834870)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Sheriff Court House
27 Chamber Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
06/07/2026