Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Scottish Government
5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw
Glasgow
G2 8LU
UK
E-mail: campbell.forsyth2@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
Access to the procurement documents is restricted. Further information can be obtained at:
www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
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:
www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
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
DCAF - Secure Transport and Escort of Children to Scottish Ministers
Reference number: CASE/850444
II.1.2) Main CPV code
60130000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Scottish Ministers seek to appoint an external service provider for the provision of Secure Transport and Escort of Children.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
1 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
75231220
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Scottish Ministers are responsible for the placement and management of children under the age of 18 who are sentenced to detention by the courts, including responsibility for their secure transportation. Legislative changes introduced through the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024 reinforce Scotland’s commitment to a rights-based, trauma-informed, child-centred justice system.
The service will provide secure transport and escort services for children between courts, secure centres, hospitals, and other premises across Scotland. This will include, but is not limited to planned, unplanned and standby escorts, and custody and supervision at court, and transfer arrangements when a child reaches the age of 18, where required. The Service will only cover children whose secure transport and escort are the responsibility of Scottish Ministers.
The contract is anticipated to commence in January 2027 for a period of 36 months with the option to extend by up to a further 24 months.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Operational Delivery Model
/ Weighting: 20
Quality criterion: Safeguarding, Welfare & Child-Centred Practice
/ Weighting: 15
Quality criterion: Mobilisation & Implementation
/ Weighting: 15
Quality criterion: Staffing, Training & Workforce
/ Weighting: 10
Quality criterion: Risk Management & Incident Handling
/ Weighting: 10
Quality criterion: Vehicle, Logistics & Security
/ Weighting: 10
Quality criterion: Performance & Continuous Improvement
/ Weighting: 5
Quality criterion: Climate Emergency
/ Weighting: 5
Quality criterion: Fair Work First
/ Weighting: 5
Quality criterion: Business Continuity And Disaster Recovery (BCDR)
/ Weighting: 5
Quality criterion: Community Benefits
/ Weighting: 0
Price
/ Weighting:
25
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
1 000 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 36
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
The contract may be extended by a period of up to 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:
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:
It shall be a requirement of the contract that all relevant staff must be a certified Prison Custody Officer (PCO). Accordingly, Bidders must confirm that appropriate staff will have, or undertake to achieve, PCO Certification prior to thew Full Service Commencement Date of the Contract.
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria:
4B.4 - Financial Ratios
4B.5.1a/b, 4B.5.2 and 4B.5.3 - Insurance
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
4B.4 - Bidders must demonstrate a Current Ratio of not less than 1.0
Current Ratio will be calculated as follows:
Total Current Assets divided by Total current liabilities.
There must be no qualification or contra-indication from any evidence provided in support of the bidders economic and financial standing.
4B.5.1 - It is a requirement of this contract that bidders hold, or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of any subsequently awarded contract, the types and levels of insurance indicated below:
48.5.1a - Professional Risk Indemnity: in the sum of not less than 10,000,000 GBP
4B.5.1b - Employer’s (Compulsory) Liability Insurance In accordance with the legal obligation for the time being enforced.
4B.5.2 - Public Liability Insurance (including Abuse Liability) in the value of not less than 10,000,000 GBP
4B.5.3 - Additional insurances as described in Schedule 1 - Specification
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria:
4C.1.2 - Relevant Experience
4C.4 - Supply Chain Management/Tracking Systems Used
4C.7 - Environmental Management
4C.10 - Proportion (%) to be Sub-Contracted
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
4C.1.2 - Bidders will be required to provide examples that demonstrate that they have the relevant experience to deliver the services/supplies within the past three years.
4C.4 - If bidders intend to use a supply chain to deliver the requirements detailed in the Contract Notice, they should confirm they have (or have access to) the relevant supply chain management and tracking systems to ensure a resilient and sustainable supply chain. This will include confirmation that they have the systems in place to pay subcontractors through the supply chain promptly and effectively, and provide evidence when requested of:
a. their standard payment terms
b. ≥95% of all supply chain invoices being paid on time (in accordance with the terms of contract) in the last financial year.
If the bidder is unable to confirm (b) they must provide an improvement plan, signed by their Director, which improves the payment performance.
Note:
Accepted evidence includes but is not limited to:
- extract of terms & conditions detailing standard payment terms
- a summarised accounts payable report showing payment on time performance
- credit report
4C.7 - Bidders are required to provide details of the environmental management measures which will be available when performing the contract:
4C.10 - Bidders will be required to confirm whether they intend to subcontract and, if so, for what proportion of the contract.
III.2) Conditions related to 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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2026/S 000-042433
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
05/08/2026
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:
05/08/2026
Local time: 12:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
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
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Single Procurement Document will be scored on a pass/fail basis.
Award Criteria Questions can be found in the ITT together with the weightings.
Question scoring methodology for award criteria outlined in Invitation to Tender.
Bidders must complete the SPD (Scotland) to demonstrate adherence to the exclusion and selection criteria for this procurement.
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 32261. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
(SC Ref:836392)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court
27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
06/07/2026