Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
An Lòchran, 10 Inverness Campus
Inverness
IV2 5NA
UK
Telephone: +44 1463245245
E-mail: hieprocurement@hient.co.uk
NUTS: UKM6
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.hie.co.uk
Address of the buyer profile: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00313
I.1) Name and addresses
South of Scotland Enterprise
Carmont House, The Crichton, Bankend Road
Dumfries
DG1 4TA
UK
E-mail: Finance@sose.scot
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.southofscotlandenterprise.com
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA30448
I.1) Name and addresses
Wave Energy Scotland Limited
An Lòchran, 10 Inverness Campus
Inverness
IV2 5NA
UK
Telephone: +44 1463245245
E-mail: wesprocurement@hient.co.uk
NUTS: UKM
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.waveenergyscotland.co.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA24283
I.1) Name and addresses
HIE Ventures Ltd.
Ord House Cradlehall Business Park,Caulfield Road North
Inverness
IV2 5GH
UK
E-mail: enquiries@hient.co.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.hie.co.uk
I.1) Name and addresses
HIE Orkney
An Lochran, 10 Inverness Campus
Inverness
IV2 5NA
UK
Telephone: +44 1463245245
E-mail: enquiries@hient.co.uk
NUTS: UKM
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.hie.co.uk
I.1) Name and addresses
Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd
Cairngorm Mountain, Cairngorm Ski Area
Aviemore
PH22 1RB
UK
E-mail: info@caingormmountain.co.uk
NUTS: UKM62
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.cairngormmountain.co.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA30513
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract involves joint procurement
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local agency/office
I.5) Main activity
Economic and financial affairs
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
FTS051 Research, Appraisal, Delivery and Support Framework - Lot 2 Research
Reference number: FTS 051
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79300000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Research, Appraisal, Delivery and Support (RADS) Framework is divided into two lots:
-Lot 1 Support, Appraisal and Delivery
-Lot 2 Research
This notice relates solely to Lot 2 of the two-lot framework procurement.
Separate Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) notices have been published for each Lot, each with the description ‘FTS051 Research, Appraisal, Delivery and Support Framework’.
The estimated value of Lot 2 is GBP 1,380,000.
The total estimated value of the framework across Lots 1 and 2 is GBP 3,200,000, which is the value stated in this notice.
Suppliers may tender for, and be appointed to, one or both Lots.
Lot 2 covers a mix of primary (both quantitative and qualitative), secondary and tertiary research – this will include socio-economic research, sectoral research, scenario planning, customer research and economic intelligence.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
3 200 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79311100
79311200
79311000
79311300
79315000
79330000
73110000
73210000
79310000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM6
UKM9
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The framework will be let from November 2026 for a period of 3 years, unless terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Framework Agreement, with HIE having the option to extend for a further period or periods together no exceeding 1 year.
Although HIE will be the primary user, the Framework (both lots) will also be available for use by South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), Wave Energy Scotland Limited (WES), HIE Orkney, HIE Ventures Ltd (HIEVL), Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd (CMSL), as well as any other Contracting Authority wholly or partly under the control of, or funded by HIE, at any point during the term of this Framework (subject to case-by-case approval by HIE).
Each Framework User listed above will enter into a direct contract with the Framework Suppliers on the same terms and conditions as those applying between HIE and the Framework Suppliers.
The Framework will be non-exclusive, Framework Users reserve the right, in certain circumstances, to procure services out with the Framework, where required.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: 1. Prompt Payment Standard Clause
/ Weighting: pass/fail
Quality criterion: 2. Cyber Security
/ Weighting: pass/fail
Quality criterion: 3. Payment of the Real Living Wage
/ Weighting: pass/fail
Quality criterion: 4. Community Benefits
/ Weighting: pass/fail
Quality criterion: 5. Delivery Methodology
/ Weighting: 30%
Quality criterion: 6. Management and Delivery Team
/ Weighting: 15%
Quality criterion: 7. Management Methodology
/ Weighting: 10%
Quality criterion: 8 Fair Work Practices
/ Weighting: 5%
Price
/ Weighting:
40%
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
3 200 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 48
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
It is anticipated that the framework will be let from November 2026 for a period of 3 years, unless terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Framework Agreement, with HIE having the option to extend for a further period or periods together no exceeding 1 year
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:
HIE reserves the right, on giving reasonable written notice from time to time, to require changes to the Services under the Framework Agreement, including the removal of Services, the addition of new Services, increases or decreases to the Services, or changes to the order in which the Services are to be performed or the locations where the Services are to be provided. HIE shall not require any such change other than where it is permitted by Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. Framework Users may also modify their own call-off contracts where permitted by Regulation 72 and in accordance with the terms of the relevant call-off contract.
The Framework Agreement and/or call-off contracts may be modified where permitted by Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 and in accordance with the terms of the relevant agreement or contract. Such modifications may include, but are not limited to the following circumstances:
-Changes to budget availability.
-Where a Framework User brings the services in-house (fully or partially) such that the services are no longer required or reduced services are required.
-Reduction or removal of services are required for example where services are no longer required due to changes in organisational strategy or priorities
-Cancellation or pausing of a call-off contract due to changes in project status.
-The addition of similar services, for example due to increased demand, where significant inconvenience and/or substantial duplication of costs to the Framework User can be avoided.
-Increases to the volume of the services required.
-Change in legislative requirements resulting in increased, reduced or amended services.
-Where demand under one Lot is lower than anticipated and requirements are instead commissioned under the other Lot, subject always to the overall maximum Framework value not being exceeded.
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
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.
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
4B.5 It is a requirement of this Framework that bidders hold, or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of any subsequently awarded Framework, the types and levels of insurance indicated below:
Professional Risk Indemnity Insurance = GBP 5M for each and every claim
Employer’s (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = GBP 5M for each and every claim - see http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse40.pdf for more information
Public Liability Insurance = GBP 1M for each and every claim
4B.6 (not scored)
HIE as a public body must comply with HMRC IR35 provisions. Therefore, where you are bidding as a personal service company (PSC) or will be using a personal service company to provide services under the Framework please identify these PSC (s) in your response to 4B.6.
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
4C4 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. Please refer to the Invitation to Tender for full requirements. If bidders do not pay at least 95% of valid invoices on time and are unable to provide a proportionate and timely improvement plan, their organisation will not be selected to participate further in this procurement.(pass/fail)
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
Refer to Appendix A Scope of Requirements.
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.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement with several operators.
Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement: 6
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:
18/08/2026
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: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
18/08/2026
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:
HIE reserves the right to re-tender for these services upon termination of the contract or at the end of the contract period, including any extension period.
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
AWARD CRITERIA SCORING – Due to system restrictions in terms of characters permitted for this Section, full details of the scoring methodologies are contained within the Invitation to Tender, including the minimum quality threshold requirement.
In order to participate, bidders should register, for free, on the Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) website(www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk) and record their interest in this contract and download and complete all relevant documentation.
Submissions should be made using the PCS Postbox facility only. Email or hard copies will not be accepted. The submission must be received by the published deadline. Late tenders will not be accepted and HIE will reject any submissions received after the deadline. NOTE: the deadline for both bidder questions and the submission of the tenders are different for Lots 1 and 2 (Lot 1 having later deadlines).
PCS also gives suppliers access to an on-line Question & Answer facility which allows queries to be submitted (anonymously), and answers published and shared with all potential bidders.
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=835557.
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.
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:
Refer to tender documents
(SC Ref:835557)
Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=835557
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Inverness Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
The Inverness Justice Centre, Longman Road
Inverness
IV1 1AH
UK
Telephone: +44 1463230782
E-mail: inverness@scotcourts.gov.uk
Internet address(es)
URL: https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/court-locations/inverness-sheriff-court-and-justice-of-the-peace-court
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
An economic operator that suffers, or is at risk of suffering, loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 , may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
13/07/2026