Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Transport Scotland
5th Floor, 177 Bothwell Street
Glasgow
G2 7ER
UK
Telephone: +44 1412727100
E-mail: FerriesNIFS4Team@transport.gov.scot
NUTS: UKM82
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.transport.gov.scot
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00099
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:
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
Other: Transport
I.5) Main activity
Other: Transport
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Northern Isles Ferry Services 4 (NIFS4)
Reference number: TS/FER/SER/2025/01
II.1.2) Main CPV code
60610000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Provision of public services in relation to the Northern Isles Ferry Services to/or from harbours located at Aberdeen, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Scrabster and Stromness. The Ferry Services are currently delivered using 5 vessels (3 RoPax passenger vessels, plus 2 RoRo freighters). The estimated value for these services is currently in the range of GBP 791 million to GBP 896 million, with the forecast based on a maximum ten year contract period (to 2038). Further information is provided within the pre-tender information document attached to the contract notice.
Further information on Transport Scotland can be accessed through the Transport Scotland website at: www.transport.gov.scot
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
60610000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Transport Scotland, on behalf of Scottish Ministers intend to procure a new contract for the provision of Ferry Services in relation to the operation of passenger, vehicle, and freight services in the Northern Isles. This contract will replace the existing public services contract which expires on 30 June 2028 at 1400hrs. The duration of the contract will be a maximum of 10 years (8 years + 2 years).
The principal public services, supported by subsidy, are the Northern Isles Ferry Services (NIFS4) for foot passengers, vehicles and Freight. The NIFS network provides vital year-round transportation between mainland Scotland and the Orkney and Shetland Islands. The services connect Aberdeen to Lerwick (Shetland) with some sailings stopping at Kirkwall (Orkney), and Scrabster to Stromness (Orkney). Vessels are provided via a bareboat charter agreement from Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL).
The estimated value for the delivery of these services is currently in the range of GBP 791 million to GBP 896 million with the forecast based on the above-noted maximum contract period (to 2038). In relation to fleet renewal, two new Freight Flex vessels are scheduled for introduction in the early years of the contract, in addition to plans for the replacement of the three RoPax vessels at a later date. In comparison with the existing contract, the proposed contract duration and fleet renewal plans under the NIFS4 contract are anticipated to lead to an increase in the overall net operating costs. The projected costs will remain subject to ongoing review as project costs, timelines and financial arrangements are refined. The current estimate is derived from assumptions on a number of variables including, but not limited to, fuel prices, fares policy, the deployment schedule for new vessels throughout the contract duration, and the continuation of existing funding mechanisms associated with provision of those vessels. Please note that any future changes to fares policy, vessel deployment plans, or funding arrangements will influence the final value of the NIFS4 contract.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality Criterion - Including approach to delivery & management, technical and sustainability aspects of the project. Full details will be provided in the ITT documents.
/ Weighting: 40
Cost criterion: Cost criterion - Further information on scoring of the prices will be provided in the ITT documents.
/ Weighting: 60
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
30/06/2028
End:
30/06/2038
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
The initial contract duration is for 8 years with a possible extension of additional 2 years.
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Envisaged number of candidates: 5
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.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria:
Selection criteria detailed in Pre-tender Information document in section 10.2 List and brief description of selection criteria
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria:
Selection criteria detailed in Pre-tender Information document in section 10.5 Technical and Professional ability
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Restricted 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 000-019289
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
10/08/2026
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
Date:
30/11/2026
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
Tender must be valid until:
30/06/2028
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
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=833316.
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.
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:
The community benefits will included in the ITT documentation.
(SC Ref:833316)
Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=833316
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Sheriff Clerk's Office
PO Box 23, 1 Carlton Place
Glasgow
G5 9DA
UK
E-mail: glasgow@scotcourts.gov.uk
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
05/06/2026