Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
National Records of Scotland
General Register House, 3 Princes Street
Edinburgh
EH1 3YY
UK
Contact person: Leanne Gourlay
E-mail: leanne.gourlay@nrscotland.gov.uk
NUTS: UKM75
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00474
I.1) Name and addresses
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Edinburgh
EH3 5NZ
UK
E-mail: leanne.gourlay@nrscotland.gov.uk
NUTS: UKM75
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.rbge.org.uk
I.1) Name and addresses
National Records of Scotland
General Register House, 3 Princes Street
Edinburgh
EH1 3YY
UK
Contact person: Leanne Gourlay
E-mail: leanne.gourlay@nrscotland.gov.uk
NUTS: UKM75
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00474
I.1) Name and addresses
National Museums Scotland
Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1JF
UK
E-mail: leanne.gourlay@nrscotland.gov.uk
NUTS: UKM
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.nms.ac.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00423
I.1) Name and addresses
Historic Environment Scotland
Longmore House, Salisbury Place
Edinburgh
EH9 1SH
UK
E-mail: leanne.gourlay@nrscotland.gov.uk
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 involves joint procurement
I.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from another address:
National Records of Scotland
Princes Street
Edinburgh
Eh1 3YY
UK
Contact person: Leanne Gourlay
E-mail: leanne.gourlay@nrscotland.gov.uk
NUTS: UKM
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.nrscotland.gov.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
National or federal agency/office
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Professional Estate Management Services Framework
II.1.2) Main CPV code
70330000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
2.1 National Records of Scotland (NRS) operates across an estate comprising five buildings, four of which are located in Edinburgh (three being Category ‘A’ listed) and one in Dumfries. The historic and cultural significance of these assets requires the engagement of suppliers with demonstrable expertise in conservation led estates services and operational, specialist archival storage facilities and a clear understanding of the statutory, technical and professional requirements associated with working within protected and sensitive environments. Such services are critical to ensuring that NRS can continue to fulfil its role as custodian of Scotland’s records, while maintaining safe, compliant and functional accommodation for collections, staff and, where applicable, members of the public.
2.2 Historically, NRS has always procured specialist estates and professional services, reflecting the absence of a suitable external framework capable of meeting its specific conservation, heritage and technical requirements.
2.3 NRS shares many common estate management challenges and requirements with other Scottish Government sponsored organisations, including National Museums Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Each partner organisation is responsible for the stewardship of nationally important, and in many cases listed or protected, operationally specialist buildings, landscapes and collections. These estates require a consistent, high quality and conservation focused approach to professional services, delivered by suppliers with proven experience of working within complex heritage environments.
2.4 In response, NRS has invited partner organisations to establish a joint Framework Agreement for professional estates services. The framework aims to secure access to a suitably skilled and diverse supply base with specialist technical and conservation expertise, reduce duplication of procurement activity, and provide a compliant, efficient and flexible mechanism through which participating organisations can call off services as required. This collaborative approach is intended to support value for money, improve service quality and resilience, and ensure that all organisations are able to discharge their custodial responsibilities effectively and sustainably over the life of the framework.
Services that may be called off under the Framework include (but are not limited to):
Multi disciplinary technical and design services (including architectural and engineering);
Conservation led consultancy for listed and historic buildings;
Support to in house estates and facilities teams, including specialist advice and surveys;
Project and construction management;
Health and safety, fire safety, asbestos surveys and management and water safety (including legionella) services;
Planned maintenance planning, inspections, condition surveys and compliance support.
A detailed scope of requirements is provided in the attached Specification - Appendix 2 - Annexes A-H.
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)
70330000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
Main site or place of performance:
Please refer to the specification.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
4 yr Multi-supplier Multi-buyer framework to provide access to Professional Estate Management Services.
Services that may be called off under the Framework include (but are not limited to):
Multi disciplinary technical and design services (including architectural and engineering);
Conservation led consultancy for listed and historic buildings;
Support to in house estates and facilities teams, including specialist advice and surveys;
Project and construction management;
Health and safety, fire safety and water safety (including legionella) services;
Planned maintenance planning, inspections, condition surveys and compliance support.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
03/08/2026
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
Interested parties are invited to review the provided specification and respond to the Request for Information (RFI) questionnaire. This will enable the Authority to consider market feedback on key aspects of the forthcoming tender.
All questions in relation to this notice must be submitted via the procurement portal. Suppliers must not contact participating organisations directly.
Responses to the RFI questionnaire can be emailed directly to leanne.gourlay@nrscotland.gov.uk
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=835606.
(SC Ref:835606)
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
25/06/2026