Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Forestry and Land Scotland
Great Glen House, Leachkin Road
Inverness
IV3 8NW
UK
Telephone: +44 3000676000
E-mail: flexibleprocurement@scotland-excel.org.uk
NUTS: UKM
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://forestryandland.gov.scot
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA30371
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
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
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Environment
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Geotechnical Works and and Associated Services
Reference number: FLS-157-F
II.1.2) Main CPV code
45200000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Works
II.1.4) Short description
Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) require contractors to deliver geotechnical works and consultancy services across Scotland’s national forests and land.
The Contractor will provide a combination of planned and emergency geotechnical works, acting as Principal Contractor and, where required, Principal Designer under CDM 2015. All works must comply with Design Manual for Roads & Bridges (DMRB), the Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW), British Standards, and Eurocodes.
The scope includes:
-Application of a range of rock and soil slope reinforcement techniques;
-Rock removal and scaling;
-Small scale tree felling and extraction;
-Provision of specific plant (e.g. mobile barriers, off-road vehicles and nonroad engines);
-Removal of vegetation and arboreal control to enable geotechnical works and inspections;
-Installation of protection measures against rock and debris falls such as draped mesh, baseline, temporary or permanent catch fencing (and removal if required);
-Provision of traffic management and other on-site communications as part of overall geotechnical works;
-Provide emergency response to geotechnical incidents;
-Chainsaw work as required;
-Use of drones as required;
-Design and Build (Principal Contractor/Principal Designer roles);
-Supply accurate as built details and specifications and GPS coordinates of all installed infrastructure; and
-Undertake and record geotechnical asset inspections including any necessary site preparation to enable inspections, e.g vegetation clearance, as well as carry out necessary maintenance and recording of inspections.
In addition to physical geotechnical works, the Framework includes a comprehensive range of geoenvironmental, geotechnical, hydrogeological, scientific, and planning consultancy services to support FLS in the sustainable management of Scotland’s national forests and land. These services are essential for informing design decisions, ensuring regulatory compliance, and mitigating environmental and geotechnical risks.
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)
71332000
71351500
45111250
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has a requirement to place a Contract with an external service providers for the provision of Geotechnical Works and Associated Services.
The framework agreement may be used by Forestry and Land Scotland and Transport Scotland
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Fair Work First
/ Weighting: 5
Quality criterion: Technical Ability and Site Management: Part A Programmed Works
/ Weighting: 25
Quality criterion: Technical Ability and Site Management Part B: Emergency Callout
/ Weighting: 25
Quality criterion: Managing a Quality Service: Planning and resourcing
/ Weighting: 15
Quality criterion: Managing a Quality Service: Professional services
/ Weighting: 10
Quality criterion: Contract Coverage
/ Weighting: 10
Quality criterion: Planning Permission
/ Weighting: 5
Quality criterion: Sustainability and Climate Change
/ Weighting: 5
Price
/ Weighting:
30
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
II.2.14) Additional information
Scotland Excel are delivering this procurement exercise on behalf of Forestry and Land Scotland however are not party to management of the contract. The Contracting Authority will be Forestry and Land Scotland.
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.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions:
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents.
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to 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: 3
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:
2025/S 000-001571
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
22/06/2026
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
Tender must be valid until:
20/10/2026
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
22/06/2026
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:
Prior to 4 year contract period ending.
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
Question Scoring Methodology for Technical Criteria:
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. The response is comprehensive, unambiguous and demonstrates a thorough understanding of the requirement and provides details of how the requirement will be met in full.
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 28940. 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:
The Authority has considered the Community Benefits requirement of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 and has concluded that these shall not be a mandatory requirement of this procurement. However, the Authority is dedicated to maximising community benefit opportunities as they arise. Accordingly, should the Bidder offer community benefits on a voluntary basis, they will be required to discuss the content of their community benefit proposal and agree a plan for the delivery of the agreed community benefits which will become a condition of the contract.
Please outline any voluntary community benefits you intend to offer as part of this procurement. In doing so, please confirm your understanding that you will be required to report annually to the Authority on the delivery of these community benefits. These will form part of the contract/framework deliverables and may be delivered by the supplier and/or any sub-contractors.
(SC Ref:794991)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
The Inverness Justice Centre
Longman Road
Inverness
IV1 1AH
UK
Telephone: +44 1463230782
E-mail: inverness@scotcourts.gov.uk
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
08/05/2026