Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Scottish Government
5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw
Glasgow
G2 8LU
UK
Contact person: Sarah Galloway
E-mail: Sarah.Galloway2@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
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
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
Scottish Government Centres of Expertise x 4 Lots
Reference number: CASE/866909
II.1.2) Main CPV code
73000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Scottish Government has a requirement to place 4 separate, lotted contracts with external service providers for the following services: -
Lot 1. Centre of Expertise for Climate Change
Lot 2. Centre of Expertise for Animal Disease Outbreaks
Lot 3. Centre of Expertise for Nature, Water and Environment
Lot 4. Centre of Expertise for Plant Health
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Centre of Expertise for Climate Change
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
73000000
73100000
73110000
73120000
73200000
73210000
73111000
90700000
90710000
90711500
90712000
90714100
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) Division is commissioning a Centre of Expertise for Climate Change. This is required to support Scotland’s climate mitigation and adaptation goals by providing accessible, timely and high quality interdisciplinary evidence. This will be delivered through both rapid outputs and longer term research projects, commissioned and completed within timescales proportionate to policy need. The Centre will enhance the impact of Scottish funded science and translate wider UK and international research into a Scottish context, ensuring that robust external evidence is effectively applied to meeting Scotland’s climate mitigation and adaptation ambitions. This includes:
- Developing and managing a rolling, policy driven programme of evidence, balancing mitigation, adaptation and just transition needs, and delivering both rapid evidence outputs and longer term research within timescales proportionate to policy need.
- Providing integrated, systems level analysis across sectors such as climate, environment, energy, land use, agriculture and socio economics, recognising the cross cutting nature of climate issues.
- Translating UK and international research into a Scottish context, and ensuring clear, policy ready communication and effective knowledge exchange to maximise impact and uptake of evidence.
- Horizon scanning to identify emerging climate risks, opportunities and priority evidence needs across mitigation and adaptation.
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Centre of Expertise for Animal Disease Outbreaks
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
73000000
73100000
73110000
73111000
73120000
73200000
73210000
73220000
03320000
80490000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) Division is recommissioning a Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks. RESAS supports a small number of Centres of Expertise in key areas which brigade the best available expertise from a consortium of partners into virtual centres; to simplify access by policy officials to expertise from across Scotland, to enhance synergy of effort and to stimulate innovative thinking in support of policy.
The suppliers of the Centre will have the following aims:
- To deliver high-quality research-based evidence and advice on the prevention and control of animal disease outbreaks to the Scottish Government.
- To provide expert scientific advice to the Scottish Government at short notice in the event of an outbreak of notifiable, zoonotic or newly emerging animal disease in the UK.
- To stimulate innovative thinking in support of animal health policy development and delivery.
- To further enhance the coordination of research, analysis and interpretation across the subject area, leading to high quality, world leading interdisciplinary research and the production of policy-relevant outputs.
- To develop a programme of knowledge exchange to ensure the effective underpinning of policy and the wider dissemination of best practice amongst stakeholders.
Lot No: 3
II.2.1) Title
Centre of Expertise for Nature, Environment and Water
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
73000000
73100000
73110000
73111000
73112000
73120000
73200000
73210000
73220000
90733000
90713100
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS) is commissioning a new Centre of Expertise for Nature, Environment and Water. The objective is to brigade the best available expertise on nature restoration, environmental quality and protection and the management of water from across Scotland and the wider UK into a virtual centre, to simplify access to scientific advice and evidence by policy colleagues and their delivery partners, and to enhance synergy of effort and stimulate innovative thinking in support of these areas.
The Centre’s purpose is to:
- Deliver timely and high-quality advice and research-based evidence on nature restoration, environmental quality and protection and the management of water to the Scottish Government and its delivery partners.
- Stimulate innovative thinking in support of policy development and implementation in the research area.
- Enhance the coordination of research, analysis and interpretation across the subject areas, leading to high quality research and policy-relevant outputs.
- Deliver an effective programme of knowledge exchange and communication with Scottish Government and its stakeholders.
Lot No: 4
II.2.1) Title
Centre of Expertise for Plant Health
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
73000000
73100000
73110000
73120000
73200000
73210000
90700000
90710000
90711500
90712000
03117000
03441000
03121100
03117200
03117140
03117130
03000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) Division is recommissioning a Centre of Expertise on Plant Health. This is required to bring the best available plant health expertise relevant to Scotland’s crops, horticulture, forestry, and natural environment into a virtual centre, to coordinate access, by policy colleagues and the Chief Plant Health Officer, to expertise, to enhance synergy of effort and to stimulate innovative thinking in support of plant health policy.
This includes:
- Horizon scanning to identify potential future threats and evidence needs, advising on implications for pest and disease prevention. Enhancing Scotland’s capacity and capability to respond to emerging threats.
- Strengthening resilience and emergency response plans and contributing to improved surveillance and detection to ensure robust contingency measures are operational across sectors. Providing scientific evidence to support policy decisions on outbreak management, including strategies to minimise impact where eradication is not viable.
- Delivering timely and accurate research-based evidence on the mitigation of plant health risks, including management strategies, improved biosecurity, and an understanding of how new technologies and innovations can be used to help address these threats, to policy divisions, delivery agencies, and wider stakeholders.
- Reducing the plant pest and disease risks associated with the movements of plants, trade, and people.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
29/07/2026
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
The Scottish Government plan to host a Supplier Event for the Centres of Expertise procurement on Tuesday 23rd June from 2pm - 3.30pm in conjunction with the Supplier Development Programme.
The aim of this event is to provide information on each lot specification, the procurement and evaluation process and to host a live Q&A for any questions in relation to the programme.
Please note your interest in this Prior Information Notice and also register for the event via the following link - https://www.sdpscotland.co.uk/events/talking-tenders-with-the-scottish-government-centres-of-expertise-2094/
Your organisation can attend the webinar from the comfort of your own desk, the joining instructions and Cisco WebEx link are contained within the confirmation email received at time of booking via the link above, and also within the reminder emails.
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=830761.
(SC Ref:830761)
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
21/05/2026