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Prior Information Notice

Scottish Government Centres of Expertise x 4 Lots

  • First published: 22 May 2026
  • Last modified: 22 May 2026
  • Version: N/A
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The buyer is not using this website to administer the notice.

To record your interest or obtain additional information or documents please find instructions within the Full Notice Text. (NOTE: Contract Award Notices and Prior Information Notices do not normally require a response)

Contents

Summary

OCID:
ocds-h6vhtk-069e59
Published by:
Scottish Government
Authority ID:
AA26920
Publication date:
22 May 2026
Deadline date:
-
Notice type:
Prior Information Notice
Has documents:
No
Has SPD:
No
Has Carbon Reduction Plan:
N/A

Abstract

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

Full notice text

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

Coding

Commodity categories

ID Title Parent category
03000000 Agricultural, farming, fishing, forestry and related products Agriculture and Food
03320000 Cattle, livestock and small animals Farming, hunting and fishing products
90713100 Consulting services for water-supply and waste-water other than for construction Environmental issues consultancy services
73220000 Development consultancy services Research and development consultancy services
90714100 Environmental information systems Environmental auditing
90710000 Environmental management Environmental services
90711500 Environmental monitoring other than for construction Environmental impact assessment other than for construction
90712000 Environmental planning Environmental management
90700000 Environmental services Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services
73120000 Experimental development services Research and experimental development services
03121100 Live plants, bulbs, roots, cuttings and slips Horticultural products
73112000 Marine research services Research services
80490000 Operation of an educational centre Adult and other education services
03441000 Ornamental plants, grasses, mosses or lichens Forestry products
03117140 Plants used for fungicidal or similar purposes Plants used in specific fields
03117130 Plants used for insecticidal purposes Plants used in specific fields
03117000 Plants used in specific fields Crops, products of market gardening and horticulture
73200000 Research and development consultancy services Research and development services and related consultancy services
73000000 Research and development services and related consultancy services Research and Development
73100000 Research and experimental development services Research and development services and related consultancy services
73210000 Research consultancy services Research and development consultancy services
73111000 Research laboratory services Research services
73110000 Research services Research and experimental development services
03117200 Seeds of plants used in specific fields Plants used in specific fields
90733000 Services related to water pollution Pollution tracking and monitoring and rehabilitation

Delivery locations

ID Description
100 UK - All

Alert region restrictions

The buyer has restricted the alert for this notice to suppliers based in the following regions.

ID Description
There are no alert restrictions for this notice.

About the buyer

Main contact:
Sarah.Galloway2@gov.scot
Admin contact:
N/a
Technical contact:
N/a
Other contact:
N/a

Further information

Date Details
No further information has been uploaded.

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