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: Sophie Stark
Telephone: +44 412425466
E-mail: sophie.stark@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
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Ecological sampling at Scottish Offshore Wind Farms
Reference number: CASE/796997
II.1.2) Main CPV code
73112000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Marine Directorate (MD) has a requirement for an external provider to undertake marine sampling for a selection of target species across a range of functional groups (e.g. fish, benthic and plankton) at four offshore wind farm sites and adjacent control areas, on the east coast of Scotland. Sampling will be carried out across 3 phases: winter 2025-spring 2026 , summer 2026 and autumn 2026.
This sampling work will contribute to the ECOCHANGE Project (Consequences of Changes to Habitats and implications for a Net Gain Energy approach), led by the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate, alongside the University of Liverpool the University of Glasgow SUERC and funded by The Crown Estate’s Offshore Wind Evidence and Change programme. The samples collected through this work will be analysed through a subsequent workstream (not included in the scope of this contract) and the data will ultimately provide insight into the food web structure within the North Sea marine ecosystem and how food webs may be impacted by OWF infrastructure. Understanding this relationship is crucial with the increase in development of OWFs to reach Net Zero targets. This work will shed light on the effect of OWF infrastructure on marine biodiversity which will inform Marine Enhancement and Nature Positive policies.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
90700000
73112000
03000000
71354500
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
An Open Procurement is likely to be published prior to the end of September.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
29/09/2025
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
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=810323.
(SC Ref:810323)
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
17/09/2025