Official UK procurement notice
Marine Survey Vessel · UK public procurement notice
Authority: Scottish Natural Heritage
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionNatureScot’s survey vessel, Aphrodite, is a 24-year-old rigid hull inflatable boat that has reached the end of its recommended service life.
NatureScot therefore requires the design, manufacture, commissioning, and delivery of a replacement versatile survey vessel and trailer capable of conducting marine environmental monitoring for a range of diverse habitats and species in Scotland’s inshore waters.
CPV: Boats · Ships and boats · Specialised boats
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1The vessel will be used by NatureScot to undertake marine environmental monitoring and…Awarded
The vessel will be used by NatureScot to undertake marine environmental monitoring and survey activities within Scotland’s inshore waters (within 12nm).
The vessel shall provide a safe, reliable, and versatile platform capable of supporting a range of scientific and operational activities, including:
- Marine Protected Area (MPA) monitoring
- Benthic habitat surveys
- Species monitoring and evidence-gathering
- Diver-based surveys and sampling
- Drop-down video (DDV) and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) surveys
- Deployment and recovery of scientific monitoring equipment
- Acoustic monitoring and hydrographic survey activities
- Operations in remote coastal and island locations (e.g. Shiant Isles, Mingulay and Sanday (Orkney))
The vessel shall be capable of supporting these activities whilst carrying personnel and equipment safely in accordance with all applicable regulatory requirements. Additional information: Scotland Excel is acting on behalf of Scottish Natural Heritage (NatureScot) in the execution of this tender but will not be party to the contract or the management of the contract throughout its lifetime.
The duration of the contract may be varied in line with the finalised delivery programme.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published award criteria (2)
- Quality: 70
- Price: 30
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 24 Jul 2026, 10:31 BST
- Last source update
- 23 Oct 2026, 10:40 BST
- Award evaluation window
- 24 Aug 2026 – …
- Authority reference
PP1488- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-100308- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d2e1Find a Tender
- Electronic trading
- e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment
Publisher note: (SC Ref:846351)
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 26 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bid validity
- 120 days from the deadline
- Bids opened
- 24 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
Timeline
24 Aug 2026 → 23 Oct 2026 · 3 dates- Bids opened63 days ago24 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline61 days ago26 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
- Notice published3 days ago23 Oct 2026, 10:40 BST
Notice history
2 events · 5 releases on Find a Tender · since 18 Aug 2026- Deadline moved to 26 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST18 Aug 2026, 13:25 BST+2 days · was 24 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
- Status changed to complete23 Oct 2026, 10:40 BST
Published amendments (3 · 3 deadline changes)
| When | What | Before | After | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | DeadlineTime limit · IV.2.2 | 24 Aug 2026 | 26 Aug 2026 | +2 d |
| — | DeadlineTime limit · IV.2.2 | 26 Aug 2026 | 26 Aug 2026 | +0 d |
| — | Bid openingConditions for opening of tenders · IV.2.7 | 24 Aug 2026 | 26 Aug 2026 | +2 d |
| — | DeadlineTime limit · IV.2.2 | 26 Aug 2026 | 26 Aug 2026 | +0 d |
| — | Bid openingConditions for opening of tenders · IV.2.7 | 26 Aug 2026 | 26 Aug 2026 | +0 d |
Requested by supplier.
Requested by supplier.
Requested by supplier.
Routine re-releases (5)
- 2026-08: 1 release · 18 Aug 2026
- 2026-07: 1 release · 24 Jul 2026
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheetah Marine International LtdSME | £207,068 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 100308-2026-1 · Cheetah Marine International LtdSME
- Signed
- 16 Oct 2026
- Value
- £207,068
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3bids · 3 electronic · 3 from abroad | 3 | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- The Inverness Justice CentreReview body
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Cheetah Marine International LtdAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Economic and financial selection criteria
- Technical selection criteria