Invitation to Tender for the Provision of Aquatic Sample Processing and Taxonomic Determination

Orkney Islands Council, Marine Services are seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced contractor for the provision of sample processing and taxonomic determination for a 3-year period (with the option to extend for a further 2 x 12 months). The Contract will commence on 4 August 2025.

Orkney Island Council, Marine Services conducts marine non-native species monitoring as part of its Ballast Water Management Policy (adopted December 2013). During this monitoring programme samples are collected from several locations within Scapa Flow, Orkney. In addition, samples are also collected from visiting yacht mooring (buoys and mooring chains).

One overall tender is required for the following, split as detailed below:

Project 1 - Non-native species monitoring programme (Option A and Option B).

Project 2 - Visiting Yacht Mooring surveys.

Orkney Islands Council reserves the right to cancel the procurement at any stage and not award a Contract. The expenditure, work or effort undertaken by bidders prior to the award of any Contract is accordingly a matter solely for the commercial judgement of bidders.

Late tenders will not be considered by the Council and all questions are to be submitted via the Questions and Answers section of this contract advertisement on PCS.

An economic operator that suffers, or risks suffering, loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or Court of Sessions.

Tenderers should complete the SPD (Scotland) contained within the SPD Module attached to this notice.