Marine Services Framework

Crown Estate Scotland (CES) is now seeking to appoint suppliers who will be considered strategic delivery partners, to help us to deliver the Marine activities of the 2026-31 Corporate Plan.

The three lots of expertise that CES require and have organised each as its own bespoke lot within a new Marine Services Framework:

Lot 1 Technical Consultancy support

Lot 2 Commercial and Economic support

Lot 3 Seabed Leasing and Market Access Advice

Crown Estate Scotland intends to appoint up to two suppliers per each Lot.

Valuations/commercial terms advice

To undertake periodic and as needed sector and/or project specific commercial reviews to inform the terms (e.g. rental) which will be applied to our seabed agreements. The terms require to be applied to each type of agreement (Exclusivity/Appraisal Agreement, Option Agreement, Lease and/or Licence) and offered in ad-hoc leasing and in leasing rounds. These commissions will typically require review of our leasing guidance documents, Heads of Terms, existing and model from agreements and other relevant policies. The specific terms to be considered include (but are not limited to):

Leasing terms

Application fees

Option Fees

Option Periods

Limits on live option agreements at any one time

Lease rental fees and/ or mechanisms

Financial Security and liability requirements

Estimated maximum loss requirements

Insurance requirements

Fee indexing mechanisms (e.g. CPI versus RPI)

Open market rent assessments for operational leases

These reviews will consider the background context within which the particular sector is developing _operating, including:

current market conditions

uncertainties in revenue support or business models

value to the grantee arising from the rights (including in the context of specific project economics)

Regulatory environments and frameworks (eg Ofgem frameworks for Regulated Assets)

Specific to Energy & Infrastructure:

consideration of grid reinforcements and associated grid curtailment payments; subsidy and/ or regulated asset regimes;

and

policy and process developments brought forward by Government and National Energy System Operator (e.g. connections reform).

Specific to Aquaculture:

updates to sea lice framework as result of industry legal challenge to SEPA proposed framework.

Future offshore developments for finfish, shellfish &/or seaweed outwith 3 nautical miles

Finfish Production Audit (current contract in place until end of Feb 2028) needing retendered Q4 2027. Scotland Excel is acting on behalf of Crown Estate Scotland (CES) in the execution of this tender but will not be party to the contract or the management of the contract throughout its lifetime.

Scotland Excel is acting on behalf of Crown Estate Scotland (CES) in the execution of this tender but will not be party to the contract or the management of the contract throughout its lifetime.