Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Historic Environment Scotland
Longmore House, Salisbury Place
Edinburgh
EH9 1SH
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://historicenvironment.scot
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00164
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
National or federal Agency/Office
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Heritage, Tourism, Conservation, Built Environment
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Towards A National Collection – Digitisation Capability Pilot for N-RICH Prototype
Reference number
HES/C/4336
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Towards A National Collection – Digitisation Capability Pilot for N-RICH Prototype
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £225,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Digitisation Capability Pilot is one of the two core work packages delivered through the N-RICH Prototype, alongside the Digital Research Infrastructure Prototype. Its role is to address the supply-side constraints that currently limit the use of cultural heritage collections in computational and data-driven research.
While digitisation activity across the UK GLAM sector has expanded access to collections, it has not consistently produced data that is structured, documented and interoperable enough to support large-scale analysis, AI-enabled methods or cross-collection research.
The Pilot responds to this gap by focusing on the creation of computation-ready digital collections data, providing a foundation for subsequent infrastructure development and research use.
The objectives of the Digitisation Capability Pilot are to:
- Define a shared, open and scalable digitisation standard for priority GLAM collection types, specifying baseline, enhanced and aspirational levels of practice;
- Ensure the standard is oriented towards interoperability, computational access and reuse, embedding FAIR and CARE principles;
- Support data creation, augmentation and computational readiness, including standards for rapid, rich and non-destructive digitisation appropriate to different collection types and research purposes;
- Design the standard to be modular and incrementally adoptable by institutions of differing scale, capacity and resource;
- Test and refine the standard through limited application with partner GLAM institutions;
- Generate evidence on cost, skills and organisational implications to inform future investment decisions;
- Publish the standard openly and propose an appropriate model for its future stewardship and evolution.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 60
Quality criterion - Name: Interview / Weighting: 30
Price - Weighting: 10
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £225,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
11 May 2026
End date
27 November 2026
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Historic Environment Scotland reserves the right to request additional deliveries by the Successful Tenderer, either intended as partial replacement of services or as extensions of existing services. Historic Environment Scotland may at it's sole discretion exercise this option.
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
HES use Scotbis, an independent provider of business credit reports, to assess the financial standing of tenderers. The overall aim of this assessment is to ensure, as far as possible, that any potential Supplier will not have financial difficulties that endanger their ability to perform the Contract. If financial information cannot be gained from that source Historic Environment Scotland will request that you provide full audited accounts for the last full financial year. If Suppliers cannot provide any of the assurances as detailed above, and it is determined by HES that your financial strength is not adequate, then your company may not pass the financial evaluation. If you can provide the assurances as detailed above, HES may explore these options with you before determining whether your company can be taken forward in this procurement exercise. Bank details may also be sought to support the above.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
Employers Liability Insurance - 5 million GBP
Public Liability Insurance - 10 million GBP
Professional Indemnity Insurance - 1 million GBP
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
27 February 2026
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 5 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
27 February 2026
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
HES cannot sign up to suppliers terms and conditions. We will not negotiate at point of award or post contract award.
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=820927.
The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.
Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.
(SC Ref:820927)
Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=820927
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justic of the Peace Court
Edinburgh
Country
United Kingdom