Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Transport Scotland
5th Floor, 177 Bothwell Street
Glasgow
G2 7ER
Telephone
+44 14147308142
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM82 - Glasgow City
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00099
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Transport
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services 3 (CHFS3) VEAT notice
Reference number
TS/FER/SER/2024/02
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 60610000 - Ferry transport services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This VEAT notice sets out the intention of Transport Scotland (TS) on behalf of Scottish Ministers to award to CalMac Ferries Limited (CFL) a 10-year public contract for the delivery of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS3 Contract).
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £3,900,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 60610000 - Ferry transport services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This VEAT notice sets out the intention of the Transport Scotland (TS) on behalf of Scottish Ministers to award to CalMac Ferries Limited (CFL) a 10-year public contract for the delivery of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS3 Contract).
TS has undertaken an extensive review of the provision of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS). As part of that review, the current governance arrangements for CHFS are being amended. The CHFS3 Contract is going to be awarded to CFL on the basis of those amended arrangements.”
The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 (as amended) (Regulations) do not apply to the procurement because TS is awarding the CHFS3 Contract pursuant to the exemption for “in-house” contractual arrangements provided for in Regulation 13(1)(a) of the Regulations.
The scope of the CHFS3 Contract includes the provision of ferry and associated services on the CHFS network. The CHFS network covers the west coast of Scotland, from Campbeltown in the south to Stornoway in the north. The CHFS network is currently comprised of 30 ferry routes between harbours on the Scottish mainland and on islands in the Hebrides and Clyde Estuary.
The services to be provided include but are not limited to the provision of: scheduled and unscheduled ferry services; staffing of terminals and harbour facilities; facilities for accepting reservations, issuing tickets, and other relevant documentation; marketing the operation of a common timetable, ticketing, and fares database for all routes; a website and smartphone app, seasonal timetables, a help-desk facility, and an early warning notice board for disruptions and changes due to bad weather; real-time information to passengers; the operation of variable message boards; the participation in public transport information and/or journey planning websites specified by TS; cooperation with relevant organisations and operators of other services to facilitate integrated services; the operation of a passenger recording system; the management and operation and maintenance of the vessels; additional sailings in certain circumstances; and lifeline support to the emergency services as required.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
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 four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
The Regulations do not apply to the procurement because TS is awarding the CHFS3 Contract to CFL on the basis of the exemption available in Regulation 13(1)(a) (award of a public contract by a contracting authority to a controlled person).
TS is satisfied that, following the amendment of the current governance arrangements for CHFS, CFL will meet the definition of a “controlled person” provided for in Regulation 13(2) of the Regulations because:
(a) TS will exercise over CFL control similar to that which they exercise over their own departments;
(b) CFL will have carried out more than 80% of its activities in the relevant period in the performance of tasks entrusted to it by TS or by other persons controlled by TS; and
(c) no other person will have direct private capital participation in CFL.
As this award will satisfy all of the requirements of Regulation 13 meaning the Regulations do not apply, prior publication of a call for competition is therefore not needed.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
6 May 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
CalMac Ferries Limited
The Ferry Terminal
Gourock
PA19 1QP
Telephone
+44 7983199180
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKM83 - Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £3,900,000,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The CHFS3 Contract has not been entered into yet. TS will observe a ten (10) day standstill period before entering into the CHFS3 Contract and TS intends to publish a contract award notice following contract signature.
TS currently expects to enter into the CHFS3 Contract on or around 30 September 2025 and for services to commence on 1 October 2025.
The estimated value of the CHFS3 Contract stated in this VEAT notice has been calculated based on cost estimates of providing the lifeline ferry service over 10 years.
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=792898.
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=792898.
(SC Ref:792898)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Sheriff Clerk's Office
PO Box 23, 1 Carlton, Place
Glasgow
G5 9DA
Country
United Kingdom