Planning

Ecological sampling at Scottish Offshore Wind Farms

  • Scottish Government

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-057353

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-059c49

Published 17 September 2025, 2:09pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Scottish Government

5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw

Glasgow

G2 8LU

Contact

Sophie Stark

Email

sophie.stark@gov.scot

Telephone

+44 412425466

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKM - Scotland

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.scotland.gov.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10482

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

one.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Ecological sampling at Scottish Offshore Wind Farms

Reference number

CASE/796997

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 73112000 - Marine research services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Marine Directorate (MD) has a requirement for an external provider to undertake marine sampling for a selection of target species across a range of functional groups (e.g. fish, benthic and plankton) at four offshore wind farm sites and adjacent control areas, on the east coast of Scotland. Sampling will be carried out across 3 phases: winter 2025-spring 2026 , summer 2026 and autumn 2026.

This sampling work will contribute to the ECOCHANGE Project (Consequences of Changes to Habitats and implications for a Net Gain Energy approach), led by the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate, alongside the University of Liverpool the University of Glasgow SUERC and funded by The Crown Estate’s Offshore Wind Evidence and Change programme. The samples collected through this work will be analysed through a subsequent workstream (not included in the scope of this contract) and the data will ultimately provide insight into the food web structure within the North Sea marine ecosystem and how food webs may be impacted by OWF infrastructure. Understanding this relationship is crucial with the increase in development of OWFs to reach Net Zero targets. This work will shed light on the effect of OWF infrastructure on marine biodiversity which will inform Marine Enhancement and Nature Positive policies.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 90700000 - Environmental services
  • 73112000 - Marine research services
  • 03000000 - Agricultural, farming, fishing, forestry and related products
  • 71354500 - Marine survey services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM - Scotland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

An Open Procurement is likely to be published prior to the end of September.

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

29 September 2025


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

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=810323.

(SC Ref:810323)