Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
University of St Andrews
Walter Bower House, Eden Campus
Guardbridge
KY16 0US
Contact
Adrian Wood
Telephone
+44 1334462523
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM72 - Clackmannanshire and Fife
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/procurement/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
School of Biology/SMRU: Aircraft for the Aerial Survey of Grey Seal Breeding Colonies 2025
Reference number
BIO/300525/CM/SL
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 60424100 - Hire of aircraft with crew
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
In September to December 2025, SMRU will carry out repeat aerial surveys of around 80 grey seal breeding sites around Scotland and along the east coast of England (with the aim to survey each colony 4 or 5 times throughout the season). We therefore require a twin-engine aircraft (with survey pilot) with 4-5 hours available flight time excluding reserve fuel time.
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: £145,972.32
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 34711300 - Piloted aircraft
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM72 - Clackmannanshire and Fife
Main site or place of performance
UK- St Andrews
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
In September to December 2025, SMRU will carry out repeat aerial surveys of around 80 grey seal breeding sites around Scotland and along the east coast of England (with the aim to survey each colony 4 or 5 times throughout the season). We therefore require a twin-engine aircraft (with survey pilot) with 4-5 hours available flight time excluding reserve fuel time. Several flights will be to and from relatively remote airports such as Stornoway and Kirkwall. The aircraft must accommodate two SMRU staff and SMRU’s aerial camera system (PAS150). Surveys will be carried out from mid-September 2025 until early January 2026 with 9 or 10 separate rounds of surveys (most of these taking 3 to 4 days each) spread through the season with approximately 10-day intervals between rounds. The total flying time is expected to be around 120 hours (which would probably mean around 135 hours engine time). We estimate a total number of approx. 40 flights conducted on around 30 different days will be needed. Overnights at various airports (e.g. Stornoway, Kirkwall, Perth, Norwich) will be required.
Please see ITT for full details.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 60
Cost criterion - Name: Cost / Weighting: 40
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
two.2.14) Additional information
All tenders for the University of St Andrews are administered through our eTendering System (InTend).To Express an Interest please go to our tender website at https://intendhost.co.uk/universityofstandrews
Please note that 'Notes of Interest' placed via PCS (Public Contracts Scotland) are not automatically accepted
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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2025/S 000-028660
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
BIO/300525/CM/SL
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
25 August 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 4
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 4
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 4
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 4
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Cheshire Flying Services Limited Trading as Ravenair
Business Aviation Centre Viscount Drive , Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Liverpool
L24 5GA
Telephone
+44 01514866161
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKD - North West (England)
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £145,972.32
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
All tenders for the University of St Andrews are administered through our eTendering System (InTend).To Express an Interest please go to our tender website at https://intendhost.co.uk/universityofstandrews
Please note that 'Notes of Interest' placed via PCS (Public Contracts Scotland) are not automatically accepted
(SC Ref:809773)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Dundee Sheriff Court
6 West Bell Street
Dundee
DD1 9AD
Telephone
+44 1382229961
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The University of St Andrews will incorporate a minimum of 10 calendar day standstill period at the point of information on the award of the contract being communicated to tenderers. This period allows unsuccessful tenderers to seek further debriefing from the contracting authority before the contract is entered into. Applicants have 2 working days from the notification of the award decision to request additional debriefing and that information has to be provided a minimum of 3 working days before the expiry of the standstill period. Such additional information should be requested from The University of St Andrews.
If an appeal regarding the award of contract has not been successfully resolved The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2012 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rule to take action in the Sheriff Court or Court of Session.
The anticipated review body in such cases would be:
Dundee Sheriff Court
6 West Bell Street
Dundee
DD1 9AD
Telephone: +44 1382 229 961
Anyone bringing court proceedings against the University of St Andrews must inform the University of St Andrews in advance of the alleged breach and its intention to bring proceedings. Any such action must be brought within 15 days of the date on which a decision is sent to them or published to challenge that decision.
Proceedings seeking an ineffectiveness order must be brought within 30 days of the publication of the contract award notice in the OJEU, or 30 days from the date of a decision letter to all tenderers concerned, and any candidates concerned, containing a summary of the reason for the recipient being unsuccessful, otherwise 6 months from the date of entering into the contract or concluding the framework agreement.
Where a contract has not been entered into the Court may, by interim order, suspend the procurement procedure. The court may also set aside a decision or actions taken by the University or order it to amend and document; and/or award damages. However, by express requirement the court may decide not to grant an interim order when the negative consequences of such an order are likely to outweigh the benefits, having regard to a number of considerations.
If the contract has been entered into the Court may, depending on the nature of the breach: make an ineffectiveness order; impose a financial penalty; shorten the duration of the contract; make any other order considered appropriate to address the consequences of ineffectiveness or shortening the duration or the contract; award damages.