Section one: Contracting entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Orkney Islands Council (Harbour Authority)
Council Offices, School Place
Kirkwall
KW15 1NY
Contact
Rosemary Colsell
rosemary.colsell@orkney.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 1856873535
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM65 - Orkney Islands
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA11522
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
one.6) Main activity
Port-related activities
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Provision of Shipyard Detailed Design and Build Contract RoPax Vessels
Reference number
OIC/PROC/2248
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 34500000 - Ships and boats
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Orkney Islands Council has a requirement for a suitably qualified Contractor to complete a Shipyard Detailed Design and Build Contract for three new RoPax Vessels with an option for a fourth vessel to the same design.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £100,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 34510000 - Ships
- 34512000 - Ships and similar vessels for the transport of persons or goods
- 34512100 - Ferry boats
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM65 - Orkney Islands
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Orkney Islands Council has a requirement for a suitably qualified Contractor to complete a Shipyard Detailed Design and Build Contract for RoPax vessels, three identical new RoPax Vessels with an option for a fourth vessel to the same design.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £100,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
60
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Maximum number: 6
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates:
Responses to the SPD(S) will be assessed, as stated in the SPD documentation. The highest ranked bidders will be invited to Stage 2 of the process, up to a maximum of 6 tenderers.
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Contract is for three vessels with an option for a fourth vessel.
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
Contract Value is within the range of 75000000 to 100000000 GBP and includes the additional option of a fourth vessel.
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions
As detailed in the SPD and documentation.
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.6) Deposits and guarantees required
Bank Guarantees are required and will be detailed in the Invitation to Tender documnetation
three.1.7) Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions governing them
Installment payments and delivery payments in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Contract as detailed in the Invitation to Tender documentation.
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.2) Contract performance conditions
As detailed in the Invitation to Tender documentation.
three.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Restricted 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
9 January 2026
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
26 January 2026
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: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: This procurement is Phase 1 of Orkney's Ferry Replacement Programme and Phase 2 is anticipated to include the procurement of further RoPax Vessels within the next 2 years.
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
Envisaged number of candidates: 6. Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates is detailed in the Appendix A to the contract notice document. Orkney Islands Council is committed to encouraging Fair Work Practices from their Suppliers and Contractors and bidders will be required to provide details of their organisation's policies and practices that demonstrate how their organisation addresses Fair Work Practices. Orkney Islands Council reserves the right to cancel the procurement at any stage and not award a Contract. The expenditure, work or effort undertaken by bidders prior to the award of any Contract is accordingly a matter solely for the commercial judgement of bidders. Late submissions at the SPD stage or Tenders at the Invitation to Tender stage will not be considered by the Council and all questions are to be submitted via the Question and Answer section of this contract advertisement on PCS. An economic operator that suffers or risks suffering, loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or Court of Session.
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=816015.
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.
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
Employment in Orkney - indirect community benefit to the local community in Orkney is the continued provision of Orkney Ferries directly employed seafarer posts, and passenger and freight services provided. Training of sea and shore staff in used of new equipment and maintenance. As a consequence there will be an increase of knowledge base of local suppliers due to new vessels having modern technology and therefore a requirement for a higher level of shore side backup for these vessels - both directly employed and via local contractors.
Running costs and whole life cycle costs incorporated into the specification may also be considered.
Employment and welfare consideration with a requirement to meet the Health and Safety and Employment legislation and Fair Work practices equivalent requirements of the Country of construction. Bidders will be required to outline their approach to community benefits as a non scored response and the Contracting Authority will welcome innovative proposals such as apprentice and student outreach. If successful, the winning bidder will be required to discuss the content of their community benefit proposal and agree a plan for delivery which will become a condition of the contract.
(SC Ref:816015)
Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=816015
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Kirkwall Sheriff Court
Watergate
Kirkwall
KW15 1DP
Telephone
+44 1856872110
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Kirkwall Sheriff Court
Watergate
Kirkwall
KW15 1DP
Telephone
+44 1856872110
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Kirkwall Sheriff Court
Watergate
Kirkwall
KW15 1DP
Telephone
+44 1856872110
Country
United Kingdom