Official UK procurement notice
Design & Build of New Passenger Vessel
Authority: Shetland Islands Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe requirement is for a new 33m Class B Ro-Ro passenger vessel to operate on Shetland’s routes as a relief vessel (the "Vessel"). The Vessel must be built and delivered to the Council in Shetland, Scotland by 31st March 2029. The Council has a strong preference for an earlier handover of 31st October 2028.
The contract awarded will be BIMCO NEWBUILDCON with amendments, as described in more detail in the draft Invitation to Negotiate ("ITN") included in the Procurement Documents (the "Contract").
CPV: Ferry boats · Ro-Ro vessels · Ships and similar vessels for the transport of persons or goods
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1The procurement procedure being followed for the Vessel is the Competitive Procedure…CancelledPublished value£35,100,000
The procurement procedure being followed for the Vessel is the Competitive Procedure with Negotiation (CPN) in accordance with Regulation 30 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 (the "Regulations").
The structure of the procurement (the “Procurement”) is as follows:
Stage 1: Shetland Islands Council (the “Council”), by publishing this Contract Notice, invites candidates to request to participate in the process by completion of an SPD response;
Stage 2: successful candidates from Stage 1 will be invited to submit Initial Tenders (“Initial Tenders”) and to negotiate with the Council with a view to improving the content of their Initial Tenders (the “Negotiation Process”);
Stage 3: Tenderers will then be invited to submit Final Tenders (“Final Tenders”) which will be evaluated in order for the Council to identify the most economically advantageous tender (“MEAT”); and
Stage 4: subject to completion of the mandatory standstill period, and approval of a full business case by the Council’s elected members, the Council will then enter into the Contract with the successful Tenderer.
The Council reserves the right to award the Contract on the basis of Initial Tenders without negotiation in accordance with Regulation 30(16) of the Regulations. In that scenario, the Council will not conduct the Negotiation Process or invite Final Tenders, and will move directly to Stage 4. Additional information: The draft ITN being published with this contract notice is provided for information only. The final version of the ITN will be provided to those candidates who are shortlisted to Stage 2. The Council reserves the right to amend any part of the ITN, including the award criteria, in preparing the final version before Stage 2.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
- Price
- Suitability
Conditions for participation are set out in full in the SPD Guidance document included in the Procurement Documents and summarised below.
- Economic & financial standing
The Tenderer must demonstrate one of the following requirements:
-Full financial statements for the last 3 financial years available; if no accounts are available (eg new company) then a bank reference is required. Where accounts are not in English, the Tenderer must provide certified extracts in the English language.
-A current bank reference which supports that the company could currently support an annual contract value of at least 6.143m GBP per annum. This is 70% of the estimated annual contract price over a 4 year period, which is based on the risk profile of the contract; or
-A credit rating check report to support a minimum annual value of 6.143m GBP; or
-An average minimum general turnover of 4.388m GBP for the last 3 financial years available and an average minimum specific turnover of 4.388m GBP for the last 3 financial years available; or
-A minimum general turnover of 4.388m GBP and minimum specific turnover of 4.388m GBP for the last financial year available; or
-A minimum general turnover of 4.388m GBP and minimum specific turnover of 4.388m GBP for the current financial year by supporting verifiable evidence such as an extract from the company's finance and accounting software.
The standard ratios and metrics which will be used as part of the assessment are detailed in SPD Guidance Document.
Tenderers must confirm that they have or will be able to obtain the following required types and levels of insurance:
- Employers (Compulsory Liability Insurance - 10,00…
- Technical & professional ability
Within Section 4C of the SPD, the Tenderer must respond to the following questions:
4C1.1 – Relevant examples - Design Development
4C1.2 – Relevant examples - Similar Vessels
4C2 - Technicians or Technical Bodies for Quality Control
4C7 - Environmental Management Measures
4C9 - Tools, Plant or Technical Equipment
Please refer to the SPD Guidance document for the detailed requirements for each question and information on how each question will be weighted and scored.
Within Section 4D of the SPD, the Tenderer must respond to the following questions:
4D.1 – Quality management, quality management procedures, and health and safety procedures
4D.2 - Environmental management systems or standards
Please refer to the SPD Guidance document for the detailed requirements for each question and information on how each question will be assessed.
- Successive reduction
- Candidates will be reduced successively across stages
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Competitive procedure with negotiation
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Cancelled
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 29 Jan 2026, 16:34 GMT
- Last source update
- 25 Sept 2026, 10:41 BST
- Authority reference
I/38/25- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-090873- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-061266Find a Tender
- Electronic trading
- e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment
- Performance terms
Candidates at Stage 1 should have regard to the Contract Summary included within the Procurement Documents. In particular, please note terms regarding guarantees, including the requirement to provide a Refund Guarantee. The full Contract is to be provided to those candidates who are shortlisted to Stage 2.
Publisher note: Please note that it is an essential requirement of the procurement process that Tenderers fully complete and submit a satisfactory Single Procurement Document (SPD) (Scotland) and satisfy all requirements specified or referred to in the Contract Notice. The Council is not and shall not be under any obligation to award a contract and shall be at liberty to abandon the procurement exercise at any time including any time after submission and evaluation of Tenders. The Council intends to negotiate all Initial Tenders received with a view to improving their content. The anticipated Negotiation Process is set out in the draft ITN included in the Procurement Documents. However, the Council reserves the right to award the Contract on the basis of Initial Tenders without negotiation in accordance with Regulation 30(16) of the Regulations. In that scenario, the Council will not conduct the Negotiation Process or invite Final Tenders, and will move directly to Stage 4. The Contract shall be subject to Scots Law and the jurisdiction of the Scottish Courts. GBP means Great British Pounds. The Council, having considered whether to impose community benefit requirements as part of the Procurement, has determined that these cannot be imposed in a manner which is proportionate and relevant to the subject matter of the Contract. The geographical location of the Council’s area means that there are limitations to the local community benefits that shipbuilders can offer as part of this contract. (SC Ref:844016)
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 9 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission"}
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
9 Mar 2026 → 31 Dec 2026 · 5 dates- Submission deadline233 days ago9 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Invitations to tender expected232 days ago11 Mar 2026
- Notice published33 days ago25 Sept 2026, 10:41 BST
- Today29 Oct 2026
- Contract startsin 41h31 Oct 2026
- Bids must remain valid untilin 63 days31 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT
Notice history
2 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 19 Feb 2026- Deadline moved to 9 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT19 Feb 2026, 12:22 GMT+7 days · was 2 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Status changed to cancelled25 Sept 2026, 10:41 BST
Published amendments (2 · 1 deadline change)
| When | What | Before | After | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | DeadlineTime limit · IV.2.2 | 2 Mar 2026 | 9 Mar 2026 | +7 d |
| — | DateEstimated date of dispatch of invitations · IV.2.3 | 11 Mar 2026 | 24 Mar 2026 | +13 d |
SPD Amendments SPD Question 4C1.1 Should read "Provide 3 Examples" SPD Question 4C1.2 Weighting should read 20% SPD Question 4C4 Should be removed SPD Question 4C8.1 Should be removed SPD Question 4C9 Weighting should read 20% Please refer to the SPD Guidance Document for the detailed requirements for each question and information on how each question will be assessed.
1 week extension
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2026-01: 1 release · 29 Jan 2026
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast1 further award records carry no date or value.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Lerwick Sheriff CourtReview body
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.