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Published 14 May 2024, 08:35 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Mechanised Ground Preparation Framework Agreement

Official notice

Authority: Forestry and Land Scotland (Central government)

Framework agreement6 lotsServicesOpen procedureSME suitable
Sectors: Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services (77) Delivery: Scotland (UKM)
Framework ceiling (notional)Value not publishedframework ceiling, not attributable revenue
Submissions closed 10 Feb 2025awarded 25 Apr 2025
Lots 6see the lot list below

What is being bought6 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has established a framework agreement with external Contractors for the provision of Mechanised Ground Preparation services across Scotland's National Forests and Land (SNFL).

FLS requires the services on various sites following the completion of harvesting operations and on woodland creation sites where ground needs to be prepared for forest establishment.

FLS has existing contracts in place for the provision of these services. These existing contracts are FLS's primary route for the provision of the services across SNFL.

The framework agreement will provide a compliant route to market for FLS to procure services which are unable to be provided through existing contracts or to replace contracts which have terminated or expired.

  • Recurrence: 06/12/2028

CPV: Forestry services · Horticultural services

How this framework works

From the published notice
Places
up to 15 suppliers · 9 bids on the busiest of 5 lots (0.6 per place) · 10 appointed

Lots and requirements (6)Procurement structure

6 lots · all with a published value · evaluation weights differ by lot
Lot #1Mechanised Ground Preparation - NorthAwardedPublished value£10,200,000

FLS organises Scotland’s National Forests and Land into five regions: North, South, East, West and Central. This lot is for the provision of services in North region.

The services under the scope of this lot are categorised into two types: Essential and Optional.

Tenderers on this lot must be able to provide all Essential services for the lot.

Tenderers are not required to be able to provide the Optional Services in the lot. However, FLS may procure Optional Services under the lot.

The Essential Services for this Lot are as follows:

Trench Mounding

Inverted Mounding

Hinge Mounding

V-Drains

V-Drains with Flat Tops

High/Low Spec Access Tracks

Excavator

The Optional Services for this lot are as follows:

Brash Rake & Windrowing

Linear and Patch Scrape/Screef

Shallow Trench/Trenchless/Forward Mounding/Borrow Pitting

Ripping/Subsoiling

Mechanical Respacing

Mulching – Excavator Head

Mulching – Skid Steer

Continuous Mounding

Base Machine with Grab

Delivery: Scotland
Variant bids: not allowed
77200000 Forestry services
Lot #2Mechanised Ground Preparation - SouthAwardedPublished value£10,500,000

FLS organises Scotland’s National Forests and Land into five regions: North, South, East, West and Central. This lot is for the provision of services in South region.

The services under the scope of this lot are categorised into two types: Essential and Optional.

Tenderers on this lot must be able to provide all Essential services for the lot.

Tenderers are not required to be able to provide the Optional Services in the lot. However, FLS may procure Optional Services under the lot.

The Essential Services for this Lot are as follows:

Trench Mounding

Inverted Mounding

Hinge Mounding

V-Drains

V-Drains with Flat Tops

High/Low Spec Access Tracks

Excavator

The Optional Services for this lot are as follows:

Brash Rake & Windrowing

Linear and Patch Scrape/Screef

Shallow Trench/Trenchless/Forward Mounding/Borrow Pitting

Ripping/Subsoiling

Mechanical Respacing

Mulching – Excavator Head

Mulching – Skid Steer

Continuous Mounding

Base Machine with Grab

Delivery: Scotland
Variant bids: not allowed
77200000 Forestry services
Lot #3Mechanised Ground Preparation - CentralAwardedPublished value£5,010,000

FLS organises Scotland’s National Forests and Land into five regions: North, South, East, West and Central. This lot is for the provision of services in Central region.

The services under the scope of this lot are categorised into two types: Essential and Optional.

Tenderers on this lot must be able to provide all Essential services for the lot.

Tenderers are not required to be able to provide the Optional Services in the lot. However, FLS may procure Optional Services under the lot.

The Essential Services for this Lot are as follows:

Trench Mounding

Inverted Mounding

Hinge Mounding

V-Drains

V-Drains with Flat Tops

High/Low Spec Access Tracks

Excavator

The Optional Services for this lot are as follows:

Brash Rake & Windrowing

Linear and Patch Scrape/Screef

Shallow Trench/Trenchless/Forward Mounding/Borrow Pitting

Ripping/Subsoiling

Mechanical Respacing

Mulching – Excavator Head

Mulching – Skid Steer

Continuous Mounding

Base Machine with Grab

Delivery: Scotland
Variant bids: not allowed
77200000 Forestry services
Lot #4Mechanised Ground Preparation - EastAwardedPublished value£7,060,000

FLS organises Scotland’s National Forests and Land into five regions: North, South, East, West and Central. This lot is for the provision of services in East region.

The services under the scope of this lot are categorised into two types: Essential and Optional.

Tenderers on this lot must be able to provide all Essential services for the lot.

Tenderers are not required to be able to provide the Optional Services in the lot. However, FLS may procure Optional Services under the lot.

The Essential Services for this Lot are as follows:

Trench Mounding

Inverted Mounding

Hinge Mounding

V-Drains

V-Drains with Flat Tops

High/Low Spec Access Tracks

Excavator

The Optional Services for this lot are as follows:

Brash Rake & Windrowing

Linear and Patch Scrape/Screef

Shallow Trench/Trenchless/Forward Mounding/Borrow Pitting

Ripping/Subsoiling

Mechanical Respacing

Mulching – Excavator Head

Mulching – Skid Steer

Continuous Mounding

Base Machine with Grab

Delivery: Scotland
Variant bids: not allowed
77200000 Forestry services
Lot #5Mechanised Ground Preparation - WestAwardedPublished value£6,600,000

FLS organises Scotland’s National Forests and Land into five regions: North, South, East, West and Central. This lot is for the provision of services in West region.

The services under the scope of this lot are categorised into two types: Essential and Optional.

Tenderers on this lot must be able to provide all Essential services for the lot.

Tenderers are not required to be able to provide the Optional Services in the lot. However, FLS may procure Optional Services under the lot.

The Essential Services for this Lot are as follows:

Trench Mounding

Inverted Mounding

Hinge Mounding

V-Drains

V-Drains with Flat Tops

High/Low Spec Access Tracks

Excavator

The Optional Services for this lot are as follows:

Brash Rake & Windrowing

Linear and Patch Scrape/Screef

Shallow Trench/Trenchless/Forward Mounding/Borrow Pitting

Ripping/Subsoiling

Mechanical Respacing

Mulching – Excavator Head

Mulching – Skid Steer

Continuous Mounding

Base Machine with Grab

FLS organises Scotland’s National Forests and Land into five regions: North, South, East, West and Central. This lot is for the provision of services in West region.

Delivery: Scotland
Variant bids: not allowed
77200000 Forestry services
Lot #6Disc Scarification - NationalCancelledPublished value£2,200,000

FLS organises Scotland’s National Forests and Land into five regions: North, South, East, West and Central. This lot is for Disc Scarification services across all regions of Scotland's National Forests and Land.

The services under the scope of this lot are categorised into two types: Essential and Optional.

Tenderers on this lot must be able to provide all Essential services for the lot.

Tenderers are not required to be able to provide the Optional Services in the lot. However, FLS may procure Optional Services under the lot.

The Essential Services for this Lot are as follows:

Disc Scarification

Base Machine with Grab

The Optional Services for this lot are as follows:

Continuous Mounding

Delivery: Scotland
Variant bids: not allowed
77200000 Forestry services

What it takes to win
i

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 more
How bids were scored

Lots publish different evaluation splits; there is no single procedure weighting.

LotQualityPriceEnvironmentalSplit
1 · Mechanised Ground Preparation - North50%50%—
2 · Mechanised Ground Preparation - South30%50%20%
3 · Mechanised Ground Preparation - Central30%50%20%
4 · Mechanised Ground Preparation - East30%50%20%
5 · Mechanised Ground Preparation - West30%50%20%
6 · Disc Scarification - National30%50%20%
Conditions of participation2
  • Economic & financial standing

    4B.5 - Levels of Insurance

    Minimum: 4B.5 - Levels of Insurance The tenderer must hold, or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of the Framework Agreement, the types and levels of insurance indicated below: - Employer’s (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = 5 million GBP - Public Liability Insurance = not les…
  • Technical & professional ability

    4C.6 - Qualifications

    4C.9 - Tools, Plant, Equipment

    4C.10 - Subcontracting

    4D.1 - Health & Safety

    4D.2 - Environmental Management

    Minimum: 4C.6 - Qualifications Required for Lots 1-5 only (or equivalents): FMOCS (Forest Machine Operator Certification Scheme) Units - Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations - Base Machine (C&G No. 0020-30) - Level 2 Award in Forest Machine Operations - Drainage/Mounder (C&G No. 002…
Staff
Names and qualifications of delivery staff must be submitted
What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 50 points on every lot: a 10% discount moves about 5 points.
  • “Mechanised Ground Preparation Framework Agreement” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 15 suppliers, not a single contract.

Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Framework agreement
Who may use this agreement
Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
Yes · 06/12/2028
First published
14 May 2024, 08:35 BST
Last source update
20 May 2025, 12:02 BST
Award evaluation window
27 Jan 2025 – …
Authority reference
FLS-140-F
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-023151
Classification (CPV)
Forestry servicesHorticultural services
Delivery area
Scotland (UKM)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-045955 Find a Tender
Contract terms
Electronic trading
e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment
Review and risk notes
Review procedure

An economic operator that suffers, or is at risk of suffering, loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session.

Court of Session

Parliament House

Parliament Square

Edinburgh

EH1 1RQ

0131 225 2595

[email protected]

Publisher note: (SC Ref:797184)

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: Public Contracts Scotland · Who buys & how to bid on PCS
Supplier login requiredLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free single registration for Scotland; PCS-Tender (Jaggaer) for full bidding

Tender documents are also served through a separate tool: https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.html ↗

Appointment period ends
10 Feb 2025, 12:00 GMT
Submission channel
{"electronicSubmission"}
Accepted languages
en
Bids opened
27 Jan 2025, 12:00 GMT
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public… ↗

Timeline

14 Aug 2024 → 27 May 2025 · 5 dates
  1. Next notice expected
    14 Aug 2024, 00:00 BST
  2. Bids opened
    27 Jan 2025, 12:00 GMT
  3. Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown
    10 Feb 2025, 12:00 GMT
  4. Notice published
    20 May 2025, 12:02 BST
  5. Bids must remain valid until
    27 May 2025, 23:59 BST

Notice history

5 events · 5 releases on Find a Tender · since 6 Dec 2024
  1. Status changed to active
    6 Dec 2024, 12:25 GMT
  2. Procurement method changed
    6 Dec 2024, 12:25 GMT
  3. Deadline published: 27 Jan 2025, 12:00 GMT
    6 Dec 2024, 12:25 GMT
  4. Deadline moved to 10 Feb 2025, 12:00 GMT
    10 Dec 2024, 17:06 GMT
    +14 days · was 27 Jan 2025, 12:00 GMT
  5. Status changed to complete
    20 May 2025, 12:02 BST
Published amendments (2 · 2 deadline changes)
WhenWhatBeforeAfterShift
—DeadlineTime limit · IV.2.227 Jan 202510 Feb 2025+14 d
—Bid validityMinimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender · IV.2.627 May 202510 Jun 2025+14 d
—Bid openingConditions for opening of tenders · IV.2.727 Jan 202510 Feb 2025+14 d
—DeadlineTime limit · IV.2.210 Feb 202510 Feb 2025+0 d
—Bid validityMinimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender · IV.2.610 Jun 202510 Jun 2025+0 d
—Bid openingConditions for opening of tenders · IV.2.710 Feb 202510 Feb 2025+0 d

FLS has opted to extend the tender submission deadline to 10th February 2024. This extension is intended to offer tenderers greater flexibility to participate without experiencing unnecessary pressure during the holiday season.

FLS has opted to extend the tender submission deadline to 10th February 2025. This extension is intended to offer tenderers greater flexibility to participate without experiencing unnecessary pressure during the holiday season.

Routine re-releases (5)
  • 2024-12: 1 release · 6 Dec 2024
  • 2024-05: 1 release · 14 May 2024

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Suppliers appointed 10admitted to the panel · see the list ↓
Bids received 99 from SMEs · busiest of 5 lots
Contracts signed 5latest 25 Apr 2025

5 suppliers are admitted to this framework without individual award values or dates, see the supplier list below.

Contracts

  • Mechanised Ground Preparation - North

    Signed
    25 Apr 2025
    Value
    £10,200,000
    Status
    active

  • Mechanised Ground Preparation - South

    Signed
    25 Apr 2025
    Value
    £10,500,000
    Status
    active

  • Mechanised Ground Preparation - Central

    Signed
    25 Apr 2025
    Value
    £5,010,000
    Status
    active

  • Mechanised Ground Preparation - East

    Signed
    25 Apr 2025
    Value
    £7,060,000
    Status
    active

  • Mechanised Ground Preparation - West

    Signed
    25 Apr 2025
    Value
    £6,600,000
    Status
    active

Bid statistics published by the authority

LotBidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
1 · Mechanised Ground Preparation - North8bids · 8 electronic · 8 from abroad8——
2 · Mechanised Ground Preparation - South6bids · 6 electronic · 6 from abroad6——
3 · Mechanised Ground Preparation - Central9bids · 9 electronic · 9 from abroad9——
4 · Mechanised Ground Preparation - East9bids · 9 electronic · 9 from abroad9——
5 · Mechanised Ground Preparation - West8bids · 8 electronic · 8 from abroad8——

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Forestry and Land Scotland

Contracting authorityCentral GovernmentBody governed by public lawEnvironmental protection Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness, Scotland, IV3 8NWContact name, email, phone Published organisation website ↗

Dispute resolution & review bodies

  • Court of SessionReview contact point EdinburghContact email, phone
  • The Inverness Justice CentreReview body InvernessContact email, phone

Framework contractors & participating bidders

10 commercial parties on the notice
  • Bruce Todd LtdFramework contractor Quarrycrook, 7 Hoy, Halkirk, Scotland, KW12 6UUContact phone
  • Highland StonewaysFramework contractor Craigston, Turriff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, AB53 8PXContact phone
  • ICD Contracting LimitedFramework contractor Glenakil cottage , Tarbert Argyll, Kilberry road, Scotland, PA29 6XXContact phone
  • Iain Russell & CoFramework contractor Crouse Farm, Wigtown, Newton Stewart, Scotland, DG8 9BGContact phone
  • MAM ContractingFramework contractor The Office, Templemill Farm, Crieff, Scotland, PH7 4HLContact phone
  • Maccoll(Appin)ltdFramework contractor Ar Dhachaidh, Appin, Scotland, PA38 4BLContact phone
  • Maxwell Plant LTDFramework contractor North Lodge, Heronsford, Ballantrae, Scotland, Ka26 0LNContact phone
  • McNeill ForestryFramework contractor 3 Struie Place, Ardgay, UK, IV24 3BTContact phone
  • Molplant Construction LtdFramework contractor Unit 1, Downsways Ind Est, Heathhall, Dumfries, Scotland, DG1 3RS
  • Robertson Fencing LTD - t/a Taiga UplandFramework contractor Upper Donavourd Farm, Donavourd, By Pitlochry, Scotland, PH16 5JPContact phone

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.