Official UK procurement notice
Strategic Digital Partner for Website and Mobile Applications
Authority: CalMac Ferries Limited
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionCalMac Ferries operates a business-critical digital platform comprising three public-facing websites (CalMac Consumer, CalMac Corporate, and David MacBrayne Group) and native mobile applications for iOS and Android. This platform is central to delivering ferry services, customer communications, and operational support.
The current solution is built on Umbraco CMS, hosted in Microsoft Azure, and integrates with multiple internal and third-party systems, including booking, messaging, and analytics. It supports real-time service updates, timetables, and customer notifications, and is aligned with CalMac’s Digital North Star roadmap, which aims to create a seamless, data-driven customer experience.
CalMac now seeks a strategic digital partner to provide:
-Ongoing support and maintenance of the existing platform.
-Hosting and infrastructure management within Azure.
-Continuous improvement and iterative enhancements under CalMac’s governance.
-Compliance with security, accessibility, and regulatory standards.
-Capability to deliver future integrations and innovation through structured change control.
The partner will act as a delivery partner, not a strategic owner, ensuring stability, scalability, and resilience while supporting CalMac’s long-term digital vision.
CPV: IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedWhat 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).
Published sub-criteria (2)
- Technical: 70%
- price: 30%
Published award criteria (2)
- Technical: 70
- Price: 30
- Condition of participationno text publishedMinimum: Minimum annual turnover of GBP 7.5 Million Ratios based on the most recent full year of published accounts: 1- Return on Capital Employed: must be at a ratio greater than “0” 2- Acid Test (Current Ratio): Current Ratio must be greater than “1” 3- Gearing: Gearing must be a figure…
- Successive reduction
- Candidates will be reduced successively across stages
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
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
- Competitive procedure with negotiation
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Closed
- 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
- 18 Feb 2026, 09:49 GMT
- Last source update
- 18 Feb 2026, 09:49 GMT
- Authority reference
ITSW25-134- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-014600- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0656b1Find a Tender
- Electronic trading
- e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment
- Performance terms
As defined in the Tender documentation.
Publisher note: The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this PQQ exercise. The Project code is 31067. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343 A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363 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: CalMac is committed to delivering wider social value through this procurement. While the primary focus is on securing a strategic digital partner, we encourage suppliers to propose community benefits such as: -Offering work experience placements for students or individuals seeking digital skills. -Creating apprenticeship or graduate opportunities within the contract delivery team. -Partnering with local colleges, universities, or charities to support STEM education, digital inclusion, or community projects. -Providing training and knowledge transfer to enhance local capability and employment prospects. Suppliers should outline any initiatives that contribute to skills development, local employment, and community engagement in their response. These will be considered as part of the overall value-for-money and social impact assessment. (SC Ref:824008)
How it was run
Official noticeTender documents are also served through a separate tool: https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ ↗
- Submission deadline
- 23 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bid validity
- 360 days from the deadline
Timeline
18 Feb 2026 → 17 Apr 2026 · 3 dates- Notice published245 days ago18 Feb 2026, 09:49 GMT
- Submission deadline212 days ago23 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Invitations to tender expected188 days ago17 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Greenock Sherift CourtReview body
Official documents & specifications (1)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Technical selection criteria