North Scotland/Wick John O’Groats Airport PSO Scheduled Flight Services

{
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-FTS-125201",
    "name": "The Highland Council"
  },
  "date": "2025-12-16T10:00:31Z",
  "description": "Provided tenderers have not materially altered the scope and requirements of the requirement and they have provided a compliant proposal, tenderers may also submit a variant Tender. A variant tender shall consist of a variant Technical Questionnaire, variant Forecast of Income and Expense and Subsidy Claims Form, a variant Forecast Explanation \u0026 Commentary and a variant Form of Tender.\nNOTE: 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=818605.\nThe 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.\nSuppliers 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.\nCommunity benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/\nA summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:\nCommunity Benefit requirements are contained within the documentation available in the attachments area of PCS-T\n(SC Ref:818605)\nDownload the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=818605",
  "id": "083162-2025",
  "initiationType": "tender",
  "language": "en",
  "links": [
    {
      "href": "https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000818605",
      "rel": "canonical"
    }
  ],
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05f648",
  "parties": [
    {
      "address": {
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Inverness",
        "postalCode": "IV3 5NX",
        "region": "UKM6",
        "streetAddress": "Glenurquhart Road"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "julie.cromarty@highland.gov.uk",
        "name": "Julie Cromarty",
        "url": "http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk"
      },
      "details": {
        "buyerProfile": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00045",
        "classifications": [
          {
            "description": "Regional or local authority",
            "id": "REGIONAL_AUTHORITY",
            "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE"
          },
          {
            "description": "General public services",
            "id": "01",
            "scheme": "COFOG"
          }
        ],
        "url": "http://www.highland.gov.uk"
      },
      "id": "GB-FTS-125201",
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "The Highland Council"
      },
      "name": "The Highland Council",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ]
    },
    {
      "address": {
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "To be Agreed"
      },
      "id": "GB-FTS-30983",
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "To be Agreed"
      },
      "name": "To be Agreed",
      "roles": [
        "reviewBody"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "tag": [
    "tender"
  ],
  "tender": {
    "awardPeriod": {
      "startDate": "2026-02-16T12:00:00Z"
    },
    "bidOpening": {
      "date": "2026-02-16T12:00:00Z"
    },
    "classification": {
      "description": "Air transport services",
      "id": "60400000",
      "scheme": "CPV"
    },
    "coveredBy": [
      "GPA"
    ],
    "description": "THC is in discussions with Transport Scotland regarding subsidy provision for this service to help encourage airlines to offer their services and work in collaboration with THC to achieve these benefits.\nTHC consider that continuing air services between Wick John O\u2019Groats Airport (WIC) and Aberdeen (ABZ) and expanding these to include Edinburgh (EDI) shall enhance the visibility of the area and help stimulate the economy to ensure that the north of Scotland remains accessible and desirable for travellers, business people and the local community alike.\nTHC consider that an expanded air service will be an exciting and prosperous venture. THC are therefore looking for equally enthusiastic air service operator(s) to work with the Council in making these positive outcomes a reality and are welcoming tenders on this basis.",
    "documents": [
      {
        "documentType": "economicSelectionCriteria",
        "id": "economic"
      },
      {
        "documentType": "technicalSelectionCriteria",
        "id": "technical"
      }
    ],
    "hasRecurrence": true,
    "id": "THC/TAMBS/WJOG/2026",
    "items": [
      {
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "description": "Air transport services",
            "id": "60400000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          }
        ],
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "region": "UKM6"
          },
          {
            "region": "UKM50"
          },
          {
            "region": "UKM75"
          }
        ],
        "deliveryLocation": {
          "description": "Wick Airport\nAberdeen Airport\nEdinburgh Airport"
        },
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1"
      }
    ],
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "32014L0024",
      "scheme": "CELEX"
    },
    "lots": [
      {
        "contractPeriod": {
          "durationInDays": 720
        },
        "description": "A scheduled air passenger service between Wick John O\u2019Groats Airport and both Aberdeen and Edinburgh Airports.\nTenderers shall be able to price a range of comprehensive timetabling and frequency options, so that the services can be flexed according to demonstrable demand, without the need to re-tender.\nThe Highland Council intend to work closely with the air operator throughout the life of the Contract to ensure successful delivery. To that end, there shall be clear communication channels established and regular contract management meetings to help reinforce the collaborated approach.",
        "hasOptions": false,
        "hasRenewal": true,
        "id": "1",
        "renewal": {
          "description": "An extension for a period of up to 24 Months is possible."
        },
        "status": "active",
        "submissionTerms": {
          "variantPolicy": "allowed"
        }
      }
    ],
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "participationFees": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "type": [
          "document"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "procurementMethod": "open",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
    "recurrence": {
      "description": "December 2029"
    },
    "selectionCriteria": {
      "criteria": [
        {
          "appliesTo": [
            "supplier"
          ],
          "description": "Qualifications and Accreditations:\nTenderers are required to provide evidence of appropriate licences and accreditations to operate the scheduled service routes and proposed aircraft(s).\nEnvironmental Requirements:\nTenderers are required to provide their environmental policy which shall be in line with Government Guidance, objectives and targets.",
          "type": "suitability"
        }
      ]
    },
    "status": "active",
    "submissionMethod": [
      "electronicSubmission"
    ],
    "submissionMethodDetails": "http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk",
    "submissionTerms": {
      "bidValidityPeriod": {
        "durationInDays": 90
      },
      "languages": [
        "en"
      ]
    },
    "tenderPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-02-16T12:00:00Z"
    },
    "title": "North Scotland/Wick John O\u2019Groats Airport PSO Scheduled Flight Services"
  }
}