Design & Build of New Passenger Vessel
A Tender Notice
by SHETLAND ISLANDS COUNCIL
- Source
- Find a Tender
- Type
- Contract (Supply)
- Duration
- 29 month
- Value
- 35M
- Sector
- TRANSPORT
- Published
- 29 Jan 2026
- Delivery
- 31 Oct 2026 to 31 Mar 2029
- Deadline
- 02 Mar 2026 12:00
Related Terms
Location
Shetland Islands
2 buyers
- Shetland Islands Council Shetland
Description
The 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").
Total Quantity or Scope
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.
Renewal Options
The Council reserves the option to procure up to two further similar vessels from the successful Tenderer. These options, if exercised, could be awarded pursuant to this Contract or as new contracts following the negotiated procedure without prior publication, including in accordance with Regulation 33(8) of the Regulations. Exercise of any option to procure a further similar vessel would be conditional upon: -successful delivery of the Vessel procured under the original contract; -the Council receiving the necessary capital funding for the procurement of further similar vessels; -agreement with the successful Tenderer on the terms of any further procurement; and -alignment with the Council’s strategic priorities when considering options for future procurements. The reservation of this option shall not be regarded as a commitment or representation on the part of the Council (or any other person) to enter into any contractual agreement. The Council reserves the right to choose not to award any further contracts to the successful Tenderer. Tenderers should note that the estimated value stated in this Contract Notice is the estimated value for three vessels, as required by Regulation 6 of the Regulations. The Council only intends to procure one vessel at this time, and there is no guarantee that any option to procure further similar vessels will be exercised. The Council anticipates that the value of the first Vessel, covered by this Procurement, will be around 11,700,000 GBP.
CPV Codes
- 34512100 - Ferry boats
- 34512000 - Ships and similar vessels for the transport of persons or goods
- 34512700 - Ro-Ro vessels
Indicators
- Bids should cover the whole contract.
- Options are available.
- Renewals are not available.
- Financial restrictions apply.
- Performance considerations apply.
- Professional qualifications are sought.
- Award on basis of price and quality.
Other 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. 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. 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=820272. 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. The Contracting Authority does not intend to include a sub-contract clause as part of community benefits (as per Section 25 of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014) in this contract for the following reason: The Council, having considered whether to impose a sub-contract 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 Contracting Authority does not intend to include any community benefit requirements in this contract for the following reason: 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:820272) Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=820272
Reference
- FTS 008213-2026