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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Provision of Inter-Island Air Services for Orkney Outer North Isles

Orkney Islands Council · compiled

Tender information last checkedLast checked 29 Sept 2026, 19:42.

Opportunity overview

Orkney Islands Council (the Authority) has a requirement for the provision of an Inter Island Air Service operating to the six Outer North Isles of Papa Westray, North Ronaldsay, Westray, Sanday, Stronsay and Eday under a Public Service Obligation (PSO), which establishes the minimum frequencies and sets the maximum fare levels provided to each of the isles.

Awarded to

Amounts belong to published awards or contracts. Where several suppliers share one value, it is labelled as shared and is not a supplier-specific allocation.

Loganair Limited

Match pending…
Contract value
£6.8m
Awarded
Not supplied
Contract signed
20 Dec 2024
Award ID
002074-2025-OIC/PROC/1915-1
Status
active
Location
Paisley, UKM83, PA3 2SJ, United Kingdom

Classification

  • CPV50211200 — Aircraft repair services
  • CPV60400000 — Air transport services
  • CPV60410000 — Scheduled air transport services
  • CPV60420000 — Non-scheduled air transport services
  • CPV63730000 — Support services for air transport

Lots

  • Orkney Islands Council (the Authority) has a requirement for the provision of an Inter Island Air Service operating to the six Outer North Isles under a Public Service Obligation (PSO), which establishes the minimum frequencies and sets the maximum fare levels provided to each of the isles. The maintenance of scheduled air services between Orkney Mainland (Kirkwall) and the islands of Papa Westray, North Ronaldsay, Westray, Sanday, Stronsay, and Eday are essential to counter the islands peripherality, fragile economic base and depopulation of the islands. There is no rapid alternative means of transport to Kirkwall on the Orkney Mainland, and for onward connections with the Scottish Mainland. The designated services, which are currently operated by the air carrier Loganair Ltd, are essential for the maintenance of the economic and social fabric of the islands. They are used for access to essential services (e.g. educational, financial, commercial, professional, advisory and health) which cannot be provided locally; and are also used for tourism. Should these air services be withdrawn the upkeep of the airfields could be placed in jeopardy and this in turn would put at risk the vitally important air ambulance service (currently operated by helicopter) which provides the essential emergency medical link. For North Ronaldsay and Papay Westray these services are defined as lifeline services in terms of the Scottish Government criteria. In recognition of the importance of these services, subsidy is made available by Orkney Islands Council (“the Council”) to subsidise the Designated Services. Additional information: The contract value as noted at 11.2.6 is in relation to Option 1 the current services and for the contract duration of 48 months. An estimated contract value of 8,890,243 GBP is estimated to include the enhanced services. Take up of Option 2 and 3 will be subject to a Council decision following subject to Committee approval.£6.9m

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
OIC/PROC/1915
Status
complete
Has Recurrence
Yes
Procurement Method
open
Main Procurement Category
services
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure

Covered By

GPA

Bid Opening

Date
14 Oct 2024, 14:00
Description
The postbox will be opened by Officers with delegated procurement in accordance with the Council's Contract Standing Orders.

Address

Street Address
TEAMS Meeting

Legal basis

Id
32014L0024
Scheme
CELEX

Recurrence

Description
August 2028

Expected award period

Starts
14 Oct 2024, 14:00

Tender Period

Ends
14 Oct 2024, 12:00

Communication

Contract terms

Performance Terms
As per the conditions of contract included in the invitation to tender documentation.
Has Electronic Payment
Yes
Has Electronic Ordering
Yes
Electronic Invoicing Policy
allowed

Classification

Id
60400000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Air transport services

Submission terms

Languages

en

Bid Validity Period

Duration In Days
90

Submission Method

electronicSubmission

Other Requirements

Requires Staff Names And Qualifications
Yes

Selection criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
suitability
Description
As described in the tender documentation

Applies To

supplier
Criterion 2
Type
technical
Description
The bidder will need to hold the appropriate Air Operator Certificate in compliance with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
cancelled
Has Options
Yes
Has Renewal
No
Description
Orkney Islands Council (the Authority) has a requirement for the provision of an Inter Island Air Service operating to the six Outer North Isles under a Public Service Obligation (PSO), which establishes the minimum frequencies and sets the maximum fare levels provided to each of the isles. The maintenance of scheduled air services between Orkney Mainland (Kirkwall) and the islands of Papa Westray, North Ronaldsay, Westray, Sanday, Stronsay, and Eday are essential to counter the islands peripherality, fragile economic base and depopulation of the islands. There is no rapid alternative means of transport to Kirkwall on the Orkney Mainland, and for onward connections with the Scottish Mainland. The designated services, which are currently operated by the air carrier Loganair Ltd, are essential for the maintenance of the economic and social fabric of the islands. They are used for access to essential services (e.g. educational, financial, commercial, professional, advisory and health) which cannot be provided locally; and are also used for tourism. Should these air services be withdrawn the upkeep of the airfields could be placed in jeopardy and this in turn would put at risk the vitally important air ambulance service (currently operated by helicopter) which provides the essential emergency medical link. For North Ronaldsay and Papay Westray these services are defined as lifeline services in terms of the Scottish Government criteria. In recognition of the importance of these services, subsidy is made available by Orkney Islands Council (“the Council”) to subsidise the Designated Services. Additional information: The contract value as noted at 11.2.6 is in relation to Option 1 the current services and for the contract duration of 48 months. An estimated contract value of 8,890,243 GBP is estimated to include the enhanced services. Take up of Option 2 and 3 will be subject to a Council decision following subject to Committee approval.

Value

Amount
6,890,244
Currency
GBP

Options

Description
Tenderers are required to provide information and costs for 3 options as follows: Option 1 - current service operation; Option 2 - enhanced service (additional aircraft expected);and Option 3 - enhanced service (additional aircraft and crew expected.

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Name
Quality
Type
quality
Description
50
Criterion 2
Type
price
Description
50

Contract period

Duration In Days
1,440

Submission terms

Variant Policy
notAllowed

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery Location

Description
Orkney Islands

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKM65
Entry 2
Region
UKM65

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
60410000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Scheduled air transport services
Entry 2
Id
50211200
Scheme
CPV
Description
Aircraft repair services
Entry 3
Id
60400000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Air transport services
Entry 4
Id
63730000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Support services for air transport
Entry 5
Id
60420000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Non-scheduled air transport services

Published documents

Entry 1
Id
economic1
Document Type
economicSelectionCriteria
Entry 2
Id
technical1
Document Type
technicalSelectionCriteria

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-FTS-4848
Name
Orkney Islands Council

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKM65
Locality
Kirkwall
Postal Code
KW15 1NY
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Council Offices, School Place

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
REGIONAL_AUTHORITY
Scheme
TED_CA_TYPE
Description
Regional or local authority
Entry 2
Id
01
Scheme
COFOG
Description
General public services

Identifier

Legal Name
Orkney Islands Council

Contact

Name
Rosemary Colsell
Fax Number
+44 01856876158
Telephone
+44 01856873535
Organisation 2
Id
GB-FTS-116020
Name
Kirkwall Sherriff Court

Roles

reviewBody
mediationBody
reviewContactPoint

Address

Locality
Kirkwall
Postal Code
KW15 1DP
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Watergate

Details

Identifier

Legal Name
Kirkwall Sherriff Court

Contact

Telephone
+44 1856872110
Organisation 3
Id
GB-FTS-6206
Name
Loganair Limited

Roles

supplier

Address

Region
UKM83
Locality
Paisley
Postal Code
PA3 2SJ
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Lightyear Building, 9 Marchburn Drive, Glasgow Airport

Details

Scale
large

Identifier

Legal Name
Loganair Limited

Contact

Telephone
+44 1418427433

Award information

Award 1
Id
002074-2025-OIC/PROC/1915-1
Status
active

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-FTS-6206
Name
Loganair Limited

Related lots

1

Contracts and changes

Entry 1
Id
002074-2025-OIC/PROC/1915-1
Status
active
Award ID
002074-2025-OIC/PROC/1915-1
Date Signed
20 Dec 2024, 00:00

Value

Amount
6,821,240
Currency
GBP

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Kirkwall · UKM65 · KW15 1NY · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKM65

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-049a12-2025-01-21T16:23:51Zcompiled ·