Argyll and Bute Council election night flight services award

Tender information last checkedLast checked 12 Oct 2026, 17:07.

Opportunity overview

The objective of this Service is to ensure the safe, secure and timely transportation of ballot boxes and election materials from designated island locations to Lochgilphead to enable the ballot counting process to commence as scheduled.

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.

PDG Helicopters

Match pending…

Contract value: £117.9k
Awarded: Not supplied
Contract signed: 5 Oct 2026
Award ID: 096195-2026-JUN557442-1
Status: active
Location: Inverness, UK, IV2 7XB, United Kingdom

Classification

CPV60424120 — Hire of helicopters with crew

Lots

The objective of this Service is to ensure the safe, secure and timely transportation of ballot boxes and election materials from designated island locations to Lochgilphead to enable the ballot counting process to commence as scheduled.Value not stated

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: JUN557442
Status: complete
Main Procurement Category: services
Procurement Method: open
Procurement Method Details: Open procedure

Legal basis

Id: 32014L0024
Scheme: CELEX

Classification

Scheme: CPV
Id: 60424120
Description: Hire of helicopters with crew

Lots and requirements

Entry 1

Id: 1
Description: The objective of this Service is to ensure the safe, secure and timely transportation of ballot boxes and election materials from designated island locations to Lochgilphead to enable the ballot counting process to commence as scheduled.
Has Options: No
Status: cancelled

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1

Name: Operational Delivery and Methodology
Type: quality
Description: 20

Criterion 2

Name: Timeliness and Service Delivery
Type: quality
Description: 14

Criterion 3

Name: Safety and Operational Assurance
Type: quality
Description: 14

Criterion 4

Name: Risk Management and Resilience
Type: quality
Description: 10

Criterion 5

Name: Communication and Coordination
Type: quality
Description: 5

Criterion 6

Name: Continuous Improvement
Type: quality
Description: 5

Criterion 7

Name: Community Benefits
Type: quality
Description: 2

Criterion 8

Name: Fair Work Practices Questions
Type: quality
Description: 0

Criterion 9

Name: Prompt Payment Performance Question
Type: quality
Description: 0

Criterion 10

Type: price
Description: 30%

Items and delivery

Item 1

Id: 1
Related Lot: 1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1

Scheme: CPV
Id: 60424120
Description: Hire of helicopters with crew

Delivery locations

Entry 1

Region: UKM63

Delivery Location

Description: Argyll and Bute

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1

Name: Argyll and Bute Council
Id: GB-FTS-3190

Identifier

Legal Name: Argyll and Bute Council

Address

Street Address: Kilmory
Locality: Lochgilphead
Region: UKM63
Postal Code: PA31 8RT
Country Name: United Kingdom

Contact

Name: Annabel Travers
Telephone: +44 1586555232
Email: Annabel.Travers@argyll-bute.gov.uk

Roles

buyer

Details

Url: http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk ↗
Buyer Profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00063 ↗

Classifications

Entry 1

Scheme: TED_CA_TYPE
Id: REGIONAL_AUTHORITY
Description: Regional or local authority

Entry 2

Scheme: COFOG
Id: 01
Description: General public services

Organisation 2

Name: PDG Helicopters
Id: GB-FTS-121850

Identifier

Legal Name: PDG Helicopters

Address

Street Address: The Heliport, Dalcros Ind Est
Locality: Inverness
Region: UK
Postal Code: IV2 7XB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Contact

Telephone: +44 1667464400

Roles

supplier

Details

Scale: sme

Organisation 3

Name: Oban Sheriff Court
Id: GB-FTS-15667

Identifier

Legal Name: Oban Sheriff Court

Address

Street Address: Sheriff Court House, Albany Street
Locality: Oban
Postal Code: PA34 4AL
Country Name: United Kingdom

Contact

Telephone: +44 1631562414
Email: oban@scotcourts.gov.uk

Roles

reviewBody

Award information

Award 1

Id: 096195-2026-JUN557442-1
Status: active

Related lots

Suppliers

Supplier 1

Id: GB-FTS-121850
Name: PDG Helicopters

Contracts and changes

Entry 1

Id: 096195-2026-JUN557442-1
Award ID: 096195-2026-JUN557442-1
Status: active
Date Signed: 6 Oct 2026, 00:00

Value

Amount: 117,855
Currency: GBP

Recorded locations

Buyer location · Lochgilphead · UKM63 · PA31 8RT · United Kingdom
Delivery location · UKM63

Notice and amendment history

3 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

3 VERSIONS

053594-2026tender · 8 Jun 2026, 09:20
067744-2026tenderUpdate · 17 Jul 2026, 12:11
096195-2026award, contract · 12 Oct 2026, 15:39

PROCURAAXIS AWARD ANALYSIS

Award outcome intelligence

Evidence-bound analysis of the published award appears below the official tender and award information.

ANALYSIS PREVIEW

Award intelligence at a glance

Argyll and Bute Council published an award and contract notice for election-night helicopter services to move ballot boxes and election materials from island locations to Lochgilphead. The notice identifies PDG Helicopters as supplier and records a GBP 117,855 contract signed on 6 October 2026.

Published outcome signals

Published award and contract notice12 October 2026Evidence: Release history lists release 096195-2026, tagged "award, contract", dated 2026-10-12T15:39:15+01:00.
Award statusActiveEvidence: Award 096195-2026-JUN557442-1 has status "active".
Contract statusActive; signed 6 October 2026Evidence: Contract 096195-2026-JUN557442-1 has status "active" and dateSigned 2026-10-06T00:00:00+01:00.

89% approved-analysis confidence1 supplier record analysed3 source limitations

SOURCE AND FRESHNESS

Traceable procurement data

Source: Find a Tender
Notice reference: 096195-2026
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06af4a
First published: 17 Jul 2026
Last checked: 12 Oct 2026, 17:07
Notice versions reviewed: 3

View Find a Tender notice ↗

HOW THIS WAS PREPARED

Approved, evidence-bound analysis

ProcuraAxis structures information found in published procurement records, checks the result for consistency and publishes only approved analysis. Confidence describes the completeness and consistency of the available source information; it is not a guarantee of eligibility or contract award.

Analysis status: Approved for publication
Analysed: 12 Oct 2026

Read the analysis methodology →

AWARD OUTCOME

What happened

Published outcome

One active award and one active contract record are linked to PDG Helicopters and lot 1. However, the same source marks lot 1 as cancelled, creating an unresolved status conflict.

Market significance

This is a specialised public-sector aviation requirement for helicopter transport with crew in Argyll and Bute, supporting election-count logistics.

AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS

1 supplier record analysed

PDG Helicopters

96% confidence

Award 096195-2026-JUN557442-1 · Lots 1 · 117855 GBP · Active award linked to an active signed contract record

View supporting evidence

The award names PDG Helicopters as its supplier and relates to lot 1. The linked contract records GBP 117,855 and a signature date of 6 October 2026.

LIFECYCLE

Award or contract stage

Published award and contract notice

99% confidence

12 October 2026

View supporting evidence

Release history lists release 096195-2026, tagged "award, contract", dated 2026-10-12T15:39:15+01:00.

Award status

95% confidence

Active

View supporting evidence

Award 096195-2026-JUN557442-1 has status "active".

Contract status

98% confidence

Active; signed 6 October 2026

View supporting evidence

Contract 096195-2026-JUN557442-1 has status "active" and dateSigned 2026-10-06T00:00:00+01:00.

Lot status conflict

99% confidence

Lot 1 is marked cancelled

View supporting evidence

Tender lot 1 and the supplied lot record both show status "cancelled", despite the linked active award and contract records.

VALUES

Published values explained

Contract value

99% confidence

GBP 117,855

View supporting evidence

Contract 096195-2026-JUN557442-1 records value.amount 117855 and currency GBP.

Award value

98% confidence

Not separately published

View supporting evidence

The supplied award record has no value amount; the GBP 117,855 figure is recorded on the linked contract.

TIMELINE

Procurement timeline

Tender notice published

99% confidence

8 June 2026

View supporting evidence

Release history lists tender release 053594-2026 dated 2026-06-08.

Tender update published

99% confidence

17 July 2026

View supporting evidence

Release history lists tenderUpdate release 067744-2026 dated 2026-07-17.

Contract signed

99% confidence

6 October 2026

View supporting evidence

The contract dateSigned field is 2026-10-06T00:00:00+01:00.

Award and contract notice published

99% confidence

12 October 2026

View supporting evidence

Release history records the award, contract release on 2026-10-12.

SCOPE

What was awarded

Requirement

99% confidence

Helicopter transport with crew for election-night logistics

View supporting evidence

The title is "Provision of Election Night Flight Services"; the primary CPV is 60424120, "Hire of helicopters with crew".

Operational purpose

99% confidence

Transport ballot boxes and election materials from designated island locations to Lochgilphead so counting can begin as scheduled.

View supporting evidence

Stated in the tender and lot description.

Delivery area

98% confidence

Argyll and Bute (UKM63)

View supporting evidence

The item delivery location is Argyll and Bute and the delivery address region is UKM63.

PROCEDURE

Procedure and competition

Procedure

99% confidence

Open procedure

View supporting evidence

The process states procurement_method "open" and procurement_method_details "Open procedure".

Evaluation structure

95% confidence

Quality and price criteria published; price weighted at 30%

View supporting evidence

Lot 1 award criteria list quality criteria and a price criterion described as "30%".

Bidder count and scores

99% confidence

Unknown

View supporting evidence

Information not supplied in the published notice data.

CONTRACT TERMS

Published contract terms

Contract signature

99% confidence

Signed on 6 October 2026

View supporting evidence

The linked contract has dateSigned 2026-10-06T00:00:00+01:00.

Start and end dates

99% confidence

Unknown

View supporting evidence

Process-level contract_start_at and contract_end_at are null; no dates are supplied in the contract record.

Options or extensions

96% confidence

No options stated for lot 1; extension terms unknown

View supporting evidence

Lot 1 has hasOptions false. Information on extension terms is not supplied.

COMMERCIAL VIEW

Commercial observations

Commercial structure

96% confidence

Single published contract value linked to one award and one named supplier

View supporting evidence

One active award names one supplier, and its linked contract records GBP 117,855.

Service emphasis

96% confidence

Operational reliability, timeliness, safety and resilience were prominent published quality themes.

View supporting evidence

Published quality criteria include Operational Delivery and Methodology, Timeliness and Service Delivery, Safety and Operational Assurance, and Risk Management and Resilience.

ANALYSIS QUALITY

89%overall confidence

Confidence reflects the completeness and consistency of the published award data.

Reference: ocds-h6vhtk-06af4a
Analysed: 12 Oct 2026

APPROVED AWARD ANALYSIS

BUYER CONTEXT

Buyer context

Buyer

99% confidence

Argyll and Bute Council

View supporting evidence

The process buyer_name and buyer party identify Argyll and Bute Council.

Buyer type

99% confidence

Regional or local authority

View supporting evidence

Buyer party classifications include TED_CA_TYPE "REGIONAL_AUTHORITY".

SUPPLIER CONTEXT

Supplier context

Supplier identity

99% confidence

PDG Helicopters (unverified source name)

View supporting evidence

The award supplier is named PDG Helicopters. Supplier verification status is "checked_unmatched" with no verified company name or company number supplied.

SME indicator

90% confidence

SME

View supporting evidence

The supplier party details state scale "sme".

RENEWAL OUTLOOK

Renewal outlook

99% confidence

Unknown

View supporting evidence

No contract end date or renewal terms are supplied, so no renewal estimate can be calculated.

DATA QUALITY

Gaps and source limitations

Material status inconsistency

99% confidence

The active award and active signed contract are linked to lot 1, but lot 1 is marked cancelled.

View supporting evidence

Award and contract status fields are "active"; lot 1 status is "cancelled".

Supplier verification limitation

99% confidence

PDG Helicopters is an unverified source name.

View supporting evidence

The supplier identity status is "checked_unmatched"; no verified company name or company number is supplied. The completed Companies House workflow did not find a safe company match.

Information not supplied in the published notice

99% confidence

No contract start date, end date, duration, bid count, scores, award date, individual award value, or extension terms are provided.

View supporting evidence

Relevant supplied fields are null or absent.

SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS

Information not supplied in the published notice

The source contains an unresolved material status conflict: lot 1 is cancelled while its linked award and signed contract records are active.
PDG Helicopters is a checked-unmatched, unverified source name; no safe Companies House company match or verified legal name was supplied.
Information not supplied in the published notice includes contract start and end dates, duration, bid count, evaluation scores, award date, separately stated award value, and extension terms.

MARKET THEMES

Relevant award themes

COMMON QUESTIONS

About this award

Who is named as the supplier?

The award names PDG Helicopters. This is an unverified source name because the supplied identity check found no safe company match.

What is the published contract value?

The linked contract record states GBP 117,855.

Was the contract signed?

Yes. The contract record explicitly gives a signature date of 6 October 2026.

Is the procurement status clear?

Not fully. The award and contract records are active, while the linked lot is marked cancelled.

ProcuraAxis award analysis supplements, but does not replace, the official award notice, contract data or procurement documents. “Awarded” does not by itself prove that a contract has been signed.

Provision of Election Night Flight Services

Opportunity overview

Awarded to

PDG Helicopters

Classification

Lots

Published notice details

Scope, procedure and submissions

Legal basis

Classification

Lots and requirements

Award criteria

Criteria

Items and delivery

Additional Classifications

Delivery locations

Delivery Location

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Identifier

Address

Contact

Roles

Details

Classifications

Identifier

Address

Contact

Roles

Details

Identifier

Address

Contact

Roles

Award information

Related lots

Suppliers

Contracts and changes

Value

Recorded locations

Notice and amendment history

Award intelligence at a glance

Published outcome signals

Traceable procurement data

Approved, evidence-bound analysis

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