Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) intends to appoint a Framework Agreement for the Supply of Tree Nursery & Glasshouse Sundry Items following the redevelopment project at our Newton Nursery, Elgin.
Newton Nursery was established by the Forestry Commission in 1931, and it has not seen significant investment since the early 1980s, when the facilities were developed to service a growing programme of three (3) to four (4) million trees per year.
The annual requirement has doubled since then, and will need to double again in the coming years. The redevelopment project is seeking to utilise innovative technology alongside developing the physical estate to meet these needs, now and into the future.
Part of the redevelopment is the construction of a new state-of-the-art 12,000m2 Glasshouse, which will be around the size of two (2) football pitches and capable of growing up to nineteen (19) million trees per year. This modern addition will revolutionise our approach by providing a controlled environment to nurture our seedlings. By shielding them from invasive weeds and curious critters, FLS anticipate a significant boost in our germination success rate, aiming to achieve an impressive 80% germination rate for our seeds. Construction is anticipated to be completed by December 2024.
Once the redevelopment is complete, Newton could have up to twenty-five (25) million trees growing on site in any one year, a significant increase from the seven (7) million trees FLS are currently able to produce.
This tender exercise is for the sundry items that will be required for both the tree nursery and the new glasshouse.
FLS has a requirement to place a contract with an external service provider for the provision of Mechanised Harvesting Operations and Associated Services – North & West Regions. The contract will be for a period of 48 months with the option to extend for an additional 12 months.
This contract shall include the following services:
Chainsaw - Ground-based chainsaw operations, directly associated with the harvesting operation
Clearfell Harvest and Extraction – Typically carried out with a Harvester & Forwarder.
Thinning Harvest and Extraction – Typically carried out with a Harvester & Forwarder.
Harvest Only
Extraction Only
Winch Work
Skyline Work
Harvesting and Extraction on Peatland Restoration or Peatland Type Sites – Small scale where identified on harvesting coupes, excludes specialist Peatland Services
Ancillary Requirements – Directly associated with the harvesting operation
Traffic Management
Goal Posts
FLS are proposing to put in place a “Framework Agreement” to supplement the current requirements delivered under the C0224 contracts. This will allow FLS staff to have access to several suitably qualified and competent Service Providers who can be called upon to undertake this work if the current C0224 service providers are unable to deliver any additional work that is identified for any reason, or if a contract under C0224 fails for any reason, FLS staff will identify the most appropriate method to ensure continuation of the services - this may include delivering the requirement in-house or contracting with an additional Service Provider through this framework agreement.
As part of developing a Buildings Category Strategy, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is carrying out early market engagement to better understand the current landscape of the building compliance sector. We're keen to hear from suppliers about their experience, capabilities, and any challenges they face, to help shape our future approach.
(Where section II.1.6 states that the contract is not divided into lots, this refers specifically to the current market engagement exercise, which is not divided into lots.)
FLS has a requirement to renew a Contract for collection, transport and rendering/incineration of animal by-products (deer/animal waste) from 37 Forestry Commission Scotland Deer Larders as listed in Lots.
FLS owns and maintains structures across the estate it manages. FLS intends to award Contracts for provision of Bridge Inspection Services over the next 4-5 months. FLS currently has a single contract in place for Bridge Inspections covering all Scottish regions within FLS, which is due to expire at the end of March 2026.
Further to our previous PIN notice issued on 16th July 2025 (Ref: 804585), FLS is proposing an alternative lot structure for Bridge Inspections.
This PIN notice is for prior information and market engagement only. Potential bidders who are interested in contributing their views are encouraged to complete the online Supplier Engagement Questionnaire. Please complete the online Supplier Engagement Questionnaire, the link is contained within the PIN document attachment or accessible via the following link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=R3T3DoMQ7E24nyfHZQdoQDcUqmwi_gJJo-vxU7irx_xUOVVVR0lHU0lPSlpWUDdNRzY1MVNSSzNSTS4u
Responses must be submitted no later than Friday 17th October 2025 at 1700 hours.
Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) intends to establish Framework Agreements for all Buildings Maintenance improvements and alterations across the FLS estate. FLS manages a large number of buildings (including offices, stores, workshops and deer larders) across Scotland and requires contractors to provide buildings maintenance and improvement works.
This PIN notice is for prior information and market engagement only. Potential bidders who are interested in contributing their views are encouraged to complete the online Supplier Engagement Questionnaire. Please complete the online Supplier Engagement Questionnaire, the link is contained within the PIN document attachment or accessible via the following link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=R3T3DoMQ7E24nyfHZQdoQPAZ-PnYQSNKmTurKGrosZtUOVhQNDhQUDhBMDBGU0M0M1pGUkhOUjg2Uy4u
Responses must be submitted no later than Tuesday 11th February 2025 at 1200 hours.
FLS has a requirement to put in place a framework agreement with external suppliers for the provision of Drill & Blast Works and Supply of Explosives 2025. FLS operates our own extractive sites (quarries). Extractives sites includes quarrying, borrow pits or road line cuttings where the material is used in construction.
Market consultation is an important part of the procurement process and gives us an opportunity to consider your specialist opinion and expertise. As such we are requesting all interested suppliers complete the below survey by COB 11th November 2024.
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/PIN-DrillandBlastWorksandSupplyofExplosives2025/
Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has a requirement for the provision and installation of fencing materials, as well as for the supply only of fencing materials. This will allow FLS to meet our requirement to manage the national forest estate.
This Framework will include the requirements for the installation of fences, maintenance and repair of fences, fencing surveys, emergency callouts for repairs and supply of fencing materials. This will include both upland and lowland fencing works and includes, but is not restricted to, deer fences, stock fences, rabbit fences, water gates, field gates, fencing metalwork, fencing woodwork and fencing ancillary items. It will also include the requirement for the supply and delivery of fencing metalwork, woodwork and ancillary items across Scotland.
Further information can be found in the attached additional information.
Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) intends to appoint a Framework of contracts for Seed Collection and Associated Services.
The Framework will comprise Lots covering the following:
- Seed Collection (Ground, Aerial and Rope Access)
- Seed Extraction, Processing, Testing and Storage
- Seed Supply
FLS plants an estimated 25 million trees per annum across the FLS Forest Estate. Presently 28% of these trees are grown at the FLS owned Newton Nursery with the remaining 72% currently contract grown or purchased within the private nursery sector. The nursery site is currently undergoing significant expansion, and it is anticipated that output from Newton Nursery will expand from the current 28% to 65% of our requirements over the next 3-5 years.
FLS also purchases a proportion of seed externally to support the production of stock from its Newton Nursery operation. However, FLS also sells a proportion of the seed it collects and that is surplus to requirements in support of the wider UK forestry sector. Purchased seed typically includes; Scots pine, Norway spruce, Douglas fir and Alaskan Lodgepole pine, with seed sold to the sector being mainly improved Sitka spruce. Seed availability and plant demand however is subject to change due to the impact of multiple unpredictable variables; e.g. unpredictable mast years or changes in felling/restocking sites, disease etc. Purchased and sold seed may also require chemical treatment to ensure protection from pests, or indeed for seed primed or coated using new innovation technologies which can help to increase germination rates.
This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is intended to explore and better understand the supply base and potential contractual arrangements that would represent a best value solution for our seed operations. This means balancing cost, quality and sustainability (including innovation).
Currently our nursery costs are partly offset through the income we receive through the sale of seeds into the seed market. However, through use of this PIN process, we also seek to understand whether other innovative ideas exist within the marketplace that may further offset these costs. We therefore encourage you to put forward your ideas of any innovative and alternative ways that this work could be packaged.
The PIN and associated questionnaire is for information gathering and market engagement only, this is not a call for competition and response to this questionnaire will not constitute any form of contract, or commitment to contract from FLS.
FLS are aware that your responses may contact commercially sensitive information pertaining to your business. FLS can confirm that any information provided will be held in strictest confidence and will be available only to the FLS team responsible for preparing this tender. No information will be divulged to any other party.
This PIN is to gather detailed information from potential suppliers regarding their capability, experience, and capacity to deliver a wide range of ecological, soil, production, drone, and specialist survey services across Scotland. This information will be used to inform the category plan moving forward ensuring FLS approach the market in an effective and efficient manner. This is simply a research exercise with no contract publication date.
As part of the development process for a procurement strategy for a Mechanised Ground Preparation Framework Agreement, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is seeking views and information from the marketplace in connection with the areas set out in this Prior Information Notice (PIN).
Full details can be found in the documentation provided with this notice.
Please note, the framework agreement to which this PIN relates will have a lotting structure. However, II.1.6) of this notice indicates that it is not divided into lots. To be clear, this simply means that this PIN notice is not divided into lots. However, the framework agreement to which this PIN relates will be divided into lots, as detailed in the PIN documentation provided.
As part of the development process for a procurement strategy for a Steep Ground Harvesting contracts, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is seeking views and information from the marketplace in connection with the areas set out in this Prior Information Notice (PIN).
Full details can be found in the documentation provided with this notice.
Please note, the service to which this PIN relates will have a lotting structure. However, II.1.6) of this notice indicates that it is not divided into lots. To be clear, this simply means that this PIN notice is not divided into lots. However, the relevant contracts to which this PIN relates will be divided into lots, as detailed in the PIN documentation provided.
This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is intended to alert the marketplace to an upcoming tender opportunity which Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) are aiming to award a contract(s) for our Tree & Seed Haulage service.
As part of the development process for a procurement strategy for a Planting, Grounds Maintenance, Stewardship and Vegetation Management Framework Agreement, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is seeking views and information from the marketplace in connection with the areas set out in this Prior Information Notice (PIN).
Full details can be found in the documentation provided with this notice.
Please note, the framework agreement to which this PIN relates will have a lotting structure. However, II.1.6) of this notice indicates that it is not divided into lots. To be clear, this simply means that this PIN notice is not divided into lots. However, the framework agreement to which this PIN relates will be divided into lots, as detailed in the PIN documentation provided.
This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is intended to alert the marketplace to an upcoming tender opportunity for Seed Collection and Associated Services and requests information from the marketplace in order to refine requirements
This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is intended to alert the marketplace to an upcoming tender opportunity for UKWAS Auditing Services and requests information from the marketplace in order to refine requirements.
This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is intended to alert the marketplace to an upcoming tender opportunity for chainsaw operations and requests information from the marketplace in order to refine requirements.
This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is intended to alert the marketplace to an upcoming tender opportunity for timber haulage and requests information from the marketplace in order to refine requirements.
This Prior Information Notice (PIN) serves to alert the marketplace to a potential upcoming opportunity for Tree Shelters and Associated Products; and requests information from the marketplace in order to refine requirements.
Further information can be found in the attached additional information.