Highland contractors urged to show what they can do ahead of Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) tender process for peatland restoration

As it gears up to procure specialist peatland restoration for a new round of contracts, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is surveying forestry contractors to help it scope out the range and capacity of the sector.

In order to best inform the FLS approach to the future procurement of these services, it is essential that FLS understand the size, scope, capacity, and future aspirations of the marketplace.

Jo Ellis, head of planning and environment for FLS, said: “We are looking to find out, both from existing and potential suppliers, about the services they can offer, their capacity, preferred work locations, pricing mechanisms and so on will help us to better plan our future operations.

“This information enables us to plan and build strategic working relationships with contractors, so we would encourage anyone who has/is developing these skills and services to respond to the survey.”

FLS has published a Prior Information Notice (PIN) that will help to help it gather information as well as help to identify fresh approaches, or innovations. It is not a call for competition or a contract and not responding to the PIN will NOT disadvantage suppliers who bid for contracts as they are published, it insists.

It is anticipated that the new tender will be published around November 2022 with contracts awarded in April 2023.

Keen to work with contractors that are committed to delivering multiple simultaneous operations, and who are focussed on improvement and development, FLS might consider offering contracts that involve a package of work on sites, including both tree removal and re-wetting.

Anyone interested in finding out more can join an supplier session online on Tuesday, September 6 at 11am or on Wednesday, September 7at 11am. Anyone who would like to attend should contact procurement@forestryandland.gov.scot for the attention of Laura Harkins.

Participants will get an overview of the published PIN and gain a better understanding of the sorts of information that FLS is looking to gather.

All questions and responses that are discussed will be issued to all suppliers who attend either days.

Help for suppliers with public sector tendering is available through the Scottish Government`s Supplier Journey and the Supplier Development Programme.

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