Estimated Value
Not specified
Deadline
Not specified
Published
8 June 2026
Type
services
Overview
Forestry and Land Scotland (the Purchaser) look after the national forests and land to enhance biodiversity, support tourism, and increase access to the green spaces that will help improve Scotland’s physical and mental health and well-being. The Authority also continues to provide vital timber supplies to support a sustainable rural economy.
Further information on who the Authority is and what it does can be found here: https://forestryandland.gov.scot/. The Purchaser had a requirement to place a contract with an external Service Provider for the provision of Drone Training, Support & Maintenance services of their drone resource (Pilots & Drones).
The Purchaser currently have a number of General Visual Line of Sight Certification (GVC) and A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CoC). We have an accountable manager and a third-party agency who provide support including managing our Operations Manual.
Key points
- Training: provision of A2 CoC with an additional practical, flight skills element.
- Support which will take a number of forms:
- Be the first point of contact for the Purchasers pilots and prospective pilots with queries relating to drones;
- checking contractor documentation and certification;
- conducting flight skills tests where judged necessary;
- Production of Standard Operating Procedures and support materials;
- Attending bi-annual all-pilot meetings;
- Emergency support in event of accidents and incidents.
- Maintenance: carry out maintenance on the Purchasers drone fleet. Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Eligibility & compliance
Please Note: The principal Service Provider must be a Recognised Assessment Entity (RAE) to be eligible to submit a tender for this opportunity.
Regulations cited
- Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015
Contact & helpdesk
The Purchaser is looking for a Service Provider to deliver the following aims: * Training: provision of A2 CoC with an additional practical, flight skills element. * Support which will take a number of forms: - Be the first point of contact for the Purchasers pilots and prospective pilots with queries relating to drones; - checking contractor documentation and certification; - conducting flight skills tests where judged necessary; - Production of Standard Operating Procedures and support materials; - Attending bi-annual all-pilot meetings; - Emergency support in event of accidents and incidents. * Maintenance: carry out maintenance on the FLS drone fleet.
Additional details
However, going forward the Purchaser plan to carry out their future in-house drone operations in the Open Category. This is due to the majority of its drone operations posing no/low risk to people.
As such, there is no CAA operational authorisation or Operations Manual required. FLS currently has a total of thirty-three (33) drones, and it is anticipated this will increase over the duration of the contract period.
A breakdown of what the Purchaser seeks to achieve through the main aims outlined above is detailed within the tender documentation. If your organisation currently holds any Contract, Framework Agreement, or any other Agreement with the Purchaser that involves drone operations (excluding the purchase of drones & hardware), you were not eligible to submit a tender for this opportunity.
This includes any persons of significant control within your organisation who may be affiliated to any other organisations who hold any contractual agreements for the provision of drone operations with FLS. Similarly, if you are awarded a contract through this tender process, you will not be eligible to submit tenders for any future opportunities related to drone operations whilst you hold that agreement. The contract will be for a period of thirty-six (36) months (three (3) years) with the option to extend up to an additional twenty-four (24) months (two (2) year).
AI Analysis
Powered by AI — always verify against official documents
Forestry and Land Scotland needs a drone training, support, and maintenance partner for their expanding fleet (currently 33 drones, growing). The successful bidder will train their pilots, be their go-to contact for drone questions, conduct safety tests, write operating procedures, attend meetings, handle emergency incidents, and maintain all their drones for 3 years with a possible 2-year extension.
Requirements
- Must be a Recognised Assessment Entity (RAE) — this is a mandatory qualification to bid
- Cannot currently hold any existing contract, framework agreement, or drone operations agreement with Forestry and Land Scotland
- No persons of significant control in your organisation can be affiliated with other companies that hold drone operations contracts with FLS
- If you win this contract, you cannot bid for any other FLS drone operations opportunities while the contract is active
- Must not be in any of the exclusion situations listed in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 (check tender documents for details)
- Must be able to deliver A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CoC) training with practical flight skills element
- Must be able to provide emergency support and incident response
Key Tasks & Deliverables
- Deliver A2 Certificate of Competency training courses with practical, hands-on flight skills training
- Act as first point of contact for FLS pilots and prospective pilots answering drone-related queries
- Review and check contractor documentation and pilot certifications
- Conduct flight skills tests on FLS pilots when necessary
- Write and produce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and support materials for FLS drone operations
- Attend all bi-annual (twice yearly) all-pilot meetings with FLS staff
- Provide emergency support and incident response if accidents or incidents occur with the drone fleet
- Perform routine maintenance and repairs on the FLS drone fleet (currently 33 drones, increasing over contract period)
How to Read This Tender
- 1Check if you're a Recognised Assessment Entity (RAE) first — this is a hard requirement and you cannot bid without it. If you're unsure, contact the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
- 2Understand the distinction between Open Category and Special Category drone operations — FLS is moving to Open Category which is simpler and lower-risk. The tender documents will explain what support they actually need.
- 3Look carefully at the conflict-of-interest rules. If you or anyone in your company has ever worked on drone contracts with FLS, or if your company owners/controllers are linked to other companies that have, you're ineligible.
- 4The 3-year contract has a potential 2-year extension (total 5 years possible) — factor long-term resourcing into your bid. The drone fleet will grow during this time, so estimate how many drones you might be supporting by year 3.
- 5This is a hybrid service contract: you're part trainer, part helpdesk, part engineer, and part emergency responder. Show in your bid how you'll handle all four roles seamlessly.
Tips for Small Businesses
- Consider subcontracting the maintenance element to a drone repair specialist if you're strong in training but lack maintenance expertise. However, you (the RAE) must remain the primary contractor accountable to FLS.
- Emphasize your emergency response capability and incident management experience in your bid — FLS specifically wants someone they can call 24/7 if a pilot has an accident. This is a differentiator.
- Budget for growth: FLS says the fleet will expand from 33 drones. Calculate a scaling plan in your tender response showing how you'll train new pilots and maintain more drones without losing service quality. This shows you've thought it through.
Award Details
Professional Drone Training Ltd
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Buyer Profile
Forestry and Land ScotlandKey Dates
Published
8 June 2026
Submission deadline
Not specified
Notice type
award
Source
find a tender
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