Estimated Value
Up to £4,725,000
Deadline
Not specified
Published
25 August 2026
Type
services
Overview
The TimberLINK Public Service Contract (PSC) is a timber transport and shipping service established in 2000 to transport around 75,000 tonnes of timber per annum from various forest locations to ports in Argyll, then via sea, and onwards to a range of markets in Ayrshire. A subsidy is available to resource this service. The five-year contract, which totals 4.725GBP million capped at 0.945GBP million per annum, will run from 01 April 2027 until 31 March 2032 inclusive.
AI Analysis
Powered by AI — always verify against official documents
The contract is for a five‑year timber transport and shipping service, moving about 75,000 tonnes of timber each year from forests to ports in Argyll and then by sea to markets in Ayrshire, with a government subsidy of up to £0.945 million per year.
Requirements
- No specific requirements listed in the notice — check the full tender documents.
Key Tasks & Deliverables
- Collect and load timber at various forest locations across the region
- Transport the timber by road to designated ports in Argyll
- Arrange and execute sea freight from the Argyll ports to destination markets in Ayrshire
- Deliver a total of approximately 75,000 tonnes of timber each year
- Manage and report on the use of the annual subsidy (capped at £0.945 million)
- Comply with all health, safety, environmental and transport licensing regulations
How to Read This Tender
- 1Look for the sections titled ‘Scope of Work’, ‘Contract Value’ and ‘Duration’ – they define what you must deliver and for how long.
- 2Check the ‘Eligibility’ and ‘Qualification’ criteria – even if not listed here they will be in the full tender documents and may include licences, insurance and previous experience.
- 3Pay attention to the financial limits – the contract is capped at £0.945 million per year, so your pricing must stay within that ceiling.
- 4Note any performance reporting or monitoring requirements – many transport contracts require regular mileage, tonnage and emissions data.
- 5Identify any penalties or incentives related to delivery timetables or service quality; these affect your overall profitability.
Tips for Small Businesses
- Consider partnering with a local haulage firm or a shipping operator to meet capacity without needing a large fleet yourself.
- Highlight any social value you can bring – e.g., using local drivers, low‑carbon vehicles, or supporting rural employment – as this can improve scoring for small businesses.
- If the contract value feels high, you can bid for a sub‑contracted portion (e.g., only the road haulage leg) and form a consortium with a maritime partner.
Before you bid, buyers check
two years of filed accountsyour financial standingturnover vs contract valueyour Companies House recordcash flow for 30-day termscredit scores and ratios
Actions
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How to Apply
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Useful Resources
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Buyer Profile
Scottish ForestryKey Dates
Published
25 August 2026
Submission deadline
Not specified
Notice type
planning
Source
find a tender
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