Open competition
Open procedure: the contract was advertised and any supplier could submit a bid.
Key facts
- Buyer
- University of St Andrews · Body governed by public law
- Supplier
- PDG Helicopters SME
- Value
- £273,135
- Procedure
- Open procedure
- Sector
- Transport services · Hire of helicopters with crew (CPV 60424120)
- Region
- Scotland
- Official notice
- 075904-2026 on Find a Tender
- Timeline
-
- Contract date31 Jul 2026
- Published10 Aug 2026Published 10 days after the contract date
Description
SMRU have developed a technique for surveying seals inhabiting rocky coastlines using a thermal imaging camera in a helicopter. The survey equipment that will be used on/in the aircraft is described below under ‘Survey methods & equipment’. Available survey periods are dictated by “low tide windows”, i.e. local low water occurring in the afternoon, during the harbour seals’ annual moult season in August. Surveys are weather dependent; we cannot survey in moderate or heavy rain as seals are more likely to leave their haul-out sites in very wet conditions. Over the next three to five years, SMRU is planning to carry out seal surveys around the Scottish coastline, excluding most islands that are over 10km offshore. All surveys will be carried out in August and could require up to a total of approximately 140 hours of engine time (including transit/positioning flights) spread over 30-40 flying days. Please see tender documents for full requirements. Additional information: All tenders for…
About the supplier
PDG Helicopters: every public contract they have won.