Current status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 24 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost to the public purse of delivering the full tender process for the Northern Isles Ferry Services 4 (NIFS4) contract, and whether it anticipates to make savings through the use of the Restricted Procedure under Regulation 29 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Transport Scotland is committed to undertaking a complete procurement via the Restricted Procedure. Due attention is being given to the cost to the public purse as the specification is being developed, the impact of which will be limited by an effective tender process. There are expected to be time and resource savings through the use of the Restricted Procedure.