Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) is responsible for the management and operation of 11 regional airports serving some of the nation’s most remote communities: at Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Dundee, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick John O’Groats.
With a view to maintaining and developing the vital connections they provide, HIAL had a complex requirement to replace their airport vehicles and equipment. As a result, TPPL were brought in to support the procurement of six large tractors, one small tractor, two 18t runway De-icers , three runway snow blowers, fifteen vans, and nine 4×4 vehicles using thirteen different suppliers.
There were some significant challenges involved in the tender process, including Covid-19, extended lead times on some of the vehicles, and the funds had to be spent or committed in the financial year of 2020/21. In addition, the complicated logistics of the procurement needed to be managed carefully.
Despite the hurdles, TPPL’s appointed Business Development Manager, Keith Sergison, efficiently streamlined the process, enabling the tender to take place entirely in-house, with access to the market at a much better value.
Using his knowledge and expertise, Keith engaged with specialist sub-contractors to agree on technical specifications and delivery to one central location prior to onward transport to 6 different locations. This dramatically simplified the process and saved HIAL huge amounts of time, as well as the efficiency of their operations.
Paul Rodden, Head of Motor Transport at HIAL said:
“The procurement process ran smoothly throughout, and we were able to replace the existing vehicles and equipment with minimum disruption”.
Key successes:
